A fun hour at the Indian Embassy
This is a rant, but am curious if anyone else has experienced this....
Am going to a dear friend's wedding in New Delhi next week, so needing a visa for entry, I headed off, as you do, to the Indian Embassy off C-Ring road.
First issues - Security won't allow parking in fron the of doors, where clearly demarked parking is situation - ok maybe its kept for the Ambassador himself... this I can deal with.
Once inside its actually quite well organised, I was suitably impressed with the set up and the mechanics of how smoothly things work...
Thats until you get to the paperwork and THE GUY AT THE VISA window....
The reception desk is humming, but once I have filled out my paperwork, I take my ticket and see there are only 2 of us in the queue.. me, and my friend that will be going with me.
As with all official paperwork, sometimes there are one or two items you might not understand and anywhere else you would get a helping hand if you are not sure. NOT THIS GUY AT THE VISA window...
I stepped infront of him, and proceeded to hand in my documents. "Give me you voucher first" he says... "huh" my voucher? I wonder... (He meant the queuing number) So I handed it to him. I haven't even asked a question and he is shoving my papers back at me - "go fill in the paperwork properly" he says... Now according to me, I had, and there was one place I wasn't sure of, but was going to ask about, and I didn't sign in another place - Now these two things would have taken me exactly 1 minute to fill in, but no, I cannot stand there and do it, I must go back to Reception, where there are at least 30 people in the queue and get the poor lady behind the counter to help me - again I say, there are only 2 of us at the visa counter, and we are together - she had the same issues...
I say, but can't I just fill it in here? "No go back to reception," he says. I stand there and fill it in anyway, and am finished in no time, give it back to him and then he proceeds to tell me that I haven't filled in my occupation - again, I look confused.... the space says (details of profession) I filled in "Editor" - No he says, you must tell me where you work - Now where I come from, that would normally mean the space provided would say "Details of Employer or Employment" - At this stage he won't help me anymore, and I head back to the reception desk - eventually with my correctly filled out form - I hope, I head back....
Give everything to him in the correct order again, and once he reads I am from the Qatar Tribune, he then tells me that I have to have a letter from my employer stating I am going to personal reasons and not to do any reporting in the country - which I found odd, as isn't India supposed to be a "freedom of speech" country?
So, now I after all my calling to find out what documents are needed, and bringing everything they told me to bring, I am still short of this letter - frustration knows no limits....
Like I said, just a rant - nothing to really discuss or debate, however, I do think he could have been a little more helpful and accessable - and not so difficult with regards to allowing me to answer my questions about the spaces I hadn't filled in.
It did however, make me think twice about visiting India - if its such a shlep to get a visa.
Might be because you need a visa, you came to know about it. This is very common anywhere.
with all the correct documentation it would seem as my friend and I were sent to the cash counter to pay for our visas.
Now do remember where most of the problems came from originally, the letter that was needed to verify that we were not going to India to do any media reporting/stories about India - which we supplied...
Were we not surprised when they issued us, with .... wait for it..... Journalist Visit Visas.... urghhhh.... which cost double the price of a normal Visit/Tourist Visa.
The next shocker was, that I didn't have to pay a cent, and my friend did, QR295 for the visa. When I queried it, I was told that I am a South African passport holder and she holds a Phillipino one.... Apparently SA passport holders don't pay visa costs... finally, my SA passport comes in handy for something;-)
Well, its done... have my passport in my hand, with a fancy new Indian visa - which I collected today, the same day I applied:-) I have my airticket... and now, I am anticipating dear Genesis' predictions about my next fun experience... New Delhi airport...
India, here I come....
"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME
visit www.qaws.org
I think people who work at Embassay's must get very tired of the same questions over and over again so they play this little game where they try to see how much aggravation they can cause those visiting. How they can keep a straight face while shoving the forms back at us is beyond me.
I have visited the American Embassy 2 times this month and they have done the run around thing with me as well. I went to pick up a new passport on thursday and guess what? They spelled my name wrong. Talk about a stupid mistake.
ICC takes 7days? I don't have 7 days, I am leaving on Thursday....
and since I now have a letter from my company stating I won't be reporting anything from India in Doha, sorry I won't be able to give you a full run down of my "magical" Dehli experience, or the wedding I attended;-)
"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME
visit www.qaws.org
I have enjoyed India as a tourist destination but the price of their visas for American citizens is very high. We spent $360 for two people which would be the price of one VERY good hotel room anywhere in the world. I might chose to save the money next time and go to a vacation spot that gives free visas on arrival, such as Thailand.
Mandi
I was in India several times during a 2yrs contract but, at least on Indian embassy in Romania they were Ok. Maybe it is one stupid guy working at the counter.
Anyhow, take care about malaria, noone is imune at it and the only protection are those pills. There are two different types (I realy cannot remember but you can search on web): one of those is realy dangerous for your liver if used more than 30days.
And be happy you have the opportunity of attending a wedding ceremony: it is realy spectacular.
Have fun and don't be scared about rude guys there. You have just to be arrogant and they will obey....If you will be nice with them they will be rude and will try to show their muscles...
RP- Was it appropriate to mention ''Hindus"" there in your post?.. India has all religions living together. You will find all of them in deprtments too.
Or you meant its only the Hindus who are the problem at the embassies??
______________________________________________
Listen to Many..Speak to a few.
