One of the legacies of empire is bureaucracy. The Romans were famous for it, the American Government is notorious for it and the English imposed it on the Commonwealth and celebrate their proficiency with it in Brussels. Why am I talking about this? Well I have just received the details for getting a visa for India (Our first training course there in December, places still available). I have to turn up in London on one day with forms, photographs and letters and return the next day to collect the passport. I know it will be a nightmare from bitter previous experience. I went onto the web site this morning to see an interesting variation. If I was a journalist and visiting for a holiday then I would have to bring with me (1) a letter from my employer stating the purpose of travel and (2) a signed undertaking that "the application will not do any media or media-related work during his/her stay in India". Interesting that one, fortunately there is nothing in there anywhere about blogging .....
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Comments (6)
I went through a remarkably similar set of hoops to go to Brazil a few months back. The word "reciprocity" turned up frequently in the instructions. Basically, there have been so many new rules imposed on non-US visitors to the US that other nation's are imposing the same rules on US citizens.
I ran into a similar requirement that my application must be hand carried into the nearest consulate (1500 miles away) and discovered that, human beings being as creative as they are, there is an entire niche business now based on collecting and hand carrying people's visa applications to consulates for them.
Posted by Steve Holt | November 10, 2008 9:21 PM
Posted on November 10, 2008 21:21
I went through this experience last year for the first time before a business trip to Delhi. If you have the correct items with you, it is possible to get the visa in one day. I managed it.
Just view the wait as an interesting opportunity to move through chaos and complexity ! And have a preview of Indian bureacracy before you actually get there. It is an exercise in stepping into the laidback philosophy you will need when you egt there... After the Brits introduced bureacracy to India, they developed it in to something that was even more labour intensive. It's fascinating to watch if you are not in a hurry.
PS Get to the Indian Embassy early and do not wait in the general queue - there is a separate queue for non-Indian nationals wanting a visa for travel.
Posted by Cheryl | November 10, 2008 9:30 PM
Posted on November 10, 2008 21:30
I've been through this one. The best thing is to pay the (not very much) extra and hire an agency to do it. You can find one by searching around the web. It turns out that they get priority at the embassy anyway and your time is worth more than theirs in this respect.
One interesting quirk as an independent is that you have to write a letter as your employer vouching for your own good standing.
Posted by Steve Freeman | November 10, 2008 9:33 PM
Posted on November 10, 2008 21:33
Hey Dave
As I frequent visitor to India in the past 12 months I can tell you that getting a visa is only the tip of Indian bureaucracy.
The last time I went I had to queue at the Indian Consulate in London for a day.
Airports in India also seem to be a minefield in this regard. Delhi Airport (departing) was particularly bad from memory.
The bureaucracy that exists seems to be made worse by having an enormous population of willing workers who can maintain it.
However, I still think its a great and fascinating place. Hence our aim to open an offshoot in Mumbai.!
If I can stomach the paperwork!
Posted by Stuart | November 11, 2008 8:58 AM
Posted on November 11, 2008 08:58
Hi Dave
When I was travelling on business a few years ago to far flung place the following were excellent and very efficient. All necessary visas arranged promptly and professionally (at a cost - obviously)
http://www.tmgcorporate.com/visa.html
Best Wishes
Dave
Posted by David Hoyle | November 11, 2008 1:19 PM
Posted on November 11, 2008 13:19
I gather from Indian ex-pat friends and colleagues that the Indians have taken the English impartation of bureaucracy and raised it to an art form!
I hope you don't fall foul!
Posted by Karyn Romeis | November 11, 2008 7:16 PM
Posted on November 11, 2008 19:16