Indian VISA

[Ryan Lortie <desrt desrt ca>]

Hello,

It looks likely that I will attend the GNOME.asia summit this year.  I 
need to get a visa rather quickly.

I called them because the process of getting a visa is extremely 
confusing.  I'm not entirely sure what category of visa I should apply 
for and neither are they.  The guy I talked to on the phone seemed to 
think that it would depend on the following things:

 - if the conference had clearance from the ministry of home affairs
 - clearance from the state government
 - clearance from the ministry of external affairs

and also if the organiser of the conference were a registered non-profit 
group in India.

I was planning to apply for the tourist visa, but he seemed to think 
that either a business or conference visa would be necessary.

Can someone please clarify for me which visa will get me into India for 
the purpose of attending this event?

Also: if I need a conference or business visa, I will need an invitation 
letter from the organisers.  Here's my info:

Passport #: JQ403032 [1]
Affiliation: self employed
Letter addressed to:

VFS Canada
939 Eglinton Ave East, Unit 102
Toronto, ON  M4G 4E8

(apparently they outsourced their visa processing to a private company)

I'll be staying at the hotel that the conference has booked.

I'm arriving on the 26th and leaving on the 5th.

Thank you




[1] I'm having my passport reissued since India requires it to be valid 
for 7 months.  This number will probably change.