UK VISA

1. Overview

You can apply for a Standard Visitor visa if you want to visit the UK:

• for leisure, eg on holiday or to see your family and friends
• for business, or to take part in sports or creative events
• for another reason, eg to receive private medical treatment

Check if you need this visa if you’re visiting from outside the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland.

You might not need a Standard Visitor visa if you qualify for British citizenship. Read the guidance on right of abode (ROA) to find out what you should do instead.

The Standard Visitor visa has replaced the:

• Family Visitor visa
• General Visitor visa
• Child Visitor visa
• Business Visitor visa, including visas for academics, doctors and dentists
• Sports Visitor visa
• Entertainer Visitor visa
• Prospective Entrepreneur visa
• Private Medical Treatment Visitor visa
• Approved Destination Status (ADS) visa

If you visit the UK on business

You can apply for a Standard Visitor visa if you want to visit the UK for business-related activities, eg:

• you’re coming to the UK for a conference, meeting or training
• you want to take part in a specific sports-related event
• you’re an artist, entertainer or musician and coming to the UK to perform
• you’re an academic and are doing research or accompanying students on a study abroad programme
• you’re a doctor or dentist and are coming to the UK to take a clinical attachment or observer post
• you want to take the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test or sit the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)
• you want to get funding to start, take over, join or run a business in the UK

Check the the Visitor Rules to find the full list of business-related activities you can do with a Standard Visitor visa.

What you can and can’t do

You can:

• take part in any of the business-related activities mentioned in the Visitor Rules
• study for up to 30 days, as long as it’s not the main reason for your visit
• take part in an exchange programme or educational visit (if you’re under 18)
• convert your civil partnership into a marriage

You can’t:

• do paid or unpaid work
• live in the UK for long periods of time through frequent visits
• get public funds
• marry or register a civil partnership, or give notice of marriage or civil partnership

How long it will take

You can apply for a visa up to 3 months before your date of travel to the UK.

You should get a decision on your visa within 3 weeks.

How long you can stay

You can usually stay in the UK for up to 6 months.

You might be able to stay for longer if:

• you apply (and pay an extra fee) for a long-term visit visa and you can prove you need to visit the UK regularly over a longer period
• you’re coming to the UK for private medical treatment - up to 11 months
• you’re an academic on sabbatical and coming to the UK for research - you, your spouse or civil partner may be able to stay for up to 12 months

If you’re staying in the UK as an academic or to receive private medical treatment for longer than 6 months, you must apply for a biometric residence permit.

You might be able to get a visit visa for up to 30 days if you’re a visitor under the Approved Destination Status (ADS) Agreement.

Fees

A Standard Visit visa costs £85.

Long-term visit visas

If you can prove you need to visit the UK regularly over a longer period, you can apply for a visa that lasts 1, 2, 5 or 10 years. You can stay for a maximum of 6 months on each visit.

There’s an extra fee to pay, which depends on the length of the visa:

• 1 year - £324
• 2 years - £324
• 5 years - £588
• 10 years - £737

If you’re under 18 years old when you apply, your long-term visit visa will only be valid for up to 6 months after you turn 18.

2. Eligibility

You must always show that:

• you’ll leave the UK at the end of your visit
• you’re able to support yourself and any dependents for the duration of your trip
• you’re able to pay for your return or onward journey and any other costs relating to your visit
• any business or other activities you want to do in the UK, as allowed by theVisitor Rules

If you’re applying for a long-term visit visa

You must prove that:

• you have a frequent and ongoing need to come to the UK
• the reason why you need to come to the UK is unlikely to change while your visitor visa is valid
• you plan to leave the UK at the end of each visit

You may be given a visa for a shorter period than requested if you don’t do this. You won’t get a refund of the application fee if you get a shorter visa or your application is refused.

Your visa may be cancelled and you may get a long-term ban on visiting if your travel history shows you’re repeatedly living in the UK for extended periods.

If you’re applying as an academic

You can stay in the UK for 12 months if you’re applying as an academic. You must prove you’re highly qualified within your field of expertise, on sabbatical leave from your home institution and visiting to either:

• take part in a formal exchange with a UK counterpart
• carry out your own research
• take part in someone else’s research, teaching or clinical practice - as long as this doesn’t involve filling a permanent teaching post

If you’re applying to visit for private medical treatment

You must prove that you:

• have a medical condition that needs private consultation or treatment in the UK
• have made or paid for arrangements for consultations or treatment
• have enough money to pay for your treatment, support yourself without using public funds and pay for your return or onward journey
• will leave the UK once your treatment is completed, or when your visa expires
• are not a danger to public health if you’re suffering from an infectious disease, eg leprosy.

