How To Fill In Passport Application Form Example Pdf: Fill & Download for Free

You need to write what you truly took as courses, which were specialized beyond what was required by your high school and what was required by the regular curriculum.These would be the classes you were allowed to take in order to broaden your studies beyond basic education expected by the school and the laws passed in the country in which you live.I do not know the country in which you attended high school, but I assume you know what you took which was for a basic high school education, AND…. what courses you chose as electives to focus on interests you had beyond the required curriculum.MEXT Scholarship Application Form: Step-by-Step | TranSenz: MEXT Scholarship and Visa Information for Moving to JapanHomeEducation In JapanMEXT Scholarship Application Form: Step-by-StepMEXT Scholarship Application Form: Step-by-Step2015年11月5日 Education in Japan, MEXT, Scholarships in Japan 283 CommentsIMPORTANT UPDATEMEXT Overhauled its application form beginning with the 2018 Embassy-Recommended Scholarship Application Process, so some of the information below is no longer accurate. Click here for a step-by-step instructions for the new application form, plus a downloadable sample!THE (OLD) FORMThe English translations on the MEXT scholarship application form are confusing at best- and sometimes downright misleading. I used to have two pages of correction bullet statements to copy/paste and send to applicants (most of which were about question 7).One mistake on the form might force you to have to re-complete and re-send the form by expensive international express mail, depending on how your university handles it.By following the question-by-question instructions in this article, you can be sure that your application form will clear review with no problem. So, let’s get started.BASIC INSTRUCTIONSSample MEXT Scholarship Application Form – Page 1 (click for pdf download)Type the application if at all possible. This isn’t only about clarity, but if you type every entry on a page, you can sometimes make corrections by email. If you handwrite any portion of a page, you will have to make all corrections by post.If you must handwrite, use block (all capital) letters and black ball-point pen. Other colors are not considered official in Japan.Use Arabic numerals (e.g. 1, 2, 3). Do not use any other type or write out numbers in text.All years must be in AD (also called CE). This goes for any of your supporting documents, too! If your country uses a different year system (Buddhist, Muslim, Coptic, Japanese, etc), make sure you translate those into AD. (e.g. 2015)Do not abbreviate proper nouns (e.g. cities, countries, school names.)If you have to make corrections, it’s best to start over and recreate a clean form. But if that’s not possible, cross out the error with two horizontal lines through the text and write the correction above.I highly recommend submitting two copies of the form: One printed double-sided, as per the instructions, and one printed single-sided. Having a single-sided version may just save you from having to resend the application by express post in case corrections become necessary!APPLICATION FOR JAPANESE GOVERNMENT (MONBUKAGAKUSHO: MEXT) SCHOLARSHIP – PAGE 11. NAME IN FULL IN NATIVE LANGUAGEThis must match your passport (if written there) or birth certificate. You cannot leave out any names, such as patronymics, “bin” or “binti”, middle names, etc.If your passport does not specify surname/family name and given names, then use your own discretion to separate themIf English is your native language/script, be sure to fill in this blank in English (block capitals!), even if the next line is identical!If you can’t type your name in your native language in the form, try to insert it using other software or handwrite it after printingVietnamese applicants: Write your names in the order they appear on your passport, even though that means your “given” and “middle” names will be in the opposite spacesIN ROMAN BLOCK CAPITALSSame as above. Double-check your passport, especially if you’re from Russia or a former Soviet Republic – sometimes you have middle names that appear only in Cyrillic, so leave those out in the English section.SEXStraightforward- just don’t forget to check one!MARITAL STATUSMake sure to check this one, too.2-1. NATIONALITYEnter the name of the country not the adjective. For example, write “USA” not “American.”If you have multiple nationalities, write the one for the country you live in/ the passport you will use when you enter Japan2-2. JAPANESE NATIONALITYIf you have multiple nationalities and one if Japanese, you are not eligible for the scholarship unless you revoke your Japanese nationality.3. DATE OF BIRTH AND AGE AS OF APRIL 1 [OF SCHOLARSHIP YEAR]For the month, day, and year, use all numbers- do not write out month names.Age: About one quarter of applicants get this wrong! It is not your current age, but the age that you will be on April 1 of the year you start the scholarship. If your birthday falls between the date that you fill in the form and April 1, you need to add a year to your age.Note: