Since applying visa through Travisa seemed like a daunting task, I thought I'd share my experience with Travisa which may help fellow visa seekers.
To begin with, Travisa instructions weren’t all that clear, especially shipping through FedEx part. Initially, we planned on doing this in person in Travisa office but due to time constraints, decided to risk it and apply through mail and we are glad that we mailed it because it was a much easier and faster process.
I applied via Mail for Tourist visa for my husband (Indian origin US Citizen) and for my infant (US citizen) through San Francisco branch. I also had to get renunciation done for my husband. Costed us 179$ which is stoooopid..but that discussion is for another post.
Follow procedures that are on the website , filling out main visa form, and then the Travisa order form etc etc. I chose Tourist Visa, multiple entries, 120 months
If you have infant - make sure to have thumb print inside the box. Thumb print is only needed on the main page (under photo), no need for parents' signatures. On the 2nd page, thumb print + parent's signatures are required. I took passport pictures using my camera and then created passport photo. Costed me 37cents for 4 pictures (www.epassportphoto.com).. There was a little shadow on my daughter's picture..but Travisa didnt seem to mind it ....also for thumb print..get a stamp pad from office..no need of any special fingerprinting pad..
Filled out renunciation forms as well. Copies of passport, orignal indian passport etc etc
Dont forget to upload your pictures on online forms...I did it.
In Travisa order form for husband, I chose 'Apply by Mail' and shipping method - 'FedEx' both ways ..costed me 24 each way (To Travisa & From Travisa). After submitting, you'll get an option to print..I recommend printing more than 1 copy because website doesnt allow to save as PDF. Another option is to save the entire webpage on computer..
In Travisa order form for my daughter,I chose 'Apply by Mail' and shipping method - 'Paid by another application' . When you are prompted to print, make sure to print more than 1 copy as this form had the Fedex shipping label to Travisa. I recommend saving the entire webpage.
You will not be paying any shipping charges separately; Travisa includes shipping charges with the visa charges in the money order that you send with the application.
Total shipping cost was 48$ for visas for my husband,daughter including renunciation fees.
Took two separate money orders - one for $389 for husband visa & renunciation; another one for daughter - $166.00 (charges include shipping)
I had no clue how to ship or prepare shipping package..return shipping part was so confusing..so I just took all my documents to Fedex and asked the lady to help me out.
It seems, all I had to do was take an envelope from Fedex – ask them its free, stick all my documents in, and paste the shipping label that was provided to me (this was on my daughter's Travisa Order form - at the end of document). I also had to paste little piece of application # on the Fedex envelope. (this is provided in one of the Travisa order form too..you just have cut it and paste it on the Fedex envelope). It seems all the information such as return shipping, address etc is in the shipping label..so we dont have to do anything else. No need to include shipping envelope, postage etc..Travisa will mail it back to us in their envelope.
I gave my envelope to Fedex and got my receipt and was DONE !!! I mailed my envelope on Saturday and I received my visa within a week. It was impressive!! I didnot expect Travisa to process it so quickly and needless to say I was ecstatic!!
I’m glad I used Travisa’s option of Fedex shipping instead of my own shipping..because all that hassle of mailing envelopes, postage etc was not worth it. 48$ for shipping is fairly reasonable I think.
Probably its an overkill but in the fedex envelope, I also included a typed up page with list of enclosed documents.. like following:
Enclosed documents for File # XXXXXXX- John Smith
1. Visa Application Form
2. Travisa Order form
3. USA Passport
4. Proof of Address – Gas bill
5. Proof of Address – Driver’s license
Renunciation Documents:
A. Recent Indian Passport
B. Naturalization certificate
C. 2 copies of Renunciation forms
D. Copies of Indian passport
6. Naturalization certificate
7. Money Order for $389.00 (Indian visa & renunciation fees)
Enclosed documents for File # XXXXXX - Jane Smith (minor)
1. Visa Application Form
2. Travisa Order form
3. USA Passport
4. Proof of Address – water bill for (Father)
5. Proof of address – electricity bill (Mother)
6. Proof of address – Driver’s licence (Father)
7. Proof of address – Driver’s licence (mother)
8. Copy of birth certificate
9. Passport copy (Father)
10. Passport copy (Mother)
11. Money Order for $166.00 (Indian visa fees)
04/10/2013 11:29pm PST Application imported from NIC.
04/13/2013 12:37pm PST India visa application completed online
04/13/2013 - ****sent package thru Fedex on 4/13/13 (saturday)
04/15/2013 9:40am PST Visa application arrived in the mail at Travisa Outsourcing.
04/15/2013 10:03am PST Application assigned for processing
04/15/2013 11:42am PST Passport and supporting documents received by Travisa Outsourcing, payment processed
04/15/2013 4:38pm PST Documents prepared to go to Consulate
04/16/2013 7:55am PST Documents dispatched from Travisa Outsourcing to Consulate
04/16/2013 8:28am PST Documents received by Consulate
04/17/2013 10:29am PST Outsourcing office has verified the visa is processed correctly. Waiting for mail courier pick up and is likely to be mailed out tomorrow.
04/18/2013 3:06pm PST Passport mailed out. Please note that the tracking information may not be active for up to 1 business day.
