Entry visa to India with British passport.

[kumar30s]

Hello All,

Looking for guidance on Entry visa to India with British passport.

(I am not sure whether this is the right visa I need to apply, so appreciate if you can review below background and advise me. Thanks )

I recently received my first British Passport via Naturalisation route. Before becoming British citizen, I was holding Indian passport (Born in India). I have applied for Surrender certificate at VFS just last week and waiting for the certificate. I have booked an appointment for OCI which is on 10/03/2022. If I am not wrong current OCI turn around time is 6 to 8 weeks.

We have a family function in India on 11/04/2022 for which I have to attend and considering OCI timeline I won't be able to get my OCI in time for this. So, after doing bit of searching, I have come across Entry Visa & Tourist visa types which I can apply interim and travel to India (short term) even before I get my OCI.
And I think Entry visa suits more to my situation than Tourist visa. (because I am going to visit family)
Is Entry Visa route right in this situation?

If yes, then to apply for Entry Visa is below link correct from VFS website (I choose type of visa as Entry) ?
https://services.vfsglobal.com/gbr/en/i ... al-interim
PS - this link also gives information about timeline/fees/documents required & Application form. I take this is where I need to apply from.

Then to book an appointment it will take to High Commission of India page. And under the appointment service do I need to choose" VISA" - is this correct ?
https://www.hcilondon.gov.in/appointment/
PS - as per above website, next available appointment is on 25/03/2022. Even before applying for OCI, can I book this appointment ?

Also, can I apply for Entry visa whilst OCI application in progress? Will this not be an issue ?

Many Thanks.

[dontringthebell]

Hello All,

Looking for guidance on Entry visa to India with British passport.

(I am not sure whether this is the right visa I need to apply, so appreciate if you can review below background and advise me. Thanks )

I recently received my first British Passport via Naturalisation route. Before becoming British citizen, I was holding Indian passport (Born in India). I have applied for Surrender certificate at VFS just last week and waiting for the certificate. I have booked an appointment for OCI which is on 10/03/2022. If I am not wrong current OCI turn around time is 6 to 8 weeks. 30 days on average

We have a family function in India on 11/04/2022 for which I have to attend and considering OCI timeline I won't be able to get my OCI in time for this. So, after doing bit of searching, I have come across Entry Visa & Tourist visa types which I can apply interim and travel to India (short term) even before I get my OCI.
And I think Entry visa suits more to my situation than Tourist visa. (because I am going to visit family)
Is Entry Visa route right in this situation? Tourist visa is for staying with family and relatives. Entry visa requires an invitation as stated. I travelled & stayed with family & got tourist visa.

If yes, then to apply for Entry Visa is below link correct from VFS website (I choose type of visa as Entry) ?
https://services.vfsglobal.com/gbr/en/i ... al-interim
PS - this link also gives information about timeline/fees/documents required & Application form. I take this is where I need to apply from. Yes link is correct, though apply for tourist visa

Then to book an appointment it will take to High Commission of India page. And under the appointment service do I need to choose" VISA" - is this correct ? Yes
https://www.hcilondon.gov.in/appointment/
PS - as per above website, next available appointment is on 25/03/2022. Even before applying for OCI, can I book this appointment ? Don't know your location though prior dates are available for most locations

Also, can I apply for Entry visa whilst OCI application in progress? If you apply for OCI some documents (Naturalisation Certificate, Surender Certificate & Marriage Certificate for adults & Registration Certificate, Birth Certificate, Surender Certificate for children need to be submitted, these documents are returned within 3-5 working days from appointment and the OCI booklet takes almost 30 days on average. At the same time, you would require birth certificate for visa. Will this not be an issue ? There is nothing to say that you cant apply for the both simultaneously however, as stated above its better to space two appointments such that you have documents with you for each appointment. Here is an example of someone who did both visa and OCI applications simultaneously.

other-countries/urgent-travel-to-india- ... 20957.html

Many Thanks.

[kumar30s]

@dontringthebell - thanks for your response.

With 30 days OCI turn around as well, it will be very tight timeline for the date I want to be in India (11/04). So it will be gamble to wait for OCI.

OK, understood will apply for Tourist visa.
I did have a look at the tourist visa application and in page 3 it ask for "Have you entered India before" ?
Do I need to choose Yes or NO ?
- Based on my British citizen I never travelled to India on British passport - so should I choose NO ?
-But I was born & bought up in India - should I say YES based on this. But if I say yes - then its asking me details of previous visit & visa type details. Not sure which to select ?

For appointment - I am looking at B'ham VFS and next available dates are from 28/03. As per VFS website visa will be granted within 5 working days. So I will apply week starting 28/03 - and this should give time to get my documents back from my OCI application as well.

Just now I booked appointment for Visa on High Commission page for 28/03 and I didn't receive email confirmation. So I searched for appointment on same webpage using my Passport number to make sure it is booked - I can only see my OCI appointment which is on 10/03 but not Visa appointment.
Does this website show only one appointment at a time? Which is earliest / nearest appointment ?

PS - the example you shared is under emergency / medical exemptions which is different to my case. But I get the idea, it shouldn't be an issue to apply Tourist Visa whilst OCI application in progress. Cheers

[dontringthebell]

@dontringthebell - thanks for your response.

With 30 days OCI turn around as well, it will be very tight timeline for the date I want to be in India (11/04). So it will be gamble to wait for OCI. Yes

OK, understood will apply for Tourist visa.
I did have a look at the tourist visa application and in page 3 it ask for "Have you entered India before" ?
Do I need to choose Yes or NO ? select no
- Based on my British citizen I never travelled to India on British passport - so should I choose NO ? as above
-But I was born & bought up in India - should I say YES based on this. But if I say yes - then its asking me details of previous visit & visa type details. Not sure which to select ? travel to home country on native passport is not visit

For appointment - I am looking at B'ham VFS and next available dates are from 28/03. As per VFS website visa will be granted within 5 working days. So I will apply week starting 28/03 - and this should give time to get my documents back from my OCI application as well. good

Just now I booked appointment for Visa on High Commission page for 28/03 and I didn't receive email confirmation. search for your appointment and take a print out, they seldom do send emails. So I searched for appointment on same webpage using my Passport number to make sure it is booked - I can only see my OCI appointment which is on 10/03 but not Visa appointment.
Does this website show only one appointment at a time? Which is earliest / nearest appointment ? I have no idea about this but looks more like what you mentioned. You may book again and take a print out in first attempt or query the relevant high commission email id.

PS - the example you shared is under emergency / medical exemptions which is different to my case. But I get the idea, it shouldn't be an issue to apply Tourist Visa whilst OCI application in progress. Cheers

[kumar30s]

Thanks @dontringthebell for your advise.

Hopefully this should go all per plan
Will post the update later. cheers