The Indian High Commission has made arrangements with two courier services to receive and collect visa applications from Pakistanis as well as foreigners wishing to visit India and also spelled out details of documents to accompany the applications.
The courier services which can be used as 'Visa Drop Boxes' will be Gerry's International and the TCS Express. Their facilities are available at Karachi, Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Multan, Gujranwala, Hyderabad, Sukkur and Quetta.
An official announcement made here on Friday said that the High Commission may also, thereafter, call applicants for interview.
The High Commission said that Pakistanis wishing to apply directly at the Indian visa section are free to do so between 10 am and 12 noon on working days.
It also specified the following requirements for Pakistani applicants:
Four application forms with equal number of photographs for a single entry visa. All columns in the application forms should be filled in irrespective of accompanying documents; old passports should also be submitted in case of previous travels; first time traveller should attach an invitation letter or related documentation. The processing period for first time traveller could be longer.
Business visitors are required to enclose a letter from the employing company, an invitation letter from the business contact in India and a certificate of registration with a recognised Chamber of Commerce or other evidence of commercial operation.
For medical emergencies, evidence of medical appointments, a copy of medical record and correspondence with the Indian hospital should be enclosed.
For application for group visas, including educational, professional and business groups, letters of invitation, details of host or sponsor, detailed itinerary including places of stay and details of organisers in Pakistan should accompany the application.
Foreign nationals, the High Commission said, should normally obtain Indian visas in their country of residence but those based in Pakistan can also use the 'Drop Box' facility. Processing time in their cases would be two weeks.
Foreign nationals of Pakistani origin and holding Pakistani passports are required to use Pakistani travel document while applying for visa.
Processing time at the High Commission will vary, ranging from two weeks for business travellers to eight weeks for general applicants.
The Indian High Commission said that service charges of the two courier services have been fixed at Rs 500 for outstations and Rs 300 for Islamabad-based applicants. In addition, the normal visa fee of Rs 15 per applicant will also be collected for Pakistani nationals while charges for other nationalities vary.
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