In Japan, as in most Western countries, you are age 0 when born. If you come from a country that counts babies as age 1 at birth, you are going to need to convert.PHOTOGRAPHPlease see the instructions in the supporting documents article for instructions regarding the photograph. Paste – do not staple – one photograph in the square given here.4. PRESENT STATUS WITH THE NAME OF THE UNIVERSITY ATTENDED OR EMPLOYERThis one is also a constant source of confusion. You need to fill in two things here:If you are currently enrolled in a university, write “Student at [university name]”If you are not enrolled in a university and you are working full time, write: “[Job title] at [company name]”If you are not enrolled in a university and not working full time, then your status is “Unemployed.”Note: “Recent Graduate,” “Fresh Graduate,” etc. are not acceptable statuses.5. PRESENT ADDRESS, TELEPHONE/FACSIMILIE NUMBER, AND E-MAIL ADDRESS.Write your present address so that if I write that on an envelope and nothing else, the letter will reach you- that means you need everything from your room number up to your country nameNote: Be sure to write in English! (I used to get addresses in Chinese or people who write an overseas address in katakana – don’t do that!)Telephone (include the country code!) and email are straightforward. Don’t worry if you don’t have a fax machine- that’s not required.6. FIELD OF SPECIALIZATION STUDIED IN THE PAST (BE AS DETAILED AND SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE)The scholarship eligibility criteria require that your field of study in Japan match what you have studied before, so when you fill in this question, write your past studies in such a way as to sound as similar to your proposed field of study as possible.The biggest problem I saw with this field was leaving it blank. Don’t do that.7. ACADEMIC BACKGROUND (PAGE 2)Sample MEXT Scholarship Application Form – Page 2 (click for pdf download)The academic background table only makes sense if you know how the Japanese education system works and exactly what they’re looking for.Here’s what those confusing directions really want:PRIMARY EDUCATION, ETC.Japan’s education system follows a 6-3-3-4 pattern: Six years of elementary, three each of lower and upper middle, then four years of college.Regardless of how schooling is broken up in your home country, you’re going to be expected to write it according to the Japanese pattern. It can be 6-2-4-4, 5-3-4-4, or any other pattern, but make sure you divide your schooling into each of the categories on the table- only the “graduate” row is optional.That means that even if your elementary and middle school was the same school (or if your lower- and upper- middle school) was the same physical school, you should divide it up on the chart.IF YOU ATTENDED MULTIPLE SCHOOLS FOR ONE ROW:In the “name” field, write “multiple – see attachment” and attach a paper with an identical style table, but with rows only for the level of schooling you need to explain.For example, if you attended two high schools, then your attachment would have two “high school” rows and nothing else.On the attached paper, fill in each of the fields as explained below.Back on the application form: Leave the “location” blank in the form (fill it in on the attached paper).Complete the “from” field with the date you started your first school and “to” with the date you finished the last school.The “Duration of Attendance” should be the total time for all schools attended for that row. Calculate each separately on the attached paper and then add them together here.In the right-hand column, write that you transferred schools, and the reason. You should also fill in this same information in the attachment.SCHOOL NAMERemember, no abbreviating proper names.LOCATIONWrite only the city and country name (still no abbreviations).YEAR AND MONTH OF ENTRANCE AND COMPLETIONThe “From” date is the date that the school year started in your first year and the “To” date is the last day of the school year. These dates may not necessarily match the dates you were in class.Check your transcript and your graduation certificates. If there are dates written on those certificates, then the dates in your form must match!If you don’t know the exact dates, try to contact the school- most keep that sort of thing on record. In the worst case scenario and you can only find out the month, that should be enough, but fill in the 1st, middle, or last day of the month, whichever is closest.Haven’t graduated yet? Fill in the month and day that you are scheduled to graduate. This date must match whatever is written on your certificate of expected graduation.YEARS AND MONTHSThis field is the probably the most difficult to get right on the whole form.“Years” should be school years. In Japan, the official school year starts on April 1 and ends on March 31 (even though class dates are different). So, in Japan, primary school is exactly 6 years, for example, and Monbukagakusho doesn’t understand any other system, so you should match this style.If your school year starts in September and ends in June, like in the US, you should still count that as 1 school year when you fill in the table. So, if you started High School on September 1, 2010 and finished on June 30, 2014, that is 4 years and 0 months, not 3 years and 10 months.