India Visa Application Centre

I had my full families passport renewed at VFS. It was very systematic and orderly. I had taken all the documents as listed on the VFS website. When I went to the counter, the staff was very helpful and so was their manager. They took all the documents required and within the stipulated time we got the passport. Thanks to HCI and VFS for the excellent service.

This place does a perfectly fine job of what it’s supposed to do. And that is provide somewhere for the final stage of the headache-​inducing process that is getting a visa for India.
If you’re heading here you’ve probably already been on the fairly unhelpful website whose links send you round in circles. You will have completed the temperamental online application form. You will have torn your hair out trying to find somewhere that takes 2in x 2in photos rather than the standard passport sized ones, and winced when they cost you at least £7. You will have winced again at the £90 cost of the visa. You will have been told to download the mysteriously undownloadable checklist before you come to the centre. And you may even have tried to book an appointment at the centre and found the next one isn’t for a fortnight.
None of which is the fault of this place, but does explain why stress levels seem to be elevated when you arrive. Luckily it should be straightforward from here. They take applications from 8.30am to 2.30pm and after a nightmare lunchtime visit last time I went for an early morning attempt which proved better.
On arrival you’ll see The Queue of Tension snaking out the office door — appointment or not, everyone has to join this. The front dozen lucky people even get to stand inside the building. Tension peaks upon reaching The Desk of Determination, where 2 very helpful gents have the unenviable task of telling everyone what’s immediately wrong with their application. Perhaps a third of the queue is turned away here (usually a wrongly sized photo or they need extra documents if applying for someone else). Another third get given extra instructions (usually to sign the form or glue their photo on with the pritt stick in the corner). The final third get an approving nod that triggers a rush of relief (this was me, phew).
You’ll then be given a ticket number and waved through to the The Room of The Painfully Long Wait. Take a seat, you’re going nowhere fast. I’d say bring a book as the signs say no electronic devices, but the vast majority of people were typing on phones without anyone objecting. People-​watching is also good fun (and mentally guessing the purpose of everyone’s trip!). I did actually bring a book and almost fell into the trap of getting so absorbed in the story that I missed my number eek!
They have toilets, a vending machine, a glue stick and a photo booth (though if you didn’t bring pics, the one at the newsagent down the road is cheaper). All appointments get a fast-​track counter and there’s maybe 7 – 9 others open for everyone else (which is most people given how limited the appts are). Expect the ticket numbers to count up at approx one per minute as a rule of thumb.
It’s almost impossible to resist a fist pump when it gets to your turn, and it takes about 5mins at the very efficient counter then you’re done. To give you an idea, for a plain vanilla tourist visa I joined The Queue at about 8.30am, reached The Desk at just after 9, and was seen at a counter at about 10.15 so make sure you allow enough time.
With the benefit of hindsight I’d say get there half an hour earlier, triple check what you need to bring (esp a second photo!), don’t bring your kids and pick up a coffee en route!

Merely four stops away on the 56 or 4 bus routes, or a pleasant 15 minute walk past City University, the India Visa office is conveniently located in The Angel, in Central London. Rather than busying yourself with the rigamarole of the Indian High Commission in Aldwych, you should *definitely* pay a visit to this cute little office just off Angel’s Upper Street.
Its only function is to provide you with a visa (any visa) to go to India, be you tourist or jetsetting business person. Inside they have:
— One non-​smiling (but very helpful) receptionist/​ticket-​giver
— One coin-​operated photocopier
— One computer for last-​minute online applications
— One photobooth (specializing in the Indian visa’s particular passport picture sizes)
— One vending machine
— One hundred straight-​backed chairs
— Three loos (male, female, accessible)
— Twelve counters, each manned by a smiley brown person
— One travel information counter
— Two ticketing screens with Bollywood adverts
My favourite thing about this office is how easy the staff make the Indian Visa application process — as long as you’re not expecting the glitz of an Embassy, you’ll find yourself pleasantly surprised with the service. When they say «There’s a problem with your application,» they talk you through how to fix it. When they see you apply for visas almost every other year, they tell you how you could save money by applying for a one-​year or 5-​year visa. Most importantly, when they say «Your passport will be ready for collection in 3 – 4 business days, please check our website,» your newly-​visaed passport really is ready in such a short time.
I like how well-​informed and well-​organized the little office community are. My only problem is the décor and general appearance of the offices — they haven’t been refurbished since the late 90s/​early noughties, and it seems a shame they don’t have somewhere for the kids to play while the parents wait for their passports.
Would come again
Would recommend to a friend
Am encouraging you to take a trip to India!