Expert: Brian Thompson - 8/24/2009

Question
I am applying for an Indian Business Visa and submitted an invitation letter from a Director of the Indian Private Limited company. The visa officer replied saying that ‘The letter should be with "proper" letter-head and duly signed by the concerned/authorised officer stating his name, designation. etc’.

Please clarify whether there are any legal requirements that make a letterhead 'proper' as the letter that was submitted had company name, address and telephone number - what else is required? Ideally, this should be with reference to Indian law, but general comments would also be appreciated.

Thanks

Answer
Hi

Commercial letterhead is usually of a particular standard, preprinted and containing enough information to provide all the usual contact points, street address, mail address, phone numbers etc and may contain a registration number etc. Corporate Law has different requirements in each country and your indian contact should know the rules for his own country.

I suggest you contact the India High Commission and find out what the problem is
this is one part of a minimum requirement
   A letter from the sponsoring organization in India on company letterhead indicating nature of applicant's business, probable duration of stay, state the validity of visa applied for (1 Year, 5 Year or 10 Year), places and organizations to be visited and also a guarantee to meet maintenance expenses etc. should accompany the application.