3. Documents you must provide

When you apply you’ll need to provide:

• a current passport or other valid travel identification
• one passport sized colour photograph

You need a page in your passport that’s blank on both sides for your visa.

You should also provide evidence that you can support yourself during your trip, eg bank statements or payslips from the last 6 months.

You’ll also need to provide a certified translation of any documents that aren’t in English or Welsh.

You might need to provide additional documents if you’re visiting the UK:

• for private medical treatment
• to apply as an organ donor
• as an academic on sabbatical and want to stay for 12 months
• as a prospective entrepreneur
• to take the Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB) test or sit the Objective Structured Clinical Examination (OSCE)

Other information you’ll need

You’ll need to provide the following:

• the dates you’re planning to travel to the UK
• details of where you’ll be staying during your visit
• how much you think your trip will cost
• your current home address and how long you’ve lived there
• your parents’ names and dates of birth
• how much you earn in a year

You might also need:

• details of your travel history for the past 10 years (as shown in your passport)
• your employer’s address and telephone number
• your partner’s name, date of birth, and passport number
• the name and address of anyone paying for your trip
• the name, address and passport number of any family members you have in the UK
• details of any criminal, civil or immigration offences you have committed

FHRAI (The Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India)

FHRAI is the voice of the Hospitality Industry and provides an interface between the Hospitality Industry, Political Leadership, Academics, International Associations and other Stake Holders.

FHRAI is committed to the progress of the Industry through the various activities like education and training, research and publication, Annual Convention to promote interaction with Government officials, political leaders and stake holders of the Industry.

FHRAI is managed by the Executive Committee headed by the elected President having tenure of one year. The Executive Committee comprises of members from the four Regional Associations. The day-to-day business is conducted by the Secretariat headed by the Secretary General.

Established in the year 1955, FH RAI was sponsored by the four Regional Associations representing the Eastern, Northern, Western and Southern regions of India. The Memorandum of Association was signed by the doyens of the Industry on 15th April, 1955:

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE:
The business of the Federation is managed by the Executive Committee comprising of  24 members, 6 from each of the four Regional Associations who are nominated at the Annual General Meeting, except for the President who is elected. The tenure of the Executive Committee is of 1 year. There is provision for eminent members from the Industry to be nominated as Member of Honour.

The President supervises and guides the administration of the Federation that is run on a day-to-day basis by the Secretary General and the Secretariat. The President is elected for a one year term by turn from the four regions. The Vice Presidents are nominated from the Regional Associations other than the one represented by the President. The Honorary Secretary is nominated by the President. The Honorary Treasurer and Joint Honorary Secretary are elected by the Executive Committee. 

MEMBERSHIP:

Eligibility Criteria for becoming a member

FHRAI Hotel membership

1. Must be a member of one of our Regional Associations.
2. Must be a functioning establishment in operation.
3. Must have minimum 10 rooms or the qualifying criterion of the Regional Association.
4. If the hotel is under construction, only associate membership can be approved. This can be converted to hotel membership once it starts operations.
5. Must have a restaurant in the hotel.
6. Must have all the relevant Municipal/Police or any other required licenses with current validity.
7. A restaurant in a hotel can also become a separate restaurant member (One restaurant can become member for hotel with 25-100 rooms and two restaurants can become members for hotel above 101 rooms)

FHRAI Restaurant membership

1. Must be a member of one of our Regional Associations.
2. Must be a restaurant under operation.
3. Must have minimum 25 covers.
4. Must have all the relevant Municipal/Police or any other required licenses with current validity.
5. A Restaurant within the hotel (who is FHRAI member) can also apply for separate membership. One restaurant can be a member for a hotel with 25-100 rooms and two restaurants can be members for hotels with more than 101 rooms. Such restaurant members are also entitled to two FHRAI discount cards like any other member.

 FHRAI Associate membership

1. Must be a member of one of our Regional Associations.
2. Must be associated with the hospitality industry in some way.
3. Only Companies, firms and such entities can become a member, not individuals
4. Hotels under construction should apply for associate membership. This can be converted to hotel membership instantly after the hotel starts operations.
5. Our associate members are not entitled to FHRAI membership discount cards.

BENEFITS

1.       FHRAI is committed to the interests of the Hospitality community and works in several ways for its welfare and progress.

2.       Discount Cards: Our hotel and restaurant members get two membership discount cards entitling them to 30% discount on rooms and F&B in all member establishments.  

