Went to the Indian Visa Centre near the Barbican this morning and it was the nighmare I had expected...
First.. The was a queue out the door and half way down the street... Then when I finally got to the first counter, I was told I needed two photos, not one like the email I receved from them said..
I wasn't alone in going to a nearby news agent to get additional copies made.. At £6 a copy...!
Then back, collect my ticket (No. 1694) and wait... The numbers flashed up... 6006, 22, 1656, 73, 7344 etc so there was no clear system and idea on how long I'd have to wait...
Nearly 2 hours later I was seen... Only to be told they don't recognise my place of work.. So.!?!?!? So, I might not get a visa...! Really?
Five minutes later and 2 x £93 paid, and with nothing else said, I was told our visas will be ready on Wednesday.! So what was all that about then?!?!!?
I noticed all the Aussies (and there were a lot) were having to pay for photo copies of all their papers.. All were saying the Indian website said nothing about copies...
As I left, I chatted to an English guy... He lives and works in Holland and needed an urgent visa to visit India.. But said the Dutch embassy doesn't grant urgent visas to UK citizens so he flew in this morning to London but was told at this centre, that as he doesn't live in the UK, they cannot issue him with a visa.!
@rich57 A sign of things to come mate... And on top of this.. Flippin Sangeeta bought my ticket in name of Andy and not Andrew.... That cost £100 to change.!! (she'll be paying that lol)
@rich57 Was it their mistake? Cos we checked the small print and if was our mistake, actually cost £155... But they knocked off £55 as we called back within a couple of hours...
Indan airline btw (Jet Airlines funny enough)... THink they see Brits as a cash cow...
Indian Government seems like most others in that they would rather you spent your tourist pound into their coffers rather than in their businesses where it would probably do more good.
Nice shot. Your confusion in such places is sadly prevalent still. I fail to understand why despite changes for the better these things still happen. But I have had a similar experience in New York trying to get a visa to Canada.
Indan airline btw (Jet Airlines funny enough)... THink they see Brits as a cash cow...
Flippin Sangeeta................ha ha!