Getting an Indian visa

Since you'll be getting a tourist visa, you don't want to send in your application too soon- the visa is valid for 6 months from the date of issue, not from the date you plan to arrive in India. Of course, you also don't want to send it in too late. It usually takes about 1-2 weeks to get your passport back from the embassy once you have sent it in for your visa. Maybe submitting your paperwork 2 months before the trip would be a good compromise- you'll have plenty of time on your tourist visa for the trip, and you'll be more assured of getting your passport back with time to spare. Here's the step-by-step:

• Start the visa application process here: http://indiavisa.travisaoutsourcing.com/requirements/ gather?apply=bymail
• Select "tourist visa" from the pulldown box, then US citizen, then the state in which you live, then go to the next page
  
• Click on the "online visa application" and follow the directions. At the end of the online application there is a place to pay by credit card- your other option is money order
  
• For places we will visit, you can put down "Mumbai" as we are not yet sure where we'll go
• Port of entry is "Mumbai"
  
• Nirvan or I can send you the Indian contact info and address
• You want the 6 month tourist visa- the fee will be $73 plus $20 for shipping back to you
  
• You must have a passport with a minimum validity of 6 months on the date of application
• Get 2 passport photos to send with your visa application
• Copy your drivers license or a utility bill with your name and current address on it as proof of residence at your address to send with your visa application
• ****make sure to note the mailing address at the bottom of the page of visa requirements- it is different depending on your location.
• Send the required items via a trackable mailing service- FedEx, UPS, registered mail, etc.
  
• You should have them back within 10 days or so
  

Vaccinations, etc

Travel vaccinations

India does not require vaccinations for entry into the country. However, there are a lot of things that one can catch there (and other places), so vaccines prior to travel are highly recommended.

You will need to make an appointment with a travel clinic to prepare for your trip to India. In order to be prepared, it is best to gather up your vaccination records if you have them. Try hard to find them, it is really helpful to know what vaccines you have already had.

Vaccinations your travel clinic may recommend:

• Hepatitis A- food transmission: a series of two shots or series of 3 shots as a combination with Hepatitis B vaccine (if you have not had this series). You may want to start this series soon if you are going to get both shots before the trip.
  
• Hepatitis B- transmitted by blood or body fluids: a series of three shots (if you have not already had this series)
  
• Typhoid- transmitted via contaminated water supply: offered as an oral vaccine; you take a pill every other day for 3 doses
• Tetanus-diptheria booster- if you are due for a tetanus shot, you may be offered one that also contains a booster vaccine against pertussis (TDaP). If you have a choice, the one with pertussis is not a bad idea- pertussis is making a comeback in the US, too.
  
• Polio booster for adults -one-time
  
• Measles booster dose if needed
  

Additional vaccinations which may be listed as optional:

• Rabies (We did not get this vaccine the last time we visited. There are stray dogs around, and I suppose it is possible-you'll have to decide for yourself. We passed on the rabies vaccine, but we did get travel insurance that would pay for an emergency transport if needed- more on travel insurance later)
• Japanese encephalitis (probably won't need this, but it may depend on how far south we go. I will let you know when I know. We didn't need this for our last trip.)
  

Medications you should also get prescriptions for:

• Malaria medication (several kinds- some you take daily, some you take weekly- ask the travel nurse or doctor about the differences. Some are generic, and will be cheaper)
  
• Antibiotics in case of infectious diarrhea (usually Cipro (ciprofloxacin) or Levaquin (levofloxacin))

You will not need to get a Yellow fever vaccination for travel to India unless you plan to go on to a country that is at risk afterward.

Where to go for your vaccinations:

You will want to go to either a travel clinic or an infectious disease office which has a travel specialty. Here are some places you can look into for your vaccinations, there are surely others as well if these are not convenient for you. Be prepared to spend probably a few hundred dollars on these vaccinations. In general, it is easier, cheaper and more comprehensive to go through a travel clinic than your family doctor.

In Colorado:

• http://www.passporthealthco.com/- offices in Denver and Boulder
• Western Infectious Disease: the infectious disease group I work with has a travel clinic through their office
• (303) 425-3359
  
• 3885 Upham St Wheat Ridge, CO 80033-4880

In California:

• San Francisco Bay Area: http://www.passportsf.com/
• Los Angeles: http://www.passporthealthla.com/

A good page to check out for traveler's health is: http://www.cdc.gov/travel/indianrg.htm