And the countdown continues: Visas

Just got an email saying C's visa has been approved and is on it's way home. Mine arrived last Friday.

For me to do my project in India, I needed a research visa. The paperwork for this is pretty amazing, took several days to get it all together. Then there were the nine copies of everything, plus the original. Amazing volume of stuff. But I don't really know how these things are done.

C needs an entry visa, rather than a tourist visa. This is only possible for Indian nationals or dependents accompanying family holding a longer visa (i.e., research, employment). Though we applied for both visas simultaneously, C's was "put on hold," pending my approval.

I'm so impressed with the service that has been contracted to process visa applications for the Indian government. Travisa Outsourcing, based in Chicago, not only processed the visas thoroughly efficiently, but when I had a query, someone answered the phone after only one - count 'em one - menu item.

Then there are the Chicago Embassy folks.  When there was a question about my application, a gentleman called me to clarify. (How many times have you had complex forms returned when a simple question would have taken care of the matter? I can't count how often it's happened to me.) Now there's a courtesy one doesn't see every day. I was so stunned by the call, I forgot to ask the gentleman's name. I'd like to thank him again.