| SPRIGG NET |
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| SPRIGG NET |
| How to Travel to India |
| Contents (page 1) - Summary - Tickets - Vaccinations & Medication - Passport & Visa (the hard way) - Passport & Visa (the easy way) (page 2) - Arrival in India - Travel within India _____________________________________________________________________________ ( Page 1 of 2) Summary 1. Start working on passport, visa, and reservations at least 4 months in advance. 2. Hotels and flights in India are simple. 3. Local travel (such as taxis) are a hassle because of language. Tickets: Book your tickets. You might be able to book early and purchase your ticket later, in case you're not sure of the dates, as long as your purchase by some deadline that the travel agent will tell you. You need a copy of the itinerary for your Indian Visa application (see Visa instructions below). International Flights: I purchase international tickets from Cheap Tickets (cheapticket.com), where you can search consolidated (discount) fares for various cities and dates, and get an idea of prices and availability and even purchase on-line if you prefer. I would search on-line, even if you plan to use a travel agent, because prices can vary and many travel agents do not know how to find the best deals. If you are going to Chandigarh, book your flight from U.S. to Delhi. Domestic Flights: Do not purchase domestic flights for travel within India until you arrive in India. However, you can search schedules and plan your domestic travel by searching Jet Airways (www.jetairways.com), which is a very good (best airline I've ever flown) private Indian airline. You can purchase your JetAirways flight from Delhi to Chandigarh at the airport in India using your Visa credit card. Vaccinations & Medication: Be sure you are vaccinated against (1) Polio, (2) Typhoid, (3) Tetanus, and (4) Hepatitis A. Tetanus requires two shots ten years apart. Hepatitis A requires at least one shot before your trip, and a second shot six months later. In addition, you fshould get a presciption for antibiotics in case of traveler's diarrhea. Passport & Visa (the hard way): There are a few approaches, depending on your hurry and how much you want to spend. You can find FULL INSTRUCTIONS at http://travel.state.gov. I summarize below the instructions for US born citizens who never obtained or who have lost their passport... 1. Download and complete this form: DS-11: Application for Passport. 2. Get an official copy of your birth certificate with a raised seal from your birth-state's vital records office (see state.gov web-site for your state's contact information). 3. Take form DS-11, your birth certificate, your driver license, and your checkbook to a post office or county office that verifies identities for passport applications and takes photos. Then mail application. 4. You need you book your tickets and keep two extra copies of your passport photos; you need to send these with you Indian Visa application. For details, go to www.travisa.com, click on "Visas", click on "India", click on "Visa Instructions Sheet". Passport & Visa (the easy way): For a few extra bucks, get passport and visa together in one step. You will (1) get all the paperwork together, (2) make a trip to a passport post office OR Clerk of the Court for identity verification and photos, and (3) send ALL paperwork and checks directly to Travisa. Call Travisa several times as you get things together to make sure you have all the right stuff. 1. Go to www.travisa.com. Click on "Passports", click on "New US Passport", follow these instructions, but don't mail the paperwork to travisa until you also get the visa paper covered in step #2 (next). 2. Go to www.travisa.com. Click on "Visas", click on "India", follow these instructions, click on "Visa Instructions Sheet". 3. Some of the passport paperwork will be enclosed in an envelop that was sealed at the post office. Put this envelop and other paperwork and checks in another larger envelop. Call Travisa to confirm you have all the right stuff, then send the larger envelop to Travisa. They will send your passport with the Indian Visa already in it. |
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