PASSPORTS

Every US citizen needs a valid passport to travel overseas and reenter the US. If you already have a passport and it is due to expire soon (6 months or less from time of application for visa), renew it upon acceptance to the program. If you do not have a valid passport, apply for one now.

You can get passport application forms and instructions from most post offices, or download one from the State Department passport page (www.travel.state.gov/passport/passport_1738.html). Allow maximum time for red tape and processing--it is recommended that you take care of passport/visa needs as far in advance as possible.


VISAS

All artists attending Theater Mitu's Bangkok & South India Artist Intensive must apply for and obtain a Tourist Visa for India before departing the United States. Applications may be sent by mail, or in some cases submitted in person. Visa applications take at least 5 working/business days (not including holidays) to process from the date of receipt. We recommend you start the visa application process as soon as you are accepted into the Bangkok & South India Artist Intensive.

Please contact us if you have any questions about the acquisition of your visas and/or the instructions below.

TOURIST VISA TO INDIA

Information on the application process as well as a list of Frequently Asked Questions regarding the India Tourist Visa can be found on the Embassy of India webpage. 
http://www.indianembassy.org/newsite/visa.asp

All applications for visas go through the India Visa Center operated by Travisa. Detailed information on application requirements as well as the online application form can be found on their website.
https://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/homepage

Partial Requirements (please be sure to read all application requirements on Travisa website)

-Passport: Passport must have a minimum validity of six months from the date of application with at least two blank visa pages. Last 2 amendment pages are not acceptable. Must be the actual passport and not a copy.
-Photographs: 2 latest identical passport size photographs (black/white or color) depicting front pose against light background on photographic paper. No glasses are allowed to be worn in the photo. Follow the instructions on the India Visa Application on how to affix the photos to the application.
-Proof of Address: Applicants must submit a photocopy with proof of residence/address while applying for the visa. Photocopy of driver license or utility bill must be submitted. 
-Copy of Birth Certificate: A photocopy of the birth certificate or any government issued document that shows parents' names, date of birth and nationality. Depending on your nationality at birth, these are the documents that are accepted:

  - US Born: Only birthcertificates are accepted for applicants born in the US
  - India Born: Those born in India can use their birth certificate, old Indian passport or school leaving             certificate.
  - All Others: Those not born in the US or India should submit a birth certificate or any government                 document from the country of origin that has parents' name, date of birth and nationality. Must be               translated into English and notarized.
You should not send original documents.

Application Form

You must use the online application form: http://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/select-application.html

This form is bar coded and will store your information securely for faster processing. No handwritten application forms will be accepted. Below, we've answered in green the questions that we can. Make sure to have the answers to all of the other questions before you begin the online application:

* Name (first, middle, last)
* Last Name at Birth (if different)
* Marital Status
* Maiden Name (If Married)
* Date of Birth
* Sex
* Place of Birth (City, State, Country)
* Current Nationality
* Residency Status in the USA
* Nationality at Birth
* Any other Nationality held at present/past
* Present Address
* Phone (Home, Work, Cell)
* Email
* Permanent Address
* Profession
* Employer Name
* Employer Address
* Passport (Number, Issue Date, Valid until Date, Issue Location)
* Father (Nationality and Name)
* Mother (Nationality and Name)
* Spouse (Nationality and Name)
* Type of Visa (Tourist, Business, etc.) Tourist
* Places you plan to visit Visthar Center in Bangalore
* Period Of Visa - 6 month
* Have you ever visited India before (if so address and dates)
* Have you been refused an Indian visa or extension of the same previously (if yes, details)
* Are you holding a valid "No objection to return to India" endorsement (if yes, details)
* Object of Journey
* Are you traveling on behalf of a company (if yes, details) No
* Expected date of departure from USA - 17th of July, 2010
* Expected date of arrival in India - 18th of July, 2010
* Port of Arrival in India - Bombay Mumbai Airport
* Are any children in your passport accompanying you (If yes, details) [this question does not apply to US citizens. Children traveling with you will each need a separate application]
* Name and address of reference in India - David Selvaraj, Visthar Center, Dodda Gubbi Post, Bangalore          Phone: +91 80 28465294
* Name and address of reference in Applicant's country

If you're having trouble viewing the online application, please verify that javascript and cookies are enabled on your computer. Also check that the date/time on your computer is set correctly. If the date/time is set in the future, this can result in not being able to advance past the first page in some browsers.

Fees
The consular fee, once received, is not refundable even if the visa application is withdrawn or visa is not granted. Fees for a United States Citizen's 6 month Tourist Visa to India are as follows:

  Consular Fee
  $60.00

  Travisa (Processing) Fee
  $13.00

  Total Fee
  $73.00

You can pay by:
Money Order (preferred payment method - payable to "Travisa Outsourcing")
Credit Card - payment with Credit Card may cause a delay (Visa and MasterCard only)
All Consular Fees and Processing Fees are nonrefundable.

For non United States Citizen consular fees, please see: https://www.indian-visa.com/consular-fees?id=1


TRAVEL AND FLIGHT

We will travel as a group leaving July 17th from one of the major NYC airports by way of a major airline, arriving in Bangalore July 19th. The flight takes around 22 hours. Flight dates MAY change based on availability.

Theater Mitu may not be able to accommodate all changes in travel dates. You may need to check with the airlines in order to arrange alternative dates of travel if you wish to stay in India longer. It is our understanding that changing the return date of a ticket is a relatively simple procedure that you can arrange from Bangalore.


MEDICAL CARE

In case of minor or major emergencies, medical care in Bangalore and Bangkok is available at an extremely high standard, on par with the level of care available in the US.  English speaking doctors trained in the West are readily available.  We do recommend that all participants bring adequate supplies of any and all necessary medications in their original containers, clearly labelled.  We also recommend that all participants carry a letter describing all medical conditions and listing all medication, including generic names that might be necessary.


VACCINATIONS

India and Thailand require no vaccinations to enter the country. Travellers may want to get vaccinations for: Hepatitis A, Hepatitis B, Typhoid, Rabies, Japanese Encephalitis, and Polio. Additionally antimalarial drugs are recommended, as Bangalore is a malaria risk area. You may also want to get medication for travel's diarrhea and mosquito repellents. All of these, however, are recommended as precautions, they are NOT required.

We do encourage all applicants to consult your personal physician. We recommend that all participants be up to date on their routine vaccinations such as tetanus, chickenpox (or varicella), influenza, polio, measles/mumps/rubella (MMR), and diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus.

Additional health travel information can be found on the Center for Disease Control and Prevention's Thailand and India pages.

If you are joining us from outside the US, please consult your government's health regulations for the most accurate information.


INSURANCE

Though not required, we do recommend that all participants have travel and health insurance while abroad. You may want to consider the Gateway International plan for your trip. (www.gatewayplans.com)

Please contact us at education@theatermitu.org with any further questions.



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