Indian visa Q

[ifonly]

Has anyone recently successfully applied for a tourist visa from the Indian Embassy in South Nicosia ? We have applied several times before and had a mixed response - from them being very helpful and issuing it with no problems to outright refusal on the basis that we could not prove we were residents of RoC (they were very scathing about status of TRNC and told us to go to Ankara !). Although when we argued with them they relented and issued one.

As i understood it you could apply in any country with an Indian Embassy/Consulate and did not have to return to your home country to make the application - as per travellers on gap years etc applying en route because it is only valid for limited time.

Today the Embassy (South) repeated their likely refusal on the telephone on the basis that TRNC does not exist - and i cannot apply using my UK passport as i am not a resident of RoC - they told me to go to UK. I said i could provide proof of me living in TRNC - their response was "how do we know what goes on over there".

I have tried to call the UK Embassy for clarification but after the usual automated reply gave up after holding for 35 minutes !

[chiangbill]

We had one hell of a job getting a visa from the south. We are British Passport Holders. On our 1st visit there we were told by a Greek lady working there. "We would get a visa here" Even though we telephoned a week before to ask if we could apply there for a visa. They were just plain bloody akward. After 3 visits we were told "No Visa"

In the end i emailed the Indian Embassy in South Nicosia and London about the problem. We had a reply from the consulate in the south telling us to return there and we would be issued with a visa. But we were told you will never get a visa here again.

If you do go down south, Don't i repeat Don't say you live in the TRNC. But they will ask you for proof of address and say an electric bill with an address in the south. Big problem there. As to why is should bother the Indian Embassy that you live in the North i just don't know.

Your best bet is to email the Indian Embassy in the UK and tell them what the problem is. It took us 5 visits to get our visa last year, and we had to pay for 6 month but only got a 3 months visa. Funny thing was it was an Indian cab driver who took us to the embassy each time we went there.

Good luck mate, you will need it.

[ozankoys]

Hi
We too were not allowed to apply for a visa in Nicosia because we could not prove we lived in ROC & 'we do not know anything about that side'.
The guy in the embassy in Ankara is very helpful though & will accept an application by post (or courier) using a copy passport to go through the procedures which take 4 working days. You then have to go for a day with the actual passport to have the visa affixed, my husband is going next Wednesday to hopefully get this done for our upcoming holiday.
If you need a visa soon, he will be happy to deliver your application for you.

[ifonly]

I have emailed London and Nicosia -Thanks chiangbill.
ozankoys - thats very kind of you and i may well take you up on the offer. Do you have to go in person to Ankara to collect the visas or can someone go on your behalf - there are 6 of us travelling to India so it would be good if just 1 of us can collect them all from Ankara.
What a pallaver !
Its good to be able to share info, tips, experiences on forums such as this - so useful.

[mimi78]

We were told by an unpleasant woman who worked at the Indian Embassy that we could not have a visa. We hung around and saw
a man ten minutes later in the same office who simply gave us a form and said to return in one week. We did so and collected visa.
The female was a Greek Cypriot , who we feel had a personal vendetta towards Turkish Cypriots (my husband ) or Brits living in the
North (myself ). She should not be employed at the Embassy , her attitude is shameful.

[ozankoys]

Hi you do not have to go yourself anyone can take the passports to have the visa affixed, my husband is taking mine as well as his but we could have sent them with anyone.
In fact mine should have been sorted weeks ago but I relied on a friend who let me down badly. If you want him to take your applications you need to download & complete the form from their website, 2 photos, copy of passport, proof of travel to India & $58 for each one.
The Greek girl in Nicosia was very pleasant although she categorically stated we could not apply, if Ankara had not been helpful we would have gone back there & created a scene.

[ozankoys]

PS sorry you need copy of a bank statement as well

[chiangbill]

We were told by an unpleasant woman who worked at the Indian Embassy that we could not have a visa. We hung around and saw
a man ten minutes later in the same office who simply gave us a form and said to return in one week. We did so and collected visa.
The female was a Greek Cypriot , who we feel had a personal vendetta towards Turkish Cypriots (my husband ) or Brits living in the
North (myself ). She should not be employed at the Embassy , her attitude is shameful.

