On friday they - (The Indian High Commission) returned our passports without our visas inside.
On tuesday 9th October, when we went to give all the documents we had fought to gather together - to replace those requested....The manager at the visa office in Wilton road advised that she request that our visas be treated together as a joint application rather than separately as we had planned. She was shocked we had been advised by her colleagues to apply separately to avoid hubby being treated as a referral case (as of Pakistani origin)
So on friday we received our passports back. Because of my Pakistani origin Hubby and I are a referral case, the decision on both of our visas thus (as expected) gets sent to Delhi (which is ironically where our beautiful surrogate mother and baby is, the world is a small place). These documents have now been sent off...They'll take approx 6 weeks or so...(I expect 6-10 weeks) from now to verify all of the mass amounts of information and supporting documents we provided last week. Fingers crossed that we get called in for our visa stamps in 6 or 8 or however many weeks!
It was really rather annoying on friday... as we both received automated emails from VFS telling us to collect our processed passports, so for the 40 minutes it took my poor hubby to run to the VFS office and wait in line to collect our passports we stupidly, naively thought we had our visas!!
I may have screamed down the phone "Oh my *** we are actually allowed to go to India!!!" in pure excitement. How naive and premature and silly of me, temporarily forgetting my problematic heritage.
they'd never grant someone of pakistani origin a visa in 2weeks 2days...why? I don't know.....that's another discussion for another day.
Roll on the next 6 weeks!!!
On other happier news.....
Our pregnancy is going very very well. Our beautiful Ms R is doing a wonderful job and everything is looking healthy and perfect.
At least we don't have to add that to our list of 'concerns'.....*touch wood and pray*
 |
| There are three since I had to give my old (pre marriage) passport also....I didn't really want to see these again until they had the 'magic stamp' in them....*sigh* |
On tuesday 9th October, when we went to give all the documents we had fought to gather together - to replace those requested....The manager at the visa office in Wilton road advised that she request that our visas be treated together as a joint application rather than separately as we had planned. She was shocked we had been advised by her colleagues to apply separately to avoid hubby being treated as a referral case (as of Pakistani origin)
So on friday we received our passports back. Because of my Pakistani origin Hubby and I are a referral case, the decision on both of our visas thus (as expected) gets sent to Delhi (which is ironically where our beautiful surrogate mother and baby is, the world is a small place). These documents have now been sent off...They'll take approx 6 weeks or so...(I expect 6-10 weeks) from now to verify all of the mass amounts of information and supporting documents we provided last week. Fingers crossed that we get called in for our visa stamps in 6 or 8 or however many weeks!
It was really rather annoying on friday... as we both received automated emails from VFS telling us to collect our processed passports, so for the 40 minutes it took my poor hubby to run to the VFS office and wait in line to collect our passports we stupidly, naively thought we had our visas!!
I may have screamed down the phone "Oh my *** we are actually allowed to go to India!!!" in pure excitement. How naive and premature and silly of me, temporarily forgetting my problematic heritage.
they'd never grant someone of pakistani origin a visa in 2weeks 2days...why? I don't know.....that's another discussion for another day.Roll on the next 6 weeks!!!
On other happier news.....
Our pregnancy is going very very well. Our beautiful Ms R is doing a wonderful job and everything is looking healthy and perfect.
At least we don't have to add that to our list of 'concerns'.....*touch wood and pray*
Hello, I got your comment / question on my blog. We didn't apply directly for passport as we couldn't prove that our surrogate was married or indeed subsequently widowed. SCI were unable to provide the relevant certificates and therefore we were not in a position to apply directly for a passport.
ReplyDeleteHope your visas et sorted soon.
Best wishes
Avey
I'm really sorry to hear this- how incredibly frustrating for the both of you. Here's hoping some good luck is sent your way soon and those visa applications are processed as speedily as possible. Wonderful news about Ms R and your little one - a ray of sunshine :) xxxx
ReplyDeleteAnna that makes no sense, your hubby already has a visa why does he have to get another one? We were in Dehli together. Is his visa no good now? My visa was good for one year, so I would assume richards would be too. i am so sorry you have to go through with this. Have you contacted SCI incase you never get a Visa maybe Dr Shivani can help? This is just horriable. But I am not thining about bad news you will be there and me and you and Richard and our babies will be sitting at dinner one night otgether laughing and sharing our wonderful bundles of joy. Anna I WILL SEE YOU IN DEHLI :) even if I gotta sneak you in my suitcase LOL
ReplyDeleteHubby was there on a tourist visa....yes you may have to pack us both in your suitcase so don't joke! Hope you're ok x
DeleteOh wow. I couldn't even imagine. Hope it gets sorted out soon. Thinking of you.
ReplyDeletearrghh so annoying! hope this gets sorted for you soon mate x
ReplyDeleteI hope it all works out in time for you both.
ReplyDeleteHi we will be in India mid December, hoping to leave by mid Jan. preetchhina@hotmail.com
ReplyDeleteBest,
Preet
Oh goodness! I hate bureaucracy!!! This is YOUR baby!! Situations like this make me want to throw things!!! Praying that everything works out and you get to be in India for the birth of your little one!! Crossing everything and sending prayers your way!! xxx
ReplyDeleteAnna, I am still at a awwww, I am on a medical visa its good for a year, if i would have done the tourist it would have been good for 3 years, so i am still wondering why Richard still has to get a visa? Maybe the duration is not the same for other countries which is dumb should treat everyone the same. Anna i beleive in my heart you two wil make it
ReplyDeleteThe visa part of this all is such a hassle! I just saw your comment on our blog. Do you have an email address I can reach you at?
ReplyDeleteYeah sure roadtobaacom@gmail.com
DeleteIt's such a nightmare! It's stressed me out enough I've quit my job early and I need therapy! X