Non-accountable bureaucracy has been the bane for India. For this most Indians try find a "Friend" or the 'Right way to approach" to get the required action. Sadly, rest of the world calls this a "Bribe/favouritism".
Indians tend to change once they come out of the country and experience customer-friendly agencies of other nations, but then never Government agencies as Embassies, as they have their umbilical cord still attached to them.
Alternatively, I have experienced that my extreme politeness does gather some help from the bureaucracy!
when appliying visa in any where in another country required the following
letter from company
your arv. destination (ariport name)
responisble person./ company (visiting country)
this all details you filled in your application also
You can't teach experience...
Blimey Xena
I have a variety of unsusal visas: Iran, Yemen, Eritrea, Somaliland, Sudan etc.....for countries that do not really promote themselves as tourist destinations..
and never ever gone thru all that
I even had to get an Ethiopian visa in Somaliland...and the whole thing took about an hour....
How can you encourage visitors if they have to thru all that malarky???
Good suggestions from fishermanalex and sachariyajose. It is best to leave the paperwork to certain typing centers who know exactly what is being asked. However, staff at the embassies should be polite.
Imao !!
Its awlays better to go to Indian Cultural Centre - ICC; near to Lulu Hyper and just give the papers..they will do everything for Indian Emabassyy and will get it done in 7 Working Days.
Some of those Hindus, working in the Indian Embassy probably, would get it right, in the next 100 years. Perhaps in the next 100 years, they will be replace by apes, aptly certified in customer service.
I still remember the time i went to the Indian Embassy,
I was standing in line near the counter when a Qatari behind me asked me a very serious question " IS THE CAPITAL OF INDIA "KERELA" I was shocked I asked why for his response he said to me look every where in the Embassy everyone are from Kerela including the employees.
But overall believe me it's way better than a couple of years back. But over all it still sucks.
My point of view whenever visiting a developing nation or making the mistake of even pondering of the idea is very simple...expect the unexpected.
Whatever you would never encounter in an ideal world, one would expect it to find in such nations.
Wish you all the luck in your crusade.
mojo1981
Dear Xena
i dont know from where u r, but it was just a trailer and wait to see the full movie after going India.but keep one thing in my mind from this movie u will not be bored n find full movie funtastic except starting part.
so go to proceed.
for paper work there is one place in front of the embassy where they will fill all the details for 10 QR only .
they know where and what to write.
last week i got my visa the same day evening 3pm it was as simple as that
Thanks for being so nice and not using foul words. I know, our tourism dept sucks...fyi all our govt depts suck big time. Do you know our slogan..."Incredible India", literally fits some time.
Still, don't lose your heart over some rotten apple. Don't cancle your plans, again I request.
Life is never boring, but some people choose to be bored.... Boredom is a choice. - Wayne W.
if you want this thread to run for pages the title should have been:
'Indian Embassy SUCKS!!!!'
:D
"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365
not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the
many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers
were given. Satan - 10."
You have no idea the toll planing this trip have taken on me, but I couldn't disappoint my friend, she means too much to me...
"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME
visit www.qaws.org
If you say it as it is in the heading, people attack you for not being "diplomatic" enough(excuse the pun)... so I try being diplomatic, and I still disappoint people... really is there no pleasing anyone?
"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME
visit www.qaws.org
Sorry, you had this typical 'Sarkari' (Govt) exp.
The embassies need the letter from the employer, Singapore and Malay, both of them asked us to provide one. Certainly this man should have been more polite to you.
Secondly, there is Application receiving time in the morning and the visa collection time at the noon, again saying from my own experience. You have to give at least 2-3 visits for any visa.
Just don't get disappointed and please don't cancle your plans for this rather disgusting experience. Don't miss the Indian Marriage. And the marriages in North India are truly unforgettable experience. It's quite a colourfull event you must see.
Life is never boring, but some people choose to be bored.... Boredom is a choice. - Wayne W.
I thought this thread was going to be an invitation to a party, ya know, buffet, music, champagne, bouncy castle etc
:(
"Deaths in the Bible. God - 2,270,365
not including the victims of Noah's flood, Sodom and Gomorrah, or the
many plagues, famines, fiery serpents, etc because no specific numbers
were given. Satan - 10."
am immune...;-)
"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME
visit www.qaws.org
just wait till you reach delhi''s airport. The immigration officers are the rudest i ever encountered. Also Be prepared to be asked the most ridiculous questions. Aside from that things should run smooth in delhi. Off course you have to take the malaria tabs from the Prevention Medicine department (Beside LULU center ,opposite HMC).
Hours for visas are 9am - 10.30am - so I can only go back to the Embassy to apply on Sunday again, after I have the letter from my company.
So still another fun day to go....
lol, Zayd... trust me, the swear words were at the tip of my fingers, but I know what reaction i would have gotten if I had printed them;-)
"if you don't like the heat... get out of the kitchen... but stop trying to fan the flames before you leave... it will burn you on the a** as you go through the doorway...." ME
visit www.qaws.org
this isn't a rant!!! where are all the swear words?!!! i'm sorry you had a bad day, but think of it this way; it was a necessary evil (debatable) that you are done with now :)
and very well said keith.
could be that the guy was having a bad day
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy....Martin Luther King
Some wit once said,
"The British introduced bureaucracy to India, But it took the Indians to transform it into a fine art".