Note: I’ve included a helpful guide for obtaining your visa for those who need assistance.
It’s been quite a few years since my last journey to India. In 2007, visiting Hyderabad became a priority so that I could spend time with my aging grandfather. Fortunately, I seized that chance because he passed away shortly after my visit. Since then, traveling to India hasn’t felt as pressing or enticing, and I somewhat let it slip from my immediate plans.
Jump to 2013, and my mom decided to visit India because her sister—whom I had seen earlier that year in Qatar—was going. I chose not to join the trip since I had a new project kicking off soon. However, more people seemed to be planning trips, and it started to look like a reunion unlike any before. It was a rare chance to meet some family members for the first time. Having a family spread across the globe makes such meetings difficult, and opportunities like this shouldn’t be missed.
My mother, with her OCI card (Overseas Citizen of India), faced no travel issues. But since I’m always on the move and don’t stay in one place long enough to apply, I needed a visa. I thought this would be straightforward, as I had managed to get visas fairly quickly before. Back in 2007, I secured a visa on the same day, and as recently as last year, the process was a bit more involved but manageable through companies like Travisa.
“Are you getting a visa now?” my friend asked.
“Yeah, but I’ve always gotten them quickly, no big deal,” I replied.
“It’s different now,” he said.
Enter BLS International, the new company handling visa applications. On the surface, not much seemed to have changed, but the process had indeed become longer and more restrictive since 2007. Previously, the application was brief, and the turnaround swift. I remember making a trip to the NYC consulate on a chilly January morning, dropping off my application and passport, and returning later that day amid a bustling crowd. It was chaotic but quick. I even had time to pick up a Nintendo Wii at Rockefeller Center while waiting.
The process now is more cumbersome, but still manageable. The application is longer—four pages—and involves mailing in your payment. If there are no issues, you should receive your visa within a short period.
Problems arose in July 2013 when the system transitioned from Travisa, which had a decent track record, to BLS International. My experience with BLS, and that of others I know, suggests that getting a visa within a month is doing well, contrary to the official 3-5 days in person or 7-9 days by mail.
Here’s my experience: In an attempt to expedite the process, I went to the DC office, though my permanent address is in Pennsylvania and I was temporarily in Maryland. They refused my application because my home address was in a different state. Even though proving my current residence in Maryland with a utility bill was an option, the potential delays led me to mail my application to NYC instead. After filling out the necessary forms, and considering all the specifics for postal applications, I sent my documents via next-day air and waited.
Weeks passed without any updates. The helpline confirmed my application was in progress but had no further details, and contacting the NYC office proved futile. I submitted an escalation ticket, which seemed to advance my application slightly, but frequent follow-ups were necessary. Meanwhile, the status tracker was often unreliable or outdated.
In the end, my visa arrived three days later than promised, about a month after I sent in my application.
Other experiences echo similar frustrations. Individuals have shared stories of long waits, lost passports, and numerous complications. A friend on his first trip to India faced significant delays and had to pick up his passport in person after being refused postal return.
There are several common issues: the application PDF isn’t formatted for US paper sizes; web links are outdated; the mailing address doesn’t always work with FedEx; and getting someone on the phone is a challenge. The process resembles a scavenger hunt with exacting requirements and no clear guidance, forcing applicants to hope they haven’t missed anything crucial.
The phone lines are another problem. Calling the DC office got me an out-of-service message, and the NYC office seemed to have issues with their Verizon account. The helpline was consistently busy but occasionally reachable through trial and error.
In conclusion, the new process is less user-friendly. Although the reasons for switching from Travisa to BLS International aren’t clear, I hope the system improves to accommodate the increasing number of people wanting to visit India for tourism, business, or other purposes. For those seeking assistance, I recommend this guide to help with your application and get answers.
