The first thing to do is to head for the reception desk. This is usually the line with an awfully long line. The waiting time for the reception averages at about 30 - 45 minutes. Here you will see the archaic works of Indian bureaucracy in action. At this point you might either receive a paper where your waiting number for a counter is written at the top or your name will be written down and thrown in a pile of other papers.

If the second happens keep an eye on that paper and do try to place some pressure on them to get things done. A man should come by and take all the papers away. He is supposed to go search for your documents in their archive. This can take quite a while and again keep an eye on if the same guy comes back. Sometimes they will not even tell you if they did not find your documents. Again, it is very important to be assertive in this case as they will not give you a thought otherwise.

In the other case, where you are asked to wait for your waiting number to be up at the counter your turn will eventually come (usually after min. 30 minutes). Here you will talk to an officer and he may very likely fill out some forms. Here it is important to keep an eye on what they fill out as one mistake here can cost you many more days in this office (this happened to me, it costs me more than 12 hours - over three visits).

There are people in charge that sometimes can actually be helpful and sometimes just stuck up (luck of the draw). They can get things done, but they cannot help you with extending your visa! This can only be done in the ministry of home affairs.

If you are going through a visa extension (employment) you will first get a short visa for a few months and then you will have to go through another process at the FRRO. This includes a visit to your house where you prove that you reside there. After this you should receive a letter by mail telling you that your documents are ready. This did not happen in my case due to typos by the FRRO and I had to be very proactive to get things done. You will also be visiting the Ministry of home affairs at least once.

Come between 9 – 10 in the morning to be sure to get a token. You pick up the token from a man at the table under a tree to the right of the reception building. After this you wait till your number comes up on the sign in the reception area. From them you should receive a pass to get into the building.

Once you proceed inside the main building and upstairs, you will find another waiting room. In the corner there should be a woman with a lot of people around her. Get a form from her and fill it out. Be sure to do this fast as anyone who comes in front of you here will be in front of you in line. The papers are then sent to the clerks at the desks on the right hand side. This is where the long and stressful wait can come in.

It is normal that at least two hours will pass before your name will come up, but it is usually a longer wait. So you really do not have to crowd around the desks as it will not make things go faster. Usually Westerners are sent to section F II which is a small man without much sense of humor, however he is the man you need to plead your case in front of. Do make sure that he confirms that he will give you the amount of months you need as you will not otherwise know till the next day. He may even deny your visa extension without blinking and not telling you.

After this you will be asked to come back at 5 pm and pick up your brown envelope from the reception. Do not open this. Next you will go back to the FRRO where you will hand the envelope over and if you are lucky you will receive a visa.

The process mentioned above is the more uncertain route. If you feel that there is doubt in your case do the following. Come at around 11.45 to the reception and start telling the receptionists that you have an appointment with Dr Mitra. This is the guy that can do anything in regards to visas (he is the “King” of Visas). Pick up the phone in the reception and call 218. Here you tell them firmly that you were suppose to see Dr. Mitra. Another option is to call 292 and ask for Mr Mann (he is also some sort of top gun).

It is important that you keep up an assertive attitude here and eventually the receptionists should give you an entry pass and a visitors pass. You then procede to room 6a where you hand in the slip and then wait till you are called. Be sure to be ready when meeting Dr Mitra he wants your story quickly and to the point. He should be able to grant you anything related to visas. If someone questions you after you talked to him, just say that you talked to Dr. Mitra.

Contacts in Ministry of Home affairs:

Dr. Mitra – Top officer – he can make any visa come true (local number 218 – from reception) – room 12c
Mr Mann – A top officer of some sort – good for name dropping (local number 292 – from reception)

Mahesh – a rather nice guy – works at counter 5 - try number (011) 26711443
Vandana Rao – not that reliable - works at a counter – mobile 9811174480
FRRO employee who comes and checks at residents for visa extension – room 302 – 9811472847
Rajinder – rather friendly, but very busy – works at the reception/cash counter

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