“Months” is anything less than a full school year. If you finished a semester early, or a semester late, you would enter that in the “months” category.Note: The number in “months” should be less than 12. I saw a lot of applicants write “4 years and 48 months.” Don’t do that.When you add up the total time spent at the bottom of the table, note that there is no months category, so you’ll have to convert months to a decimal. So, 15 years 6 months becomes 15.5 years.DIPLOMA OR DEGREE AWARDED, MAJOR SUBJECT, SKIPPED YEARS/LEVELSMost people won’t need to fill in anything in this field for Primary or Secondary.If you skipped a grade, took a year off school, transferred schools, etc., then you should fill that in.If you went to a specific science high school, or something like that, you could fill that in, too. But in most cases, it’s not necessary.For the Undergraduate Level (and Graduate Level, if applicable), fill in your Major and Minor and the name of your degree.PAGE 3 – THE HARD PART IS OVER, JUST A FEW TRICKS LEFT!Continue reading on the link above in this post:MJP

For the convenient update of NRC, the application process was facilitated to the public in both online and offline modes. People opting for the offline mode had to visit their nearest NSK for filling up and submission of their application forms. The NSKs received applications from 9 AM till 6 PM, sometimes till late hours depending on footfall of the public. Every applicant received a photocopy of his/her entire form submitted along with an acknowledgement receipt containing a unique Application Receipt Number (ARN) issued against the form.Three Model Seva Kendras were also set up in Guwahati in the line of Passport Seva Kendras which are models of excellent public service delivery. The model NSKs will continue as a Permanent Enrolment Centre for continuous update even after publication of NRC.For the Online mode of application, NRC online form was made available to the public. People opting for online mode had the option of submitting the form via their smartphones and tablet devices as well, in addition to accessing the form via a desktop/Laptop. It is to be noted that the online form issued is unique in nature, owing to the fact thatit was designed to collect data for the entire family in average 24 fields and 2-3 pages of scanned documents and one photograph for each person. It may be mentioned here that average family size for Assam is 5 members per family. This very well establishes the robustness of the online Application Form architecture. Further, tools for cropping, rotation, compressing conversion photos (including JPG to PDF) were also integrated for smooth processing of the online applicants.The online process was also made convenient for applicants who lacked access to stable internet connection; preventing them from going through with online application process uninterrupted. This was done by integrating an innovative offline-online facility of form receipt, which allowed offline filling up of Form and online submission as and when network connectivity is available. To add value to facilities provided, map-based tools such as Know Your NSK, and Know Your Ward were developed to ensure a trouble-free application submission experience.The guidelines of form fill up were made available in the form of instruction sheets distributed during the Community Awareness Meetings. That apart video tutorials for each side of the Application Form, Side A, B, C and D were developed and made available online as well as distributed in the form of CDs in each district at the capacity building meetings. Applicants could also call NRC toll-free helpline number 15107 (from Assam) and 18003453762 (from outside Assam) or visit their designated NSKs for any assistance required in filling up the Application Form. To know more about the process of how to fill up the application form, see the video at http://nrcassam.nic.in/videos.html which was made available for the applicants.Receipt of Application FormThe process of Application Receipt was implemented through two platforms – the Offline at the NSKs and Online through the NRC website. For the first time ever a unique combination of offline and online technique, namely e-Form was also launched, which played an important part in reaching out to the rural population of the state.Receipt of Application Form offline at the NRC Seva Kendras (NSKs)The NRC Seva Kendras (NSKs) served as the Application Receipt Centre. On receipt of a duly filled in Application Form along with required documents, the NSK operator handed over a printout of the scanned copy of the Application Form along with a summary of documents submitted by the applicant as Acknowledgement Receipt bearing an Application Receipt Number (ARN). In order to fulfil this requirementof offline receipt of Application Form, a software module called NRC Application Receipt Software was installed on each NSK laptops for smooth operations of the Application