4/19 --***********received visas at home ! yeaaaaaaaa !!
Thank you Travisa !
To begin with, Travisa instructions weren’t all that clear, especially shipping through FedEx part. Initially, we planned on doing this in person in Travisa office but due to time constraints, decided to risk it and apply through mail and we are glad that we mailed it because it was a much easier and faster process.
I applied via Mail for Tourist visa for my husband (Indian origin US Citizen) and for my infant (US citizen) through San Francisco branch. I also had to get renunciation done for my husband. Costed us 179$ which is stoooopid..but that discussion is for another post.
Follow procedures that are on the website , filling out main visa form, and then the Travisa order form etc etc. I chose Tourist Visa, multiple entries, 120 months
If you have infant - make sure to have thumb print inside the box. Thumb print is only needed on the main page (under photo), no need for parents' signatures. On the 2nd page, thumb print + parent's signatures are required. I took passport pictures using my camera and then created passport photo. Costed me 37cents for 4 pictures (www.epassportphoto.com).. There was a little shadow on my daughter's picture..but Travisa didnt seem to mind it ....also for thumb print..get a stamp pad from office..no need of any special fingerprinting pad..
Filled out renunciation forms as well. Copies of passport, orignal indian passport etc etc
Dont forget to upload your pictures on online forms...I did it.
In Travisa order form for husband, I chose 'Apply by Mail' and shipping method - 'FedEx' both ways ..costed me 24 each way (To Travisa & From Travisa). After submitting, you'll get an option to print..I recommend printing more than 1 copy because website doesnt allow to save as PDF. Another option is to save the entire webpage on computer..
In Travisa order form for my daughter,I chose 'Apply by Mail' and shipping method - 'Paid by another application' . When you are prompted to print, make sure to print more than 1 copy as this form had the Fedex shipping label to Travisa. I recommend saving the entire webpage.
You will not be paying any shipping charges separately; Travisa includes shipping charges with the visa charges in the money order that you send with the application.
Total shipping cost was 48$ for visas for my husband,daughter including renunciation fees.
Took two separate money orders - one for $389 for husband visa & renunciation; another one for daughter - $166.00 (charges include shipping)
I had no clue how to ship or prepare shipping package..return shipping part was so confusing..so I just took all my documents to Fedex and asked the lady to help me out.
It seems, all I had to do was take an envelope from Fedex – ask them its free, stick all my documents in, and paste the shipping label that was provided to me (this was on my daughter's Travisa Order form - at the end of document). I also had to paste little piece of application # on the Fedex envelope. (this is provided in one of the Travisa order form too..you just have cut it and paste it on the Fedex envelope). It seems all the information such as return shipping, address etc is in the shipping label..so we dont have to do anything else. No need to include shipping envelope, postage etc..Travisa will mail it back to us in their envelope.
I gave my envelope to Fedex and got my receipt and was DONE !!! I mailed my envelope on Saturday and I received my visa within a week. It was impressive!! I didnot expect Travisa to process it so quickly and needless to say I was ecstatic!!
I’m glad I used Travisa’s option of Fedex shipping instead of my own shipping..because all that hassle of mailing envelopes, postage etc was not worth it. 48$ for shipping is fairly reasonable I think.
Probably its an overkill but in the fedex envelope, I also included a typed up page with list of enclosed documents.. like following:
Enclosed documents for File # XXXXXXX- John Smith
1. Visa Application Form
2. Travisa Order form
3. USA Passport
4. Proof of Address – Gas bill
5. Proof of Address – Driver’s license
Renunciation Documents:
A. Recent Indian Passport
B. Naturalization certificate
C. 2 copies of Renunciation forms
D. Copies of Indian passport
6. Naturalization certificate
7. Money Order for $389.00 (Indian visa & renunciation fees)
Enclosed documents for File # XXXXXX - Jane Smith (minor)
1. Visa Application Form
2. Travisa Order form
3. USA Passport
4. Proof of Address – water bill for (Father)
5. Proof of address – electricity bill (Mother)
6. Proof of address – Driver’s licence (Father)
7. Proof of address – Driver’s licence (mother)
8. Copy of birth certificate
9. Passport copy (Father)
10. Passport copy (Mother)
11. Money Order for $166.00 (Indian visa fees)
04/10/2013 11:29pm PST Application imported from NIC.
04/13/2013 12:37pm PST India visa application completed online
04/13/2013 - ****sent package thru Fedex on 4/13/13 (saturday)
04/15/2013 9:40am PST Visa application arrived in the mail at Travisa Outsourcing.
04/15/2013 10:03am PST Application assigned for processing
04/15/2013 11:42am PST Passport and supporting documents received by Travisa Outsourcing, payment processed
04/15/2013 4:38pm PST Documents prepared to go to Consulate
04/16/2013 7:55am PST Documents dispatched from Travisa Outsourcing to Consulate
04/16/2013 8:28am PST Documents received by Consulate
04/17/2013 10:29am PST Outsourcing office has verified the visa is processed correctly. Waiting for mail courier pick up and is likely to be mailed out tomorrow.
04/18/2013 3:06pm PST Passport mailed out. Please note that the tracking information may not be active for up to 1 business day.
4/19 --***********received visas at home ! yeaaaaaaaa !!
Thank you Travisa !