3.       Guide: Membership entitles you to be listed in our prestigious Hotel and Restaurant Guide India, which is updated and published every year. 

4.       Magazine: Our monthly FHRAI magazine is a highly acclaimed premium publication for the hospitality industry. It provides vital updates on legal matters, government notifications and also features insightful articles on key trends in the Indian and global hospitality industry. 

5.       Representation & Lobbying: As the authentic voice of the hospitality industry in India,  FHRAI actively engages with the Central and State governments on a multitude of issues and robustly represents the views and concerns of our members. 

6.       Legal Relief: We continuously monitor various legal and regulatory developments and obtain timely and effective redressal for our members. 

7.       Annual Convention:  The annual convention of FHRAI is the most anticipated and widely attended event of the Indian hospitality industry's calendar. Our convention serves as a unique platform for our members from across the country to interact and deliberate with key stakeholders including those at the highest echelons of the government, eminent global experts, business icons, media etc. 

8.       Research and publications: Apart from the FHRAI Magazine, we have a rapidly expanding portfolio of thought-leadership publications including industry surveys, research reports, monographs and compendiums. 

9.       Seminars: In partnership with other eminent stakeholders, FHRAI regularly conducts seminars, conferences and workshops across the country, on a wide range of technical and topical issues of interest to our members. 

10.    Website: The FHRAI website www.fhrai.com, is a comprehensive portal which gives our members access to latest industry news, event updates, electronic copies of the current and back-issues of the FHRAI Magazine and other indispensable resources. Our members enjoy the privilege of a free listing in our online Members Directory, along with a facility to provide hyperlinks to their own websites.

Reference :  www.fhrai.com

US VISA

US VISA (As per ustraveldocs )

Visa Types

Overview

Generally, a citizen of a foreign country who wishes to enter the United States must first obtain a visa, either a nonimmigrant visa for temporary stay or an immigrant visa for permanent residence. Citizens of qualified countries may be able to visit the U.S. without a visa under the Visa Waiver Program. All travelers coming to the United States under the Visa Waiver Program must obtain authorization through the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) system prior to initiating travel to the United States.

If you do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program (Note: Indian Nationals do not qualify for the Visa Waiver Program) or are traveling to study, work, participate in an exchange program, or any other purpose that does not fall under a B visa purpose of travel, you will need a nonimmigrant visa.

A visa does not guarantee entry to the United States. A visa simply indicates that a U.S. consular officer has determined that you are eligible to apply for entry to the United States for a specific purpose.

Nonimmigrant Visas

A nonimmigrant visa is used by tourists, business people, students, or specialty workers who wish to stay for a particular period of time in the United States to accomplish specific purposes. According to U.S. visa laws and regulations, most nonimmigrant visa applicants must demonstrate to the consular officer that they have strong ties to their country of residence and must show that they intend to depart the United States after their temporary stay.

Common Nonimmigrant Visas

• Business/Tourist Visa
• Work Visa
• Student Visa
• Exchange Visitor Visa
• Transit/Ship Crew Visa
• Religious Worker Visa
• Domestic Employee Visa
• Journalist and Media Visa
• A List of NIV Types

Apply for a Visa

Overview

Please confirm whether or not you need to apply for a visa. You may not need to apply for a new U.S. visa if you already hold a valid U.S. visa of the classification appropriate to your purpose of travel, or hold a passport eligible for travel under the Visa Waiver Program, or if you hold a Canadian passport.

If you do need to apply for a nonimmigrant visa, please follow the steps below.

Note: Children applying before their 14th Birthday or applicants applying on/after their 80th Birthday or if you previously received a U.S. visa that expired within the last 48 months or 12 months and you are returning to the United States for the same purpose of travel, you may be able to obtain a visa without coming to the consulate for an interview.

How to Apply

Step 1

For Nonimmigrant Visa applicants:

Determine your visa type by reading Common Nonimmigrant Visas. Each visa type explains the qualifications and application items. Choose the visa type that applies to your situation.

Be sure to also review the Visa Waiver Program.If your country participates in the Visa Waiver Program, you do not need to apply for a visa if you are travelling for business or pleasure and will only be staying in the Unites States for 90 days or less.

Step 2

The next step is to complete the Nonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.Be sure to read the Guidelines for Completing the DS-160 Form carefully. Note: If denied visa previously please complete a newNonimmigrant Visa Electronic Application (DS-160) form.

Step 3

Once you have determined the correct visa type and completed the DS-160, you must pay the visa fee. The visa fee pagelists the visa types and correlating visa fee in US dollars and native currency.