Receipt phase.Online ApplicationEnormous IT enablement was done for citizens through the Online Receipt of Application Forms, which was made available through the internet at the website of http://www.nrcassam.nic.in and could be accessed from anywhere in the world. All that was required was online registration by the user/applicants by using a mobile number (within India) or an email address (outside India) to which a One Time Password (OTP) is sent. Citizens were facilitated with the luxury to submit their Application Forms with tools for cropping and rotating of photographs, scanning and image conversion tools of the documents that they uploaded from the comforts of their home. The Online Application Form was a perfect replica of the Physical Form with the same data fields. The online application enabled an autosave option, which meant that the user need not fill the form at one go and could submit the form at his/her own convenient time. Apart from being user-friendly, it saved a lot of time in comparison to the lengthy process of physically queuing at the NRC Seva Kendras.In short, the online receipt of application forms allowed the user to submit their registration details online, submit their NRC Application Forms online and finally generate their Acknowledgement Receipt Number on successful submission of the forms online.E-formA first of its kind combination of the online and offline facility was introduced for benefit of the rural public. The application was introduced at a later stage and could be accessed through any Government authorised Common Service Center (CSC)/Arunudoy Kendra. The Common Services Centres are being operated by the Village Level Entrepreneurs (VLE) who ensure the percolation of the National e-Governance Plan at the grass root level. In total 1148 SAHAJ Arunodoy Kendra's have been rolled out so far in the State of Assam, out of mandated 2833 Centres to July 2009), Cyber Cafes, any friend or internet access point for uploading photos and supporting documents. The e-form was made available at the NRC Assam website http://www.nrcassam.nic.in from 6 August 2015 onwards, through which anyone could download the e-form or copy in pen drives from the CSCs. One could easily fill up the e-form online or offline as per their convenience from literally anywhere.The last date of receipt of Application Form was 31 August 2019.Verification ProcessThe sole objective of the verification process is to ensure that no ineligible person gets entry into the updated NRC and that no genuine person is left out form the NRC. The verification process consists of the following steps:Office VerificationThe process of office verification focuses on establishing the authenticity of the documents submitted by validating the same with issuing authority. As per Citizenship Rules, verification is a multistage process involving house to house verification and document verification that involves comparing documents submitted (to trace particulars or linkage up to the aforementioned cut-off date) with the backend available with issuing authorities of such documents. Each of 6.6 crore documents such as Electoral rolls, land records, birth certificates, university certificates, bank documents, post office documents, passports etc. belonging to about 3344 different categories of issuing offices, in addition to over 71,710 schools, had to be sent to its issuing offices to check authenticity of such documents.DOCSMEN - Document Segregation and Meta-Data EntryThe only way of accomplishing the verification task was to set up a specialized mechanism equipped with the best of IT-based workflow management system to send the documents to the respective backend authorities (offices from where the document was issued) through the development of specialized and sophisticated software named as "DOCSMEN – Document Segregation and Meta-Data Entry". The DOCSMEN software is used for feeding information about documents such as destination, document code, metadata and then slicing as per document details for electronic sending to various destinations inside and outside Assam. It may be added that during Application receipt, the same Application Form and its supporting documents were scanned in a single PDF and the PDF was then sliced in Application Forms, supporting documents based on their page numbers. This software is installed in over 6000 standalone laptops deployed in NSKs and circles and the data is then uploaded into a central database for further processing. A special utility is used at central Data Centre for generation of documents in lots (a set of 50 documents) of the same category from same issuing authority but received from varied sources/across the state. This enables systematic sending of documents to issuing offices for backend checking. For example, for the State Board of Education, any lot would contain only the document of a particular year and examination centre irrespective of the location where such documents were submitted. As such, each of the 6.65 crore documents is packed into lots of 79534 issuing authorities for sending electronically to such issuing authority. This bespoke software