NEW VISA PROCESSING GUIDELINES

• US Citizen Tourist Visas
  • The 1 Year Visa has been discontinued
  • 10 year visas will require 2 blank visa pages. The consulates prefer that they be back to back.
  • There should be a gap of at least 2 months between two visits to the country on a Tourist Visa. In case of requirement to visit the country within 2 months, permission should be sought from the Head of Mission concerned. In such cases, registration would be required within 14 days of arrival. For the permission needed to enter the country multiple times within 2 months, application highlighting the urgency in visiting India along with passport may be submitted to Travisa Outsourcing with an undertaking that:
    # 1. The purpose of visit is for recreation/sight seeing, casual visit to meet friends and relatives/others (to be specified) (The actual purpose of visit to be clearly indicated)
    # 2. That they are not engaged in Business activities / Employment or pursuing studies/research etc.
• Non US Citizen Tourist Visas
  • Maximum validity of visa will be 6 months, regardless of status in the US. No Long term visas will be issued for tourists.
• Conference Visas
  • May be issued to delegates if they are able to produce an invitation to a conference/seminar/workshop being organized in India by a Ministry or Department of the Government of India, State Governments, Public Sector Undertakings, Central Educational Institutions, Public Funded University or an organization owned and controlled by the Government of India or State Government, UN or its specialized agencies and reputed NGOs.
  • In case conference/seminar/workshop are being organized in India by private companies 3 months single entry Business visa may be issued and conference visa will not be issued in these case. These applicants should apply for a shortest term business visa. They will likely only be issued 3 month single entry business visas.
• Business Visas for US Citizens
  • The consulates are being extremely selective about giving 5 or 10 year visas. You must show future trips planned in order to be considered for the 5 or 10 year business visa.
• Business Visas for Non US Citizens
  • The consulates are being extremely selective about giving 5 year visas.
  • Consulate may choose to issue you only 1 year business visa even if you have applied for 5 or 10 year visa. The consular fee difference will not be refunded, please be prepared to forfeit it.

*BORN IN PAKISTAN?* All Pakistani origin applicants have to apply for a Indian visa at the consulate in person.

BORN IN INDIA? If you were born in India and formerly had Indian citizenship, please submit ORIGINAL Indian passport or copy of Previous Indian visa. Without these documents, your application will not be accepted by the embassy.

RUSH SERVICE Rush service is available when consular workload permit and we cannot guarantee it at all times.

SPECIAL NOTE: If you’re a JOURNALIST, PASTOR or associated with a religious group, or planning to visit INDIA for a conference, you’re required to complete and sign an additional affidavit form. Additional paperwork might be required. PLEASE CONTACT US FOR DETAILS.

FLIGHT/VESSEL CREW VISAS: India consulate does not issue a Crew type visas. Instead, a regular Business type visa will be issued to individual crew members. Please follow instructions for regular Business visa.

TRANSFER OF VALID VISA: Current visa can either be transferred from the expired/damaged passport to the new passport by submitting the new visa application form, both passports (new and old) and paying $38 transfer fee. Alternatively, you can travel with both the expired passport containing the valid visa and the new/current passport by keeping them together.

NON-US PASSPORT HOLDERS: If you're non-US passport holder, you'll pay $20 less in consular fees, except certain nationalities. Please call for exact rate.