If you are unable to confirm, you could take the chance and mail out the application along with pre-paid return envelopes per consulate instructions. If they don't accept it, they normally return everything intact. The cost to you (loss) is the postage for the courier up and down. That's one way to verify (a lousy way though).

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Dimple2001

This bulletin from High Commission of India, Ottawa implies Vancouver is using VFS as well.

http://www.hciottawa.ca/PROutsoursing.htm

But then, the vfs website has no info for applicants from west of Manitoba. These buggers are quite skilled at confusing people.

Call the Ottawa VFS office (info in the above link) and see if they can give you a better info.

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Dimple2001

CGI Vancouver website clearly shows Alberta is in their jurisdiction, so you need to apply to CGI Vancouver. Typically they do pick up phone and try around afternoon (between 2-3 pm vancouver time), as I have talked to them in the past. Try to send mail and they typically reply in 1-2 days (I have good experience with CGI Vancouver in the past. I have to go to CGI Vancouver again probably next month so fingers crossed). Try to send mail at indiavisa at telus.net

You are right that visa application form link is broken but another http://www.cgivancouver.org/form.htm at 'forms' is working.

Good luck.
Ash

Quote:

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Originally posted by vagg

Thanks viggy and dimple2001 for your replies.

I am also guessing that CGI Vancouver is still accepting visa applications but VFS person told me yesterday to still confirm it from CGI Vancouver and if they are not accepting, send it to VFS Toronto. Nobody answers the phone at CGI and extending the same logic, I am pretty sure that nobody bothers updating the website either. The link to download visa applicaton form on CGI Vancouver's website is anyways broken. So I am having my doubts. I just want to be doubly sure if they still accept visa applications before sending passorts to them. Never thought it will be that hard to figure out where to send the application but I guess as is rightly said in TV program 'Dekh India Dekh' on Sony as one govt. servant rightly puts it everytime somebody asks her to do anything - "Sarkari karamchari hoon, time to lagega" :-)

I did send email to them couple weeks ago about the download link being broken but didn't get any reply. May be I should have my expecations set right. "Sarkari karamchari hain, time to lagega" :-).

But I am pretty confident that India will indeed be a developed country by 2020 though I guess nobody will work towards it untill 2019 and then suddenly they'll realize - Oops we were supposed to be developed by 2020 but then somebody will remind us - "Sarkari karamchari hain, time to lagega" :-)

Anyways, I'll be very grateful if somebody can tell from their first hand experience in Calgary or Alberta, where did they send their visa applications to.

Thanks,
vagg

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Thanks dimple2001 and Ash20. Really appreciate your help and helpful links.

I tried calling VFS Ottawa & Toronto but no luck there but finally was able to talk to VFS Winnipeg today and the guy clearly told me that I need to send my application to CGI Vancouver, so I guess thats what I am going to do. I tried calling CGI Vancouver again but nobody answered. As suggested by Ash20, I'll try again between 2-3 pm Vancouver time.

But the vfs guy told me that if I am visiting relatives, I need to apply for entry visa ($123) and not visitor visa ($62). The form asks you purpose of your visit and has Tourist/Visitor (Visiting relatives) as separate options and then there is question about places to visit. The vfs guy told me that visiting relatives does not constitue tourism and so I should be applying for entry visa. I know dimple2001, you told me to go for tourist visa. Just wondering did you check tourism option and then in places to visit did you put something like Taj Mahal etc.

Ash20 or anybody else - what kind of visa you applied for?

This is hopefully my last question, so please do respond :-). I'll be very thankful.

Thanks,
vagg

The entry and tourist visa confusing deal seems to be a convenient money grabber. To date, I have only applied for the tourist visa ($62) and have successfully obtained it, entered and exited India without hassles despite the fact I was visiting relatives. Maybe, VFS is taking a harder look than what the consulate might....

There is a question about places/cities intending to visit and I put the city where my parents live.

I hope others would comment as well as to with what visa they have been entering India.

...and keep the questions coming...that's why we have a forum

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Dimple2001

"The entry and tourist visa confusing deal seems to be a convenient money grabber. ".

I totally agree with you on that. I'll do the same thing as you did, check tourist visa option and put my parent's place in places to visit.

Anyone else? What kind of visa did you apply for?

Any input on buying air tickets in terms of which airlines/travel agent/website to get cheap tickets. Any other tips?

Thanks again to everyone for help,
vagg

We were looted by the VFS Toronto. I applied for Tourist visa and because i wrote attending Friend's wedding and site seeing i was forced to pay $123+ to get a Visitor visa instead of Tourist visa. I hope my post is helpful to those who is applying for Tourist visa. Just put one or two places to visit.

I will be careful next time.