I managed to get it last week, and based on my experience would recommend
visiting in person if possible (realise this is difficult if you don't live
near a city that has one of their offices). I didn't have any problems with
the online forms, managed to book an appointment for the next day, and I
was able to make the couple of extra copies of some of my old visas while I
was there. Had I done it by mail I guess I'd have had to send everything in
again. It was done and ready to pick up - or you can choose to get them to
mail it back - within 2 days. I can't really speak to whatever problems
people are having with the website, but I would say once you get to the
office they are helpful in making sure you have all the relevant pieces in
order to process it.

I do know some people have had problems with fulfilling the proof of
address requirement where students live on campus (not an issue if you also
have a US permanent address, but tricky for international students). They
do accept a letter from the University, this obviously just takes a bit of
forward planning.


On 11 November 2013 15:00, Alfred Snider <[log in to unmask]> wrote:

>   Anybody else have visa troubles for WUDC India? BLS International is a
> disaster. Tell me what is happening with you and your students, please.
>
> The website works sometimes and others not. So far it has worked about 20%
> of the time at http://www.visa.blsindia-usa.com/. When I called a
> helpline I got someone who I could not understand because of static and
> drop outs. Another time I called the help line (888) and was told by a
> robot voice that my account has run out of money, even though I can call
> all other numbers without a problem. At another time I actually got someone
> and they told me it would be no problem in 3-5 days, but could not answer
> questions except to assure me all would be fine. "Don't worry" was not very
> reassuring. Especially given the stories I found about this service (listed
> below).
>
> Articles I found:
> http://www.indiawest.com/news/14788-manager-defends-bls-more-
> than-adequate-service.html
> http://www.fodors.com/community/asia/hassles-with-bls-international-
> getting-indian-visa.cfm
> http://www.fodors.com/community/asia/indian-visa-experience-with-bls
> -international.cfm
> http://www.indiawest.com/news/14121-bls-out-to-lunch--say-tra
> velers-frustrated-with-new-visa-service.html
> http://www.fodors.com/community/asia/india-visa-beware-bls-internati
> onal-so-far-a-disaster.cfm
>    Tuna
>
> --
> ========================
> Edwin Lawrence Professor of Forensics, University of Vermont
> Director, Lawrence Debate Union; Director, World Debate Institute
> 475 Main Street, UVM, Burlington, VT 05405 USA802-238-8345 mobile, 802-656-0097 office, 802-656-4275 faxhttp://debate.uvm.edu/alfredsnider.htmlhttp://debate.uvm.edu/tunacalendar.html
> @asnider Twitter
>
>