We have always wanted to go to India and fortunately Heather's parents got the opportunity to work there this year.
Before flying to India, we had a couple things to do concerning our passports.
Step 1 : Renew Passports. Heather and the kids had passports that were nearly expired. The photos of the kids were really old. The old passports were made when Julia was an infant and Joshua was only 5 years old. This would be his 3rd !
We got the passports replaced in September, so far so good.
Step 2 : Obtain the Visas to India. Visas ????? We have never had to do that before.
Question: What is a visa?
Answer: Visas are the permission that are granted by a sovereign nation to a traveler permitting entry into that country for a specific purpose.
This entails sending the passports to "India Visa Center - Travisa Outsourcing"... gasp.... for a nominal Consular Fee. Okay, I don't mind paying a fee to have this done or a "Tax" to get into and out of the country. However, I do have an issue with sending my families passports to Chicago to have this done....,
All Consular Fees and Processing Fees are NONREFUNDABLE, even if a visa is denied or if a visa is issued for a shorter period of time or otherwise issued or returned at a time or on terms and conditions that vary from those sought by the applicant.
Because : Travisa Outsourcing does not issue visas or in any way determine or control the issuance of, or terms and conditions of, visas, all of which is determined and controlled solely by the Consulates of the Embassy of India.
Sounded curry fishy to me.
BTW, please return our passports before our flight........
