Hello all,
Just wanted to share that my TRV has been approved, and wanted to thank the forum members for all the support they provided during the stressed out period of waiting for Visa.
I am summing up my complete experience below so that It might help other members of the forum in planning to apply for TRV.
My paternal cousin lives in Toronto, and we have been since long planning to visit him, the plans materialized this summer and then started the long and stressful process of information gathering for applying for visa.
All the bad stories I had heard about Chandigarh consulate being very selective in issuing visa and high rejection rate of 60% further compounded my stress levels.
Anyways, I started noting down all the information that I gathered from different sources and summarized it at one place.
Brief Summary of Documents required
1) Application Form
2) Family Information Form
3) Invitation letter from my brother
4) Marriage certificate
5) Valid Passport
6) Travel History
7) Financial Support Documents
8.) Photos
9) Purpose of Travel
The following documents were submitted by me under the given heads
1) Application Form
Completely filled form
2) Family Information Form
Completely filled form
3) Invitation letter from my brother
An original Invitation letter mentioning our relationship, his address and he would like us to visit him and would be responsible for all expenses while we are there.
Mentioned our exact travel dates,
NO detailed itinerary was mentioned.
This letter along with copy of his salary slip and t4 form was
notarized and sent to me by fedex.
I included all original notarized documents along with fedex receipt that came along the envelop.
4) Marriage certificate
I did not have one, so I prepared an affidavit
http://passportindia.gov.in/AppOnlineProject/pdf/AnnexureD.pdf along with both our photographs and a copy of our marriage card.
5) Valid Passport
of course
6) Travel History
I submitted photocopies of my passport pages containing my previous Schengen visa and singapore visa along with all entry and exit stamps.
This was done for my , my spouse and my son's passport.
7) Financial Support Documents
a) Certificate of fixed deposits mentioning all my FD's with bank
b) Bank statement of my and my spouse savings account for last six months showing salary credits(we are both working) (the statements were stamped by bank)
c) Demat holding certificate from Bank, showing my shares holding
d) My and spouse income tax returns for last 3 years
e) Property evaluation of properties in my name, by a certified evaluater.
f) NOC from our employers mentioning date of joining, designation, approved leave period and no objection in filing visa, addressed to whomsoever it may concern.
g) Both our salary slips for last 6 months
h) My provident fund statement showing the balance upto date. (this was an e-statement no attestation needed)
i) Mutual Funds e-statements without any stamping
j) NOC from school of my son mentioning leave and no objection in applying for visa.
I also prepared a summary document mentioning total of liquid assets and property value and pasted it above all the documents submitted.
Please note that none of the liquid assets were in my name, they were in my wives name and only property was in my name.
Also my savings account did not have any large balance, both our savings account combined had just over 1 lac rupees.
This point brought me to this forum, I was stressed about this when some known guy told me that you should have balance in savings before you apply.
I actually joined the forums after I had applied but hats off to Bryanna for her/his (Hey I dont know that yet, shame on me
) advice and temperament, Bryanna was very patient with all my questions (however silly they would be
) whether on forums or in PM.
And that kept me going or else I would have gone nuts by the time I knew about the visa result.
8.) Photos
clicked as per specifications
9) Purpose of Travel
I did not submit anything, no confirmed tickets, no itinerary nothing
Just a covering letter mentioning our details (company name designation experience etc.) , that I would like to visit my cousin and all required documents are attached.
I submitted all the papers through VFS on 22nd of April and was told that it would take around 15 days for decision.
The fees to VFS was paid in cash.
I heard back from VFS via SMS mentioning that process has been completed and passport dispatched by blue dart courier on 13th of May.
Then started the wait for passport to reach as you do not know about decision till the time you have the passport, as I had applied through VFS no approval/rejection mail was received by me.
Also to Track your passport you can use your application tracking ID provided by VFS and select reference number instead of waybill number on blue dart's site.
Finally I got all our passports yesterday and Yipeee !!! the visa's were stamped on all passports till expiry of passports, multiple entry.
So just wanted to share my experience with all you wonderful guys here and wanted to Thank Bryanna for her/his
support.
Also I realize that some people here have a very negative attitude towards Chandigarh consulate, but going by my experience , I guess they really are not bad as they are projected.
If you have a genuine case and all supporting documents you
WILL get the visa.
Cheers !!
Timeline
Passport and documents submitted to vfs : 22 nd April
Office : Chandigarh
Result : Approved on 12 th May , dispatched on 13th and received on 14th May in Chandigarh itself.