This woman must have been the same one we met. She did/does have a problem with the TRNC. But she was nowhere to be seen when we went to pick up our visa. Funny, but the consulate after we had explaind our case, asked us for an address in the South. crazy. The whole visa thing for non EU people is a absolute mess. Any way good luck and enjoy India.

[ifonly]

I am going to wait to see if i get any response from either UK or Nicosia embassy before traipsing down there. If needs be we will get them done in Ankara. I agree chiangbill - it is disgusting especially as noone can show the rules to me where it says we must show proof of residence in RoC - it could just be a resident of Cyprus and they interperet it as RoC ! I am also going to raise it with our UK Consular service to see if they can clarify it - after all it seems as if quite a few of us had the same problem.
Ozankoys - If we need to go to Ankara as there are 6 of us going we are going to get them all done at the same time. A few of the group are not here at the minute so will probably do the application at the end of Nov. Can you keep me updated on your husbands trip to collect them on Weds ? Also there are a few other Q's that i have - i do hope you don't mind !
Did you send the application and money via DHL ?
Could you give me the name of the "helpful" man at the Embassy so i can call him and/or send them to him.
Thanks very much - roll on January !

[sophie]

When you visit or phone re this Visa problem, are you always dealing with Greek Cypriot personel or are there some Indians employed?

[chiangbill]

When you visit or phone re this Visa problem, are you always dealing with Greek Cypriot personel or are there some Indians employed?

The consulate is of course an Indian. (I Think) There are some Indian staff as well, but it is the Greek staff who seem to have the problems.


Indian Consulate. 3, Indira Gandhi Street, Montparnasse Hill. Engomi. Nicosia. Cyprus.


email addy for Indian Embassy Nicosia. consular@cytanet.com.cy

[Lovelife]

Hi Ozankoys

I see you are off to India soon, we are also travelling this month, is it purely sightseeing or is cricket involved?

LL

[ifonly]

Just a quick update - this morning i received a reply from the Nicosia Indian Consular. They asked for the type of passport and dates of travel - even though this info was included in my initial email to them. They have stated that if the passport is non Cypriot then i need to provide proof of residence - but they do not clarify whether they will only accept proof of residence in RoC - as per the very obnoxious women at the Embassy insists.
I have pointed out that they seem to be missing, or ignoring, the salient points in my original email and have again asked for official clarification asap.
At least they responded quickly - even if it was of no help at all !
Will keep you updated.

[ozankoys]

We are going on a cruise that makes 3 stops in India. Will let you know how he gets on on Wednesday, he is not coming home until he has the visas!!
Mine was taken in person by a friend, his was posted from UK & took nearly 3 weeks to get there it was not helped by the big Bayram holiday. Once they have the application it takes 4 working days to process the visa.

[ifonly]

Thanks Ozankoys.
I have just spoken to Ankara - what a breath of fresh air - so helpful.
I think we (6 travellers) will be doing it via there - even with the flight to go over and collect them it works out cheaper !!
Does anyone know if there is a "signed on delivery" ,or similar, mail service from TRNC to Turkey.
Enjoy your cruise - sounds great.

[ozankoys]

Thanks we are looking forward to the cruise but will feel much happier once he is back here with the visas - they have turned into a bit of a nightmare!
Cafe Boss have a DHL service but they could not tell me how long it would take to either get to Ankara or back again, as we have been to UK in the meantime timing was a bit critical as far as letting passports out of our sight.
There is a UPS office close to the Metehan border on the other side, I think I would try them if posting applications should we do it again.

[ifonly]

ozankoys - how did he get on ? was there any problems ? Thanks

[ozankoys]

We can happily report that we now have our visas!!! Mr R Nagarajan was extremely helpful yesterday & even let my husband return to the Embassy at 15.30 to collect them instead of the official 17.00. The latest flight back to Ercan is 18.40 & it would have been touch & go if he made it back to the airport in time had he not picked up the passports so early.
Apart from the guy on the gate telling him to go away & came back at 17.00 he had no problems, he left home at 06.15 and returned 20.15, job done.
If you need any help with your visas please let us know.
Must go & start my packing!

[ifonly]

Great news - we were also wondering about the timing. I shall call him first to see if we can collect ours early - he is so helpful. Well thanks for all your advise and here's to Happy Holidays.