I thought I’d write this post because we’d heard so many rumours regarding Indian visas suggesting we’d only get a 3 month visa.
For us the process started 24th October. We headed to the Indian Embassy Visa Office (EVO)in Kathmandu. Next to the EVO there are several visa application offices and we used the one to the right of the EVO. They completed and printed the visa application forms for us, took our photos and photocopied our passports. This cost us 750RS each (about $7). Of course it’s possible to prepare all of this without the assistance of a visa office but we saw many people have their paperwork rejected and having to resubmit.
Once the paperwork is ready head into the Indian EVO. On entry you receive a numbered ticket and you wait until your number is called. We waited about 90minutes. The EVO is open from 9.30 to 12 (Mon-Fri). Our application requested a 1 year visa/multiple entry and we also added a ‘begging’ letter explaining we were cycling and why we needed such a long visa. My paperwork was accepted but Daz’s (my partner) was rejected. In Nepal we had ordered a new passport for Daz so his Nepali visa was in his old passport. The visa application office had said that the application would be accepted and then we’d need to visit the Immigration Office to move the visa into the new passport. Sadly this wasn’t the case. The EVO wouldn’t accept the application until the visa was in the new passport. So off we went to the Immigration Office where it took about 10 minutes and $2 to move the visa (not something many of you will be dealing with). By this time it was too late to return to the Indian EVO.
The next day, because Daz was really poorly, I went to the EVO with his application. I was there by 0850hrs and so the first queuing outside the gate. When the gate opened I got the first ticket and was served immediately. Unfortunately she wouldn’t accept Daz’s application without Daz. I begged and explained about him being ill but she was adamant. However she agreed that when he arrived he could go straight to the front of the queue. So 30 minutes later his application was submitted. Note: those that queue and submit incorrect paperwork,leave the EVO , make necessary changes and then reenter taking a new ticket and queue again. On submission of our applications we paid 17600RS each (about $176) and we were given a ticket with a return date. Mine 30th October, Daz’s 31st October. This is the date of return to submit passports. On 31st we were at the EVO gates at 0850hrs so first in and dealt with immediately. There’s no fast track for passport submission so even if you arrive at 0930hrs you’d probably be about 10th in the queue and wait some time to drop off your passport . The following day (1st November) we picked up our passports. Pick up time is 5 to 5.30pm and actually this is dealt with quickly. We’d been issued a 6 month / dual entry visa. This visa starts the day of issue not the date of entry.