Step 4

You are almost ready to schedule your visa appointment ! Now you will need to loginto your profile with the same credentials you used to pay your visa fee. Once you are in the system, you will see your dashboard.

Click on Schedule Appointment on the left-hand side menu. This will start the process for scheduling your appointment.

• You must schedule two appointments, one for the Visa Application Center (VAC) and one for the visa interview at the Embassy or Consulate.
• First, schedule your visa interview appointment at the Embassy or Consulate.
• Second, schedule your appointment at an Visa Application Centre. This appointment will allow you to go to one of the five Visa Application Centre locations to have your fingerprints and photo taken. This appointment must be at least 1 day before your visa interview appointment at the Embassy or Consulate.

You will need three pieces of information in order to schedule your appointment:

• Your passport number
• The visa application fee receipt number.
• The ten (10) digit barcode number from your DS-160 confirmation page

As you go through the process you will be able to select your visa type, enter personal data, add dependents, select your document delivery location, confirm visa payment, and schedule your appointment.

Step 5

For your Visa Application Centre appointment, you will need to bring:

• A passport valid for travel to the United States with validity dates at least six months beyond your intended period of stay in the United States (unless country-specific agreements provide exemptions). If more than one person is included in your passport, each person desiring a visa must submit an application.
• Your DS-160 confirmation page.
• Your appointment confirmation page.
• One photograph as per U.S. visa specifications if the applicant is under 14 years of age .
• Step 6
  following your visit to the Visa Application Centre to have your photo and fingerprints taken, you will then visit the U.S. Embassy or Consulate on the date and time of your visa interview. You will need to bring:

• A printed copy of your appointment confirmation letter,
• Your DS-160 confirmation page stamped at the VAC
• Your current and all old passports,
• Supporting Documents as per your visa type

Applications without all of these items will not be accepted.

Note: Children under 14 years of age are not required to attend the appointment at the Visa Application Centre or visa interview at the Embassy/Consulate. Accompany/Guardians/Parents can carry the above documents.

Visa Fees

Visa applicants, including children, are required to pay a non-refundable, non-transferable visa application fee, sometimes referred to as the MRV fee, before applying for a nonimmigrant visa. The visa application fee must be paid whether a visa is issued or not. The type of visa for which you apply determines the fee amount. 

Exchange Rate

Current Consular Exchange Rate:

70.00 INR = 1 USD

Visa Types and Application Fee Amounts - Sorted by Visa Type

Visa Type	Description	Fee Amount (in USD)	Fee Amount (in INR)
B	Business/Tourist	$160	11200.00
C-1	Transit	$160	11200.00
D	Ship/Airline Crew	$160	11200.00
E	Treaty Trader/Investor, Australian Professional Specialty	$205	14350.00
F	Student (academic)	$160	11200.00
H	Temporary/Seasonal Workers and Employment, Trainees	$190	13300.00
I	Journalist and Media	$160	11200.00
J	Exchange Visitor	$160	11200.00
K	Fiancé(e) or Spouse of U.S. Citizen	$265	18550.00
L	Intracompany Transferees	$190	13300.00
M	Student (vocational)	$160	11200.00
O	Persons with Extraordinary Ability	$190	13300.00
P	Athletes. Artists & Entertainers	$190	13300.00
Q	International Cultural Exchange	$190	13300.00
R	Religious Worker	$190	13300.00
TN/TD	NAFTA Professionals	$160	11200.00

Visa Types and Conditions with No Fee Required

• Applicants for A, G, C-2, C-3, NATO, and diplomatic visas (as defined in 22 CFR 41.26)
• Applicants holding J visas and who are participating in certain official U.S. Government-sponsored educational and cultural exchanges
• Replacement of a machine-readable visa within one year of visa issuance, when the original visa was not properly affixed or the visa needs to be reissued through no fault of the applicant
• Applicants exempted by international agreement, including members and staff of an observer mission to United Nations Headquarters recognized by the UN General Assembly, and their immediate families
• Applicants traveling to provide certain charitable services
• U.S. Government employees traveling on official business
• A parent, sibling, spouse or child of a U.S. Government employee killed in the line of duty who is traveling to attend the employee's funeral and/or burial; or a parent, sibling, spouse, son or daughter of a U.S. Government employee critically injured in the line of duty for visitation during urgent treatment and convalescence

Other Fees

In some cases, additional visa fees are paid directly to the National Visa Center, to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate, or to the Department of Homeland Security,

• Nonimmigrant Visa Issuance ("Reciprocity") Fees
  Applicants from certain countries may be required to pay a visa issuance fee after their application is approved. These fees are based on "reciprocity" (what another country charges a U.S. citizen for a similar-type of visa). The United States strives to eliminate visa issuance fees whenever possible, however, when a foreign government imposes these fees on U.S. citizens for certain types of visas, the United States will impose a "reciprocal" fee on citizens of that country for similar types of visas.
• SEVIS Fees
  The Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) is an Internet-based system that tracks F, M and J visa participants (and their family members) from the time they receive their initial documentation (either an I-20 or a DS-2019) until they graduate/leave school or conclude/leave program.

