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[Guest]

Hello! I just got back to Ohio after an incredible experience at the India consulate in New York City. The instructions I downloaded with my application stated that mailed-in applications for work visas were serviced the date of arrival if prior to 12:15 pm and sent back via express mail that day or the next (I paid $15.00 extra for this) - mine arrived before 10 AM on October 7 and I waited days, finally getting a call with an admonition to call back, but got only recordings. Finally, I'd had enough waiting and I took the Greyhound to NYC yesterday to investigate. I discovered that the one person responsible for mailed applications was "out sick" for days and was shocked to find there was no provision for someone else to handle the work in her absence, leaving me hanging.

I got my visa, but after a whole day of standing around in a crowded (and I mean wall to wall jammed) basement area of the consulate, being shuffled from one line to another because some did not understand my issue, and was then told I could not get my refund for the $15.00 express mail fee. Frankly I don't mind, just having the visa in hand is enough, but this all seemed quite dysfunctional. I don't know about the other India consulates in the USA, but if you live in a state where you are serviced byt he one in NYC, do yourself a favor and go there yourself or get your visa from an agency that handles these kind of emergencies.

Thanks,
Drew

[jpvanderwerf2001]

Is there anything you can do? Yes: Pray.
You my friend are at the whim of the Indian consulate, who arbitrarily makes visa seekers' lives hell. I went through the same problems while applying for mine just over a month ago. It did work out at the end (I am in Bangalore), but not without going a round or two with the dictatorial vice-consulate guy.
Might I ask what you will be doing in Bangalore? Will you be working with a call center?
Good luck.