handled robust data and enabled processing of crores of documents in a systematic format that enabled completion of verification of 4.52 crores of documents in a span of 8 months. Without a state of the art Document Management System, it would have taken years to achieve such kind of progress.Field VerificationThe process of field verification through the house to house visit to over 68 lakh applicants was also made systematic through the computerized generation of pre-filled Verification Teams Report (VTR). VTR is a single page document generated using digitized Application Form data for each applicant that is to be verified by the verification team. VTR serves two purposes – first by making the job of Verification Teams easy by providing prepopulated data related to applicants systematically in one page where the Teams have to record the result only in "Yes"/"No" format. Additionally, the VTR also indicated the fields in which the applicants have not provided full detail in their Forms so that the Verifying Officers can complete those during field verification. The second purpose served by VTRs is to allow quality checking of the first round of application form data digitization done by operators. As VTRs are taken to field for the recording of results, the VTs get a chance to correct any digitization error and take the second opinion on the spelling of names, surnames etc. directly from the applicants.The process of field verification focuses on establishing if the document submitted actually relates to the applicant/member or not. Field verification further establishes an identity of the applicant/member and authenticates his/her linkage claims.Family Tree Matching TechniqueIn the list of unique initiatives undertaken, a major innovation is the generation of Computerized Family Tree. This technique is used to find out if the Legacy Data published by NRC authority has been misused by an imposter. As the Legacy Data has been digitized and each record is assigned a unique number, it is possible to find out a list of users of one particular Legacy Data and then cross check this computer-generated list with actual family members declared beforehand in a form named "Manual Family Tree". Imposters often "adopt" a person in whose name legacy document is available and then get linkage documents prepared accordingly to establish this relationship. Some of the documents used by imposters are not even forged, such as electoral rolls, which are issued without checking the authenticity of particulars. For this reason, it is found that the document verification process itself is not a foolproof process in finding imposters. As such this technique of comparing Computerized Family Trees (CFTs) with Manual Family Trees (MFTs) would be the most accurate method to determine the authenticity of claims of the NRC applicants.Final eligibility for inclusion of names is determined only if the results of all the three verification process -field verification, office verification and Family Tree Matching- are found positive. As mandated in the Citizenship Rules, 2003 all cases, after ascertaining final eligibility at LRCR level, is referred to the DRCR for his/her approval before publishing the Part Draft NRC and Complete Draft NRC.Verification of Family Tree commenced on 15 February 2018 in Assam. Applicants whose family tree details mismatch with other members of the family will be called for family tree verification. Mismatches arising due to giving nicknames in family tree details, name/ surname changes due to marriage, missing out names of all family members due to lack of knowledge or ignorance, etc., will be corrected during these proceedings.Applicants will receive Letter of Information (LOI) delivered at their households by NRC field level functionaries. Details of date, time and venue will be mentioned in the LOI. However, those who receive this letter should not think their application is considered doubtful or will lead to exclusion from NRC. It is an opportunity to ensure Legacy of each genuine citizen is protected from being misused by any unauthorized person to wrongfully enter NRC.It is to be noted that a few applicants whose names are already included in Part Draft NRC may also receive an LOI. In such cases, they need to appear and testify to stop people from misusing their Legacy Data mischievously.source: google

In June 2019, I applied for my UK (BIVS) short stay (6 month tourist) single entry visa by the standard process and would like to share my experience, so that this discussion is updated and relevant for those looking to apply for their UK visa from India. My UK (BIVS) visa includes travel to the Republic of Ireland: there is no extra charge for the British -Irish Visa Scheme (BIVS); if you request for it, it gets included with your UK visa.SUMMARY OF THE PROCESS:After registering on the UK government’s visa application website, you have to fill out a 12 page document. After you fill out this application and make your payment (online), you get transferred to the VFS site, where you have to upload all your documents.You have to upload at least a couple of documents to be allowed