F, M and J visa principal applicants: Check with your U.S. school to make sure your information has been entered into SEVIS. You will need to pay a separate SEVIS fee in addition to the visa application fee. For nonimmigrant students with Form I-20, the SEVIS fee is US$200. For most exchange visitors with Form DS-2019, the SEVIS fee is US$180. Proof of payment is required before your student or exchange visitor visa will be issued. Please bring your I-901 SEVIS fee receipt to your interview at the Embassy. Payment cannot be made at the Embassy or Consulate.

SEVIS Fee Exception

Applicants participating in a U.S. Government sponsored program (programs whose codes begin with G-1, G-2, G-3, G-7) are not required to pay the SEVIS fee.

• Blanket L Fees (Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee and Border Security Act Fee)
  The principal applicant of a blanket L petition must pay a Fraud Prevention and Detection fee and a public law fee for H&L category, either of US$500, as well as a Border Security Act fee of US$2,250 in certain circumstances. The U.S. petitioner pays the Fraud Prevention and Detection Fee and Border Security fee for individual L and H-1B and H-2B petitions when the petition is filed with USCIS. These fees are to be paid at the Embassy/Consulates with a demand draft/cashier’s check.

DS-160 Information

Overview

Each applicant - including children - must have their own Form DS-160 visa application. The Form DS-160 must be completed and submitted online prior to your interview at the Embassy or Consulate. The barcode number on the Form DS-160 confirmation page is required in order to book your interview. The Form DS-160 must be submitted online and the printed confirmation page must be brought to the interview. The Embassy or Consulate will not accept handwritten or typed applications and you will not be permitted to attend your interview without a Form DS-160 confirmation page.

Note: When you sign your DS-160 electronically, you are certifying that all the information contained in it is true and correct. Misrepresenting any facts could render you ineligible to enter the United States. Please double-check that all your answers are accurate and that every question is answered completely.

Guidelines for Completing the Form DS-160

Complete and submit your Form DS-160 after reviewing the nonimmigrant visa application process. You must submit your DS-160 application online prior to making an appointment for an interview at the Embassy or Consulate.

• The interview Embassy/Consulate you select at the beginning of the Form DS-160 must be the same Embassy/Consulate where you schedule your interview appointment.
• All questions must be answered in English using English-language characters only, except when you are asked to provide your full name in your native alphabet.
• If you stop working on this application for more than 20 minutes, your session will expire. You will have to start over, unless you have recorded your Application ID Number or have saved your application to a file on your computer. Write down the Application ID displayed on the top right-hand corner of the page. If you need to close the browser before submitting your application, you will need this Application ID to continue your application.
• The completed DS-160 application form will generate an alpha-numeric barcode confirmation page. Print this page. The printed confirmation page is required for the appointment at the Visa Application Center and for the interview at the Embassy/Consulate.
• Once you have printed the barcode confirmation page, hit the "Back" button on your web browser and then email yourself a backup copy of the DS-160. The emailed file will be in PDF format.
• Photos and Fingerprints

When applying for a nonimmigrant visa, complete and submit the Form DS-160 online. Schedule an appointment for the Embassy/Consulate and the Visa Application Center. You will be fingerprinted and your photo will be captured when you arrive for your interview at the Visa Application Center.

Note: Children below 14 years of age are not required to be present at the Embassy/Consulate or Visa Application Center for the interview in person. Hence, Parents /Guardians should carry a hardcopy photograph of the child below 14 years of age at the Visa Application Center along with other supporting documents.

Visa Waiver Program

The Visa Waiver Program (VWP) enables nationals of certain countries to travel to the United States for tourism or business (visitor visa purposes) for stays of 90 days or less without obtaining a visa. Not all countries participate in the VWP, and not all travelers from VWP countries are eligible to use the program. VWP travelers are required to apply for authorization though the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA), are screened at their port of entry into the United States, and are enrolled in the Department of Homeland Security’s US-VISIT program.

(For more and update details visit: http://www.ustraveldocs.com)