Common sense comes to India

[prasad1]

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RED TAPE is the bane of frequent business travellers. Many places in the world require arduous and expensive visa applications for even the most routine travel. I have two passports just so I can juggle concurrent applications when necessary. But the best policy, for business travellers and tourists alike, is a less-restrictive visa regime. The Schengen Area has proven a huge boon to European travellers