to move onto the next stage of the process (you can come back later and upload the rest of your documents).Once the documents have been uploaded, you get directed to their appointment page where you get to chose an appointment to meet a VFS official, and to hand over your passport/s, the printout of your appointment checklist sheet, and complete the biometrics.Unless you have opted for and paid for a fast track process, it will take minimum 14 working days before you get your UK visa.You need to be patient with the process as there is no way to find out about the progress of your application or what type of visa has been granted; you will only know when you receive your passport.The application process is done entirely online, so, you need a computer and a good internet connection, and for the payments: your credit card and cell phone to receive your OTP.The online application process is in two parts: first on the UK government site, and then on the VFS site.Be prepared to keep at least three hours (if not more) to fill out the forms. It will save you lots of time if you read the application process first and gather all your documentations: it just makes it easier to fill in all the details!To start the UK visa application process, you have to register on the UK government’s page for Standard Visitor visa . Your user id and password will be immediately emailed to you. This allows you to take your time instead of completing your application in one sitting; you can save your details and come back to your application as often as you need to.The information they ask for is pretty straight forward. What's a pain is having to give your travel history for the past ten years: this is where being a frequent international traveller is no fun: I had to go through three passports to check the countries I had travelled to, with my entry and exit dates.COST & VALIDITY: A short stay or six month UK (BIVS) single entry visitor visa costs INR 8990/-. The BIVS stamp allows you to travel to the Republic of Ireland. Your UK tourist visa will be valid from the day before the travel date you gave on your application. For example: if you gave August 1st as the start of your travel date to enter UK, your UK visa will be valid from July 31st.DURATION: It took 21 days (16 working days) to get my passport with the UK visa. I applied from Bangalore and my VFS appointment was on June 26, 2019. The UK visa processing center for this region is in Chennai. I received a generic formatted email on July 15th, saying a decision has been made on my application and to collect my passport. My passport arrived at the Bangalore VFS center the next day, around noon.THE APPLICATION DOCUMENTATION REQUIREMENT PROCESS:DOCUMENTS REQUIRED TO BE UPLOADED: this is as of June 15, 2019 requirements (they keep updating or changing these requirements). PDFs work the best for uploading your attachments.COVERING LETTER: though not an application process requirement, is apparently a must to include. References for A Sample Cover Letter for Tourist Visa and How to Create One. I have seen people handwriting it at the VFS Bangalore office and then being charged to have it scanned and uploaded. If you are applying for a UK (BIVS) visa, include it in your cover letter.INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR VISIT: documents showing any plans you have made, such as:Tour details: write the details as you gave on your UK visa application with the address of your friends or hotels where you will be staying.Flight details: give your flight plans. You do not have to show a confirmed or paid ticket - just a trip itinerary. I used British Airways’ plan a trip to show my flight details.Letter of invitation: if you are staying with family or friends in the UK, you would need a letter of invite written by your host (with their UK passport details), or the wedding invite, if you are attending a friend’s wedding. Some guidance on Writing a Letter of invitation for UK VisaEvidence of sponsors immigration status in the UK: if you are staying with friends or family in the UK, you would need to include a copy of your host’s passport (they no longer have to give their financials).MONEY (either income or savings)Bank Statements - past six months. Tip: if you download your statements as a pdf from your e-account, you don’t need a bank official to stamp or sign it.Tax returns - past three years tax returns. If it pertains to you: include bank books/bank letters/ bank certificate/ crop receiptsHOME ADDRESS - documents showing where you live, such as: Property deed/mortgage statements/tenancy agreements/ accountant’s letters/ land registration documents. Your Adhaar Card, electricity bill, property tax receipt, property certificate/kathaEVIDENCE OF ASSETS - documents showing you own investments or your own property or landADDITIONAL INFORMATION - evidence of family members in your home country whilst you travel, and valid visas in your passport.Passport copies of your parents and/ or children living in India.Valid visas: add copies of valid visas in your passport and past UK visas.Tips:EFFICIENCY: If you upload all your documents yourself, all you need