Sunday 10 October 2010
Opening a Bank account in the UK
Most banks ask for address proof to open a bank account in the UK. Now, if you dont have a address proof (you are likely to be staying with a friend or someone during your initial days here..isnt it?) there are still some ways to get a bank account. Here are some ideas:
1. Ask your friend to call the utilities company (electricity or water company) and ask them to add your name to the bill. Call them the next day and request a dupilicate bill. This serves as your address proof.
2. Apply for your NI number (read the article on this topic. I've detailed clearly how to get an NI number). And use the letter for address proof
3. Register at NHS. Ask them to give you a letter confirming the address on their records.
4. Apply for Halifax easycash account online. You dont need address proof for this. Just have your passport copy handy.
1. Ask your friend to call the utilities company (electricity or water company) and ask them to add your name to the bill. Call them the next day and request a dupilicate bill. This serves as your address proof.
2. Apply for your NI number (read the article on this topic. I've detailed clearly how to get an NI number). And use the letter for address proof
3. Register at NHS. Ask them to give you a letter confirming the address on their records.
4. Apply for Halifax easycash account online. You dont need address proof for this. Just have your passport copy handy.
5. Walk into any Barclays branch and tell them that you just landed in the country (and so you dont have a address proof yet) and that you need a bank account to keep your money safe. They might give you an account taking your passport copy and Indian driving licence copy. (2 forms of Identity)
Your kitchen in the UK
This article focuses on tips for your kitchen in the UK
1. How to make Curd at home?
2. How to cook rice in a microwave
3. How to save time with chapatis?
Coming up soon!!
1. How to make Curd at home?
2. How to cook rice in a microwave
3. How to save time with chapatis?
Coming up soon!!
What to bring to the UK from India?
This is #1 question that comes to one's mind when you seriously start thinking about packing. Indian culture has been a part of the UK for centuries. No wonder 'Chicken Tikka' is a national dish here! You get almost everything you need in your Indian kitchen here for a reasonable premium. But still, there are some things that should be bought from India either because they are not available here or because they are expensive. Here is a list:
Chapati Maker (belan) - You can find one in a good Indian store. But the quality is better in India
Nail cutter - I've never seen one here!
Tava for making rotis - Expensive in the UK
Pressure Cooker - Expensive in the UK. I make rice, dal etc in the microwave. So I dont have a pressure cooker here.
There is one thing that you 'must' get from India. 1 spoon full of home made curd. If you are a south Indian, curd (yogurt) is an integral part of your meal. You get nice yogurt here. Its creamy types. Also, good quality yogurt is about £2.5 per kg. You can save a lot of money if you do yourself this little favor of getting a sample from home. I'll touch upon this topic of how to make yogurt in UK in a separate article.
Chapati Maker (belan) - You can find one in a good Indian store. But the quality is better in India
Nail cutter - I've never seen one here!
Tava for making rotis - Expensive in the UK
Pressure Cooker - Expensive in the UK. I make rice, dal etc in the microwave. So I dont have a pressure cooker here.
There is one thing that you 'must' get from India. 1 spoon full of home made curd. If you are a south Indian, curd (yogurt) is an integral part of your meal. You get nice yogurt here. Its creamy types. Also, good quality yogurt is about £2.5 per kg. You can save a lot of money if you do yourself this little favor of getting a sample from home. I'll touch upon this topic of how to make yogurt in UK in a separate article.
Saturday 9 October 2010
Visiting Europe from UK - Schengen visa
UK has excellent links to many countries in Europe. If you plan to explore Europe at leisure, I strongly recommend living in the UK for a while. First thing you'd need to start your Europe trip is a visa :)
A visitor visa (Tourist visa) is called “Short Stay Schengen Visa” .
