Dedicated Indian visa office launched in Johannesburg

A dedicated office has been opened by international company VFS Global in South Africa's biggest city Johannesburg for the Indian High Commission to make visa applications for tourists and business travellers a quick and simple process.
"What is most impressive is that the target is to not let anyone wait more than 20 minutes, with no additional hidden costs," said Indian High Commissioner Ruchi Ghanashyam at the official opening of the office last evening.
"Our job here is to give the best service that we can in an atmosphere that is clean and enjoyable quickly and to send back anyone who comes here for our service happy and satisfied," Ghanashyam said, adding that her office has a zero-tolerance approach for any complaints.

"As part of the mandate from the Indian High Commission in South Africa, we are required to set up offices in Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town, which have all been open since October 3," said Satyajit Roy, Deputy General Manager Operations for Southern Africa at VFS.
"As a company in South Africa we work for 17 client governments, including a number of Schengen country governments and the South African Department of Home Affairs, but this office is exclusively for Indian visa and Consular services.
"Indian visas are issued free of charge and result from a bilateral agreement between the governments of India and South Africa, but there is a service fee of R117 for each application," Roy said.

A number of South African travel agents specialising in trips to India expressed their satisfaction at the high security and technological facilities at the office to ensure smooth service for their clients.
"The long wait for visas is definitely now a thing of the past as India expands its plans to welcome both business and tourist visitors," said Hema Naik, director of RC Naik Travel.