Post
by z00ps00p » Tue Feb 24, 2009 5:57 pm
I paid using a demand draft. I went to Standard Chartered Bank two days before my appointment and paid cash and got a demand draft which I then carried with me for the appointment. Beyond this, at the VFS Global centre, the person at the counter asked me for Rs 200 (in cash) as courier charges for Blue Dart to return the passport to me. It was all pretty straightforward.
I actually applied the day the official exchange rate used by the BHC to determine fees in Indian rupees changed, and when I went to have the demand draft made, I was informed of the memo sent out by the BHC detailing the new visa fees. There's a benefit in going to Standard Chartered to have the demand draft issued, not only because they do not charge a commission owing to their tie-up with the BHC, but also because you can find out any changes in the visa fees. (In the past they adjusted fees on December 7, 2008 as well as January 7, 2009.) Admittedly, if you call up the VFS contact centre, you will be provided the same information.
VFS claims that an extra charge of Rs 100 will apply if you pay in cash. There is, of course, the matter of convenience in that you do not need to make a separate trip to a bank branch, and that may well be worth over Rs 100. (I know that in my case the autorickshaw costs in having the demand draft made alone exceeded Rs 100, in addition to which I expended my personal time.)