How to take an appointment:
1. You can book your appointment throughhttps://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr//RDV-Internet/html/frameset/frameset.html?lcid=1&sgid=173&suid=4
2. I strongly recommend booking the appointment through phone. Call 09065 540 700 ( £1/min.) The automated telephone appointment booking service allows up to 5 passports per person calling – only the details of the caller will be requested. However, those 5 persons must be travelling on the same trip.
Checklist
The following documents will be required along with your passport (with a validity of more than 3 months)
1. Application form (http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/IMG/pdf/visagb.pdf)
2. Questionnaire (http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/doc/Questionnaire%20general%20visa%20applicant.pdf)
3. Two Photographs (http://www.consulfrance-londres.org/doc/photos.pdf). Are you wondering if the photographs you already have fulfill this requirement? Use this scale to check: http://iruler.net/
4. Proof of Financial Means: If you are working in the UK, this will be easy. Just take a print out of you internet bank statements. Make sure the print-out has the bank logo. If not, I strongly recommend getting your bank to stamp on them. The best way is of course to have original statements. Please note that the statements should not be more than a month old. The minimum amount in the account should be Euro 50 per day per person. If you have a good balance, you can request for a multiple entry visa with a validity of 6 months. While submitting your application, make sure you request a multiple entry visa since you plan to visit other Schengen countries too!
5. Proof of Travel. There are 3 ways of travelling to France. By Train (Eurostar), by Air or by Ferry. Book your tickets and enclose them (e-mail print out of the tickets will do)
6. Proof of Accommodation: I know, I know. Anyone will want to research properly and book a good deal. What you can do is, go to http://www.booking.com/ and book a hotel. If you find a better deal, you can cancel it later for no fee (If cancelled atleast 2days before the check in date). They send you an e-mail confirmation. A print out of this will do.
7. Travel Insurance: If you have insurance covering over 6months, you are likely to get your visa with 6 months validity. Print your validity certificate and the policy documents.
8. Employment Evidence: Last 3 months payslips and a letter from your company stating that you are an employee. It should clearly mention the start date. If you are unemployed and you are travelling with your spouse, you need to include your marriage certificate.
9. Cover letter: I strongly recommend a cover letter since it explains things that may not be obvious from your documents. Get in touch with us (Tyche Consultants) for a sample cover letter.
10. Visa fee: Check the exact fee here : http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Exact-amount.html
11. Make sure you carry a photocopy of the entire documentation, including passports (First page, last page and visa pages).
Arrange your documents in the order of the questionnaire.
Visa timelines: http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Do-you-need-a-schengen-visa-to.html If your visa cannot be issued on the same day, you need to submit either a self-addressed pre-paid special deliveryenvelope for the return of your passport (highly recommended as it is quicker) or a 1st class stamped self-addressed envelope to be informed of your second appointment.
What happens at the Embassy?
The French Embassy is at 6A Cromwell Place London SW7 2EW. It is located a 1 min walk from South Kensington tube station. (dont worry if Google Maps show you a longer route). As you come out of the station, take right and walk. You’ll find 6a barely 150 meters away. Make sure you reach the embassy atleast 10 mins before your appointment.
They let you in exactly at the time of your appointment. After you pass the security check, you’ll be given a token and asked to wait for your turn to pay the fee. Once you pay the fee, you move on to another room and wait for your turn to submit the application. After submission, if you visa can be issued on the same day, you will be given yet another token. You wait for about an hour and then collect you passport with your visa stamped!! You can now travel to any of the 25 Schengen countries!!
Please note: If you are taking your schengen visa from the French Embassy, make sure you enter France first before entering other Schengen Countries. If you ignore this, it can impact your visas later. France is anyways a lovely country. Its nice to start your Europe tour from there
Enjoy Europe and do send us your itineraries and photographs!!
