So we're off to Goa on holiday again this winter. I've just spent another hour filling in all the useless information (like my parents home address ??? the address of two referees in the UK and in India ????) online for their Visa appplication. Cost - £85 for two people, for the pleasure of spending my money in their country.

My mate was planning to go their next week on holiday for 3 weeks, he just found out him and his girlfriend need a visa, so he's had to cancel the whole thing and go to Thailand instead.

What really makes my blood boil, apart from the usual stupid and pointless Indian bureaucracy, is that if I was from Japan, Finland, Singapore or New Zealand, I wouldn't need one.

I seem to recall there are rather a lot of Indian nationals living in our country, and yet I have to go through all this aggrivation and expense to spend my cash in their country.

I love India, but this sort of thing can really put you off .....

"I seem to recall there are rather a lot of Indian nationals living in our country, and yet I have to go through all this aggrivation and expense to spend my cash in their country. "

But Jasper, the chances of you going there and staying, and spongeing of the state, IS ???

Zero

[Edited on 9/11/10 by steve m]

Yeah - that's exactly my point.

I've heard they do this to UK nationals since we toughened up our requirements for them visiting here - understandably I should think.

£85 is not too bad, we are going away for 4 weeks over xmas , new year.
Cambodia, visa on entry. Vietnam £100 (single entry for two people). We need one for laos but you have to go to an embasy, except there is not one in the uk! We will have to get one while in vietnam.
kenton

India is an amazing place to visit - well worth the £85 quid.
All travel has extra costs, and you will certainly get good value from the accomodation, travel and food expenses while you are there.
Also, as a locost builder, you will find lots of low cost engineering to interest you.
Dave

[Edited on 9/11/10 by panichat]

It's not just India dude.

I just spent a week in Lagos, Nigeria working. They want to know all sorts of junk for the Visa, then when you get there it's a sham

Went last year with work and had a relatively stress free entry through customs etc. Not this time though, got there and went through immigration fairly easily, got my case, went to give the baggage receipt to the guys on the exit door and got asked for my Yellow Fever certificate. Told the guy I didn't have it, didn't need it last year why now? He said I was accusing him of not doing his job last time and that it was a deportable offence not having one. So I said great! send me home then. Then he muttered about how he would need one if he came to the UK blaa blaa blaa, then said that he could get me taken to quarantine for 3 days while they take a blood sample and check for the vaccine, then give me a shot if needed I told him that no way was anyone putting a needle near me over there!!

Eventually sorted it out with a 'dash' (gave the idiot a fiver before he got his corrupt police buddies involved and I had a longer stay than anticipated). Then he said thanks for your appreciation and I was free to go.

I checked the legal requirement and it is needed only if you enter Nigeria from a Yellow Fever 'hot spot' i.e. Southa Africa or then South Americas, last I heard London was not a candidate?

More scams and red tape than ever before, I really am getting P'd off with this travelling b****cks lately

Loool, thats such a one sided arguments. I have to pay for a visa to go to almost any country in the world. And I would tell you last time i went to america, it cost $100 for the visa plus wait for it £25 postage to return the passport. ( i have posted 4 wheels with tyres for less than that) so £85 is cheap. Visa for me to europe is £50 plus £25 (i think for admin). So everybody does it. because it hardly affects you does not mean every nation is not the same. its money making end of.

daddylonglegs - did you enjoy lagos looool. its always like that good trick to learn is to smile and laugh erm off.

Jammy arab, I love Goa, great people, the best looking women in the world plus they are good at fixing the road as well and out of this world snappin, not just curry.
The visa is the only thing that spoils it.
Cheers,
Bob

I'm happy to pay the cash, it's the hassle that seems ridiculous, why don't they just add it to airport tax???

...holiday in the UK? We've done it this year for the first time in ages.Brought a cheap sadovan and towcar,had a great time i'm amazed to say. Been away five times,even Wales! (Didn't need a visa either )Also spending the pound in the UK.

'Cos I want to sit on a tropical beach under a palm tree drinking mohito's and eating curry in February - tell me I can do that in Wales and I'll be there!!!

quote:

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Originally posted by Jasper
'Cos I want to sit on a tropical beach under a palm tree drinking mohito's and eating curry in February - tell me I can do that in Wales and I'll be there!!!

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