to take with you for your VFS appointment are your passports (including old passports) and your checklist, signed by you. You will finish the process very quickly as your checklist will have a list of all the documents you have uploaded. However, if anything is missing, VFS won't accept your application and will charge you extra to scan and upload the necessary documents. So, it would be a good idea to carry hard copies of all your documents, and cash for such emergencies.ADVANTAGE+: Your UK visa application becomes much stronger and to your advantage if you show visas for UK, USA and Australia. Apparently having a valid Schengen or Canadian visa does not influence the decision process.TRAVEL TO IRELAND ON YOUR UK (BIVS) VISA: Indian citizens can now travel to the Republic of Ireland on a single visa - all you have to do in your UK short term visa application is write that you are also travelling to the Republic of Ireland and would need a BIVS stamp with your UK short term visit visa and include your Republic of Ireland itinerary in your trip details. Keep in mind that without this BIVS extension (it comes in small print at the bottom left of your UK visa - see attached picture), you will not be allowed to enter the Republic of Ireland (don’t get confused if you travel to Belfast - its part of the UK). You do not need a multi-entry UK visa for the BIVS privileges. A single entry short stay UK visa will allow you unlimited travel between both countries until your visa is valid. With a UK (BIVS) stamp you must first enter the UK and then travel onto Ireland. You can get more information about (BIVS) British-Irish visa schemeBROWSER: Chrome can get very frustrating to use, especially when trying to upload documents. If you experience this, recommend that you work on explorer; it will make the application process much easier, as it does not hang or lock you out of the system, like I experienced using Chrome (Google, if you read this, please fix this!)AIR TICKETS: You do not have to show a confirmed/paid flight ticket for the UK application process. I booked a trip itinerary on British Airways Plan your trip ; the itinerary is emailed to you which you can upload with your documents on the VFS site.PASSPORT VALIDITY: Check the number of free pages and the expiry date of your Indian passport. You must have sufficient empty pages on your passport or your visa will not be granted (happened to a friend travelling with us). If your passport is expiring soon, and even if you have a valid UK visa (or any visa for that matter), you may not be allowed to board your international flight if your Indian passport is valid for six months or less: Do get a new passport before you travel, as it’s just not worth the risk.PHOTOS: you do not need photographs anymore for the UK visa application - biometrics have replaced this process.TRAVEL INSURANCE: was not a requirement when I applied for my UK visa.UPLOADING DOCUMENTS: do upload all the documents yourself - it’s fairly easy to do. VFS charges INR 750/- per application to scan and upload your documents, which is, in my opinion, a waste of your money and time.GETTING AN APPOINTMENT WITH VFS: Unless you want to pay for a slot, look for the black (no cost) slots which are usually in the mornings starting from 8:00 am. I found lots of available free ‘black’ slots to choose from.ENGAGING WITH VFS: Keep in mind that you will engage only with VFS executives and not UK consulate officials. The VFS executives are trained to be polite and can give limited information - they do not have access to your visa process nor can they influence the decision process. So, don't waste your time and money trying to get information from them about the progress of your visa. You just have to wait it out.COLLECTING YOUR VISA & PASSPORT: You will have no idea what kind of UK visa has been granted till you open your passport.The visa business makes money out of its ‘value added’ services. VFS charges you a fee to have your passport couriered to your home. It’s worth using this service if you are in a hurry to receive your passport, as it will be delivered to you over weekends. Otherwise, it should be delivered to your VFS center by noon, on the next working day after you receive the standard, generic email from the UK visa office. The mail does not tell you whether you have been granted a visa, or what type of visa. It just requests you to collect your passport from your VFS center, if you have not paid for it to be couriered to you. Check the VFS site for collection details and keep in mind that VFS will charge you Rs 600/- if you collect your passport after 3:00 pm. Anyone may collect your passport on your behalf. You need to handover your VFS receipt and show your identification (adhaar card would do).On July 16th, the day after I received the email to collect my passport, I went to the VFS center at 8:00 am and my passport had not yet arrived. They were kind enough to take down my phone number and called me when it arrived at noon. And, no, they did not charge for this service :)I was granted a six month multi-entry UK (BIVS) visa, validity from a day before I started my travel.