Schengen visa has made travelling to 25 European countries easier and less bureaucratic. Getting a schengen visa is the easiest from the French Embassy in London. It took me 1/2 day to get the visa :)
Here is a detailed do-it-yourself procedure to get a Schengen visa from UK (London)
How to take an appointment:
1. You can book your appointment throughhttps://pastel.diplomatie.gouv.fr//RDV-Internet/html/frameset/frameset.html?lcid=1&sgid=173&suid=4
2. I strongly recommend booking the appointment through phone. Call 09065 540 700 ( £1/min.) The automated telephone appointment booking service allows up to 5 passports per person calling – only the details of the caller will be requested. However, those 5 persons must be travelling on the same trip.
Checklist
The following documents will be required along with your passport (with a validity of more than 3 months)
1. Application form (http://www.diplomatie.gouv.fr/fr/IMG/pdf/visagb.pdf)
2. Questionnaire (http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/doc/Questionnaire%20general%20visa%20applicant.pdf)
3. Two Photographs (http://www.consulfrance-londres.org/doc/photos.pdf). Are you wondering if the photographs you already have fulfill this requirement? Use this scale to check: http://iruler.net/
4. Proof of Financial Means: If you are working in the UK, this will be easy. Just take a print out of you internet bank statements. Make sure the print-out has the bank logo. If not, I strongly recommend getting your bank to stamp on them. The best way is of course to have original statements. Please note that the statements should not be more than a month old. The minimum amount in the account should be Euro 50 per day per person. If you have a good balance, you can request for a multiple entry visa with a validity of 6 months. While submitting your application, make sure you request a multiple entry visa since you plan to visit other Schengen countries too!
5. Proof of Travel. There are 3 ways of travelling to France. By Train (Eurostar), by Air or by Ferry. Book your tickets and enclose them (e-mail print out of the tickets will do)
6. Proof of Accommodation: I know, I know. Anyone will want to research properly and book a good deal. What you can do is, go to http://www.booking.com/ and book a hotel. If you find a better deal, you can cancel it later for no fee (If cancelled atleast 2days before the check in date). They send you an e-mail confirmation. A print out of this will do.
7. Travel Insurance: If you have insurance covering over 6months, you are likely to get your visa with 6 months validity. Print your validity certificate and the policy documents.
8. Employment Evidence: Last 3 months payslips and a letter from your company stating that you are an employee. It should clearly mention the start date. If you are unemployed and you are travelling with your spouse, you need to include your marriage certificate.
9. Cover letter: I strongly recommend a cover letter since it explains things that may not be obvious from your documents. Get in touch with us (Tyche Consultants) for a sample cover letter.
10. Visa fee: Check the exact fee here : http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Exact-amount.html
11. Make sure you carry a photocopy of the entire documentation, including passports (First page, last page and visa pages).
Arrange your documents in the order of the questionnaire.
Visa timelines: http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Do-you-need-a-schengen-visa-to.html If your visa cannot be issued on the same day, you need to submit either a self-addressed pre-paid special deliveryenvelope for the return of your passport (highly recommended as it is quicker) or a 1st class stamped self-addressed envelope to be informed of your second appointment.
What happens at the Embassy?
The French Embassy is at 6A Cromwell Place London SW7 2EW. It is located a 1 min walk from South Kensington tube station. (dont worry if Google Maps show you a longer route). As you come out of the station, take right and walk. You’ll find 6a barely 150 meters away. Make sure you reach the embassy atleast 10 mins before your appointment.
They let you in exactly at the time of your appointment. After you pass the security check, you’ll be given a token and asked to wait for your turn to pay the fee. Once you pay the fee, you move on to another room and wait for your turn to submit the application. After submission, if you visa can be issued on the same day, you will be given yet another token. You wait for about an hour and then collect you passport with your visa stamped!! You can now travel to any of the 25 Schengen countries!!
Please note: If you are taking your schengen visa from the French Embassy, make sure you enter France first before entering other Schengen Countries. If you ignore this, it can impact your visas later. France is anyways a lovely country. Its nice to start your Europe tour from there
Enjoy Europe and do send us your itineraries and photographs!!
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