My Visa

Wow, it's been a long time since I have posted. Sorry!
Let's see, what has happened since I last wrote?

Oh, yes. My visa!
 On June 2,  I sent my visa application to Travisa Outsourcing.

First I had to go to the bank. I bank at Chase. Feel free to put money into my account at any time.

At the bank, I got a money order for $163.00, the price of the visa plus processing. I took the check and the passport with me to the Post Office.

I took the check, my passport, my application, a photocopy of my new driver's license, and a photocopy of my birth certificate (you can see that it says VOID COPY when you Xerox it) to the Post Office. As you can see, I had to send another photo. If you compare it to my original passport photo, you will see that my hair is longer, but I am wearing the same sweater.

At the Post Office, the guy helped me out with sending it. I wasn't sure which envelopes to use. I had to send it priority mail with tracking (I didn't want it to get lost and have to start all over!)  It was a kind of confusing process. I ended up putting all of the paperwork in this Priority Mail Envelope. I wrote the address on a label and stuck it on the front. (Actually, it's supposed to go on the back, but oh, well. ) Then I put a stamp on it as well as a tracking label. Inside, I put another of the same kind of envelope (folded in half), labeled with my address, and with a stamp and tracking label paperclipped to it. It was all sealed and mailed to the company. 

Priority mail usually gets to its destination in 2-3 days. Here is the package with the tracking stamp on it.

On June 14, I received this e-mail:

Dear Gori Chori,

Your application for an India visa is still in process at the consulate. We have checked with the Consulate, and at this time, your application is currently awaiting final approval. Please be aware that we are working every day to make sure that your application process is not delayed.

Please do not call us regarding your status since Travisa Outsourcing doesn't make the decision regarding your visa. We will update the status online once the Indian Consulate makes a decision.

We will send a notification by email once a final decision has been reached.

For your reference, your Application Id is 123456789

Sincerely,

Travisa Outsourcing

On June 17, I received this e-mail:

Dear Gori Chori,
Travisa Outsourcing has received your passport back from the Indian Consulate. We have verified the visa is processed correctly. Your passport will now be prepared for shipment back to you via Use My Enclosed Prepaid Airbill.
You applied for a Tourist Visa. Requested duration of visa is 10 Years Multiple Entry.
For your reference, your Application Id is 123456789.
Sincerely,
Travisa Outsourcing


and an hour and a half later, this e-mail:

Dear Gori Chori,
Travisa Outsourcing has received your passport (application #123456789) back from the Indian Embassy/Consulate. We have verified your visa has been processed correctly. You applied for a Tourist Visa. Requested duration of visa is 10 Years Multiple Entry.
Your passport is being sent back to you via the following method:

USPS Priority Mail 

Please contact us if you have any problems or concerns about your visa. We appreciate your business, and hope you found the process easy and efficient.
Sincerely,
Travisa Outsourcing

Notice that nowhere did they say that my 10 year visa was approved, just that it was processed. Okay, so that made me a little nervous. 


However, on Monday, June 21, the Summer Solstice, this arrived in the mail:

YAY! Approved! I feel so official!
Now only a million things to do.
I bought a lot of things for my trip, but I'll make a whole new post on packing when I start doing that. With pictures.

49 days and counting.
Be good!