[ajayr]

Hi friends,

I applied for a business visa to Switzerland via my company's travel agent which was forwarded to their Mumbai consulate on 4-Feb-2011 (according to the SMS tracking service).

My travel date is this Sunday (13-Feb-2011), and so far there is no sign of my Visa coming. This is my first international travel.

Someone from the Swiss consulate came to my office for verification yesterday (9-Feb-2011). Our travel agent is going to the consulate on a daily basis but they are refusing to divulge the status of the visa application. If I do not get the visa by tomorrow, I cannot travel on 13th.

Anything I can do to get the visa processed by tomorrow?

[Wolfheart]

Originally Posted by ajayr

Hi friends,

I applied for a business visa to Switzerland via my company's travel agent which was forwarded to their Mumbai consulate on 4-Feb-2011 (according to the SMS tracking service).

My travel date is this Sunday (13-Feb-2011), and so far there is no sign of my Visa coming. This is my first international travel.

Someone from the Swiss consulate came to my office for verification yesterday (9-Feb-2011). Our travel agent is going to the consulate on a daily basis but they are refusing to divulge the status of the visa application. If I do not get the visa by tomorrow, I cannot travel on 13th.

Anything I can do to get the visa processed by tomorrow?

Visa officers are required by law to maintain your privacy. Therefore, your travel agent will not be able to obtain your application status unless you have authorised him to do so in writing.

As a client of the Swiss embassy you have a right to obtain a status update. Call them or send an e-mail with your application reference / receipt number and request for a status update. Also explain your circumstances (why you need the visa soon) and offer to provide more details, if they require, to expedite your visa process.

If your case is straightforward you should get your visa on time.

[hallik9]

I need to goto Shanghai for a client meeting during March 1st week.
The duration would be for 3-4 days.
Has anyone had prior experience of getting a Chinese visa?
Any pointers?

[ajayr]

Originally Posted by Wolfheart

Visa officers are required by law to maintain your privacy. Therefore, your travel agent will not be able to obtain your application status unless you have authorised him to do so in writing.

As a client of the Swiss embassy you have a right to obtain a status update. Call them or send an e-mail with your application reference / receipt number and request for a status update. Also explain your circumstances (why you need the visa soon) and offer to provide more details, if they require, to expedite your visa process.

If your case is straightforward you should get your visa on time.

Thanks a lot for your response. I e-mailed them as per your advise (they wouldn't pick up the phone at all), and now they want an invitation letter from the Swiss company.

Even before applying for the visa I had confirmed with them via e-mail that I can provide an invitation from my German office indicating that the meeting will take place in Switzerland and they said Ok. My colleague also applied visa using the same invitation and she got her visa a couple of days back.

I have now written to them pointing out their earlier e-mail, but no response. No chances of me making it for the meeting now (which is scheduled on the 15th). Now my worry is whether this refusal would somehow affect any of my future visa applications?

[Wolfheart]

Originally Posted by ajayr

Thanks a lot for your response. I e-mailed them as per your advise (they wouldn't pick up the phone at all), and now they want an invitation letter from the Swiss company.

Even before applying for the visa I had confirmed with them via e-mail that I can provide an invitation from my German office indicating that the meeting will take place in Switzerland and they said Ok. My colleague also applied visa using the same invitation and she got her visa a couple of days back.

I have now written to them pointing out their earlier e-mail, but no response. No chances of me making it for the meeting now (which is scheduled on the 15th). Now my worry is whether this refusal would somehow affect any of my future visa applications?

If you don't think that your visa will arrive on time then you can withdraw your application. This way, you're not refused. Though you may not get a refund of the fees, you're not refused either (Not that a refusal actually makes a big difference).

If I were you I would write to them immediately stating the following:

1.The Swiss invitation letter isn't possible to obtain since I have very little time
2. If you could grant the visa based on the current documents by today it would be appreciated.
3. If not then I would like to withdraw the application and will apply again at a future date.

[ajayr]

Originally Posted by Wolfheart

If you don't think that your visa will arrive on time then you can withdraw your application. This way, you're not refused. Though you may not get a refund of the fees, you're not refused either (Not that a refusal actually makes a big difference).

If I were you I would write to them immediately stating the following:

1.The Swiss invitation letter isn't possible to obtain since I have very little time
2. If you could grant the visa based on the current documents by today it would be appreciated.
3. If not then I would like to withdraw the application and will apply again at a future date.

