Indian Visa in 2012

Here is the first line: http://www.indianembassy.org/visa.php

looks like this is done by a private firm travisa: link here

they say it is not mandatory to transfer visas from old passport to new passport, however it is recommended!!

who is going to find out holed up in an airport and at the mercy of a ticked-off agent

The whole travelling rules around passport/visa, at least, getting them, is absurdly antiquated!!!

Requirements by mail

You will need to fill in an online application: Once for each kid

You will need previous visa/passport details as well


previous visa references
current passport references
birth certificates
both parents passports
a fist-full of passport size pictures
  (kidding: 1 at least)
1 hour to fill the online application for each

Get kids signatures
   won't fit the bod
Get Spouse signatures
   Doesn't match the passport
Re do all the printing
Re attach photographs

Resign everything

Go to Kinkos to scan
Forgot the zip drive
Buy one for 16 dollars

Still far far away before I can mail in..

Kinkos guy gives a pdf scan. And travisa won't accept other than gif or jpeg crap...This is impossible!!!

I need to research now how fedex works for air bills and whole other postal business...I hate Travisa again!!!

Around May 15th I was able to mail in the fedex stuff

I take those air bills and take them to FedEx. They were able to paste those air bills properly and send them out.

The next big task how to carry money to India for the travel expenses

Amex Travellers cheques are no longer available at most banks

Some folks are using their indian accounts such as ICICI to transfer money

it takes 3 weeks to a month to get one of those

I called ICICI what it takes to establish an account and if I could do it online?

Of course not!!! You start with 2 pass port size photographs and a whole set of doucmentation including your passport and this and that and much more....

and get them exchanged locally using for-ex

i thought i could use it to get either travellers cheques or transfer money

It is a big NO!!! Can't do either!!!

of course amex promises that with the 400 dollar upgrade I don't get charged for foreign transactions....Big woooppp

xoom service fees

Search for: xoom service fees

Xooms help center

Here is their XOOM fee structure

That is just Terrible!!!

Seem to be more palatable if paid by a bank

How to pay using a bank?

looks like you need

account number
routing number

Travellers cheques also cost $20 for every $1000