The Indian Visa Application Centre (IVAC) has issued new guidelines on appointment booking schedules and procedures for Bangladeshi visa applicants.

According to the guidelines issued on Tuesday (October 6), new appointment slots for the following two weeks will generally be opened every Thursday or on the last working day of the week. However, the availability of slots will depend on the concerned mission and visa section.

Subject to slot availability, appointments can be booked from 12pm to 5pm Sunday through Thursday and from 10am to 12pm on Saturday. However, applicants will not be allowed to book an appointment for the same day.

Considering office opening days, applicants will only be able to book appointments for dates falling within the following two weeks. IVAC has urged applicants to complete their appointment bookings on time by following the prescribed procedures.

Meanwhile, Indian visa authorities have warned applicants against fraud involving appointment bookings. They said some unscrupulous brokers and agents are posing as officials or representatives of the Indian High Commission, collecting money from applicants and promising guaranteed appointment slots.

The Indian High Commission said neither its Dhaka mission nor the Assistant High Commissions in Chattogram, Rajshahi, Khulna and Sylhet contact applicants through personal phone calls, social media or third parties to demand money in exchange for appointments.

The High Commission and Assistant High Commissions also do not charge Bangladeshi citizens any fee for Indian visas.

Apart from the IVAC-prescribed visa processing fee of Tk 1,500, applicants do not need to pay any additional amount to secure an appointment slot or obtain an earlier slot. Authorities warned that demanding extra money in the name of appointments or expedited visas is fraudulent.

Applicants have been advised not to deal with brokers or intermediaries who claim to have “direct access” to the visa authorities. Any suspicious communication should be reported promptly to 01325089975.