Thanks a lot! Your advise makes a lot of sense. I will proceed accordingly.

[prince_pervez]

Lol. I read the entire thread. As far as US Visas are concerned H1 and L1 are like lottery tickets now a days. I heard about the hike in fees, solid documentation etc etc. Like @Amtak said, if you work for a US MNC it is easier. Indian MNCs usually do face problems out of caution. I remember when I went for my Interview one guy who was very well dressed along with his wife and kid said loud enough for the others in the line that he designs software for guidance systems in Aeroplanes. He was escorted to another room and later on I saw him with his Passport in his hand exiting the building. Neither he was dressed like a terrorist nor he was trained for terrorism. He was a s/w guy and was confident and honest about his profession.
On the other hand, my friend and professional senior Irfan, whom I consulted before facing the interview said that he went to the US immediately after 9/11 (December same year) and neither faced any issues at the VISA interview nor at the port of entries. Oh yes and he has a flowing beard.
Point is it depends on the officer, your luck, God etc etc.
I was asked the correct questions, and answered honestly. She said you will receive your passport in a week.

All in all, good credintials, US MNC company, body language, presentation should be good for an L1. Besides, its the company who wants you to travel for their profit/benefit. Why should you be nervous ? If it gets accepted fine. Rejected fine.

Chennai Consulate is a pretty good one. There is confusion all over but help is at asking distance. People might shout and be rude to you but remember, its not just you who they are catering to. Boy, you should see the queue outside the US consulate in Chennai.

[vasoo]

Wanted to mention about a scam happening in VFS UK office at Bangalore. I went there recently for fingerprinting as part of my UK business visa application. Had an appointment already. Went straight to the help desk and showed him the documents, passport and photos. He looked at my photo and said there is some reflection on my glasses and have to get a new one. I could not see anything and he was adamant. He asked me to visit the photo counter there and get new photos. I checked with him and found that he charges Rs 100 for two photos and it takes 30 mins for delivery of photos. I did not bother to take the photo and went ahead straight to the visa counter. The people there did not have any complaint about my photo and the whole process went through smooth.

Interestingly I saw that the help desk guy is asking most of the applicants to take another photo on some or other grounds and there is a long queue in front of the photo studio. Most of the people there was complaining about this. He must be getting a big cut on this business. High time VFS fires him before somebody complains to UK consulate.

[rvmohankumar]

If in Bangalore, Get your photos clicked from GK vale for Visa purposes since they are reputed and most travel agencies recommend the same.

[ajayr]

Hi friends,

I am scheduled to travel to Germany on 22-Apr-2012 and am applying for a Schengen visa to the German Consulate in Bangalore. They require scheduling an appointment online, and the earliest available date is 18-Apr-2012. I have booked the 9:10 AM slot on that day. Their site says that they require three working days for processing the visa.

Does anyone have experience with the German consulate in Bangalore and can advise whether I would be able to get my visa on time?

Also, does anyone know whether canceled appointments open up as and when they cancel or at a particular time of the day? Any other way I can secure an appointment earlier?

[volkman10]

Originally Posted by ajayr

advise whether I would be able to get my visa on time?

yes you would get it on time. Do all the other preparations and visa is not an issue at all.
No I don't think there will re-schedule interviews based on cancellations!

Cheers!

[shankar.balan]

I would say you're cutting it fine. Try for an earlier slot for the appointment by emailing them. They usually are quite obliging.

[ajayr]

@volkman10, @shankar.balan, many thanks for your responses.
I will try mailing them and see if they can help.

[ajayr]

Serveral earlier appointments opened up today morning. I have canceled my 18-Apr appointment and have now booked on 05-Apr.

[benbsb29]

Originally Posted by hallik9

I need to goto Shanghai for a client meeting during March 1st week.
The duration would be for 3-4 days.
Has anyone had prior experience of getting a Chinese visa?
Any pointers?

I got the Chinese visa in 4 days, as part of a meeting i had to attend. This was sometime last August. I had to submit an invitation letter, as well as the visa application form, and not to forget the passport photo as per their specifications.

It was a hassle-free affair. However, despite indicating on the visa application form for a multiple entry visa, i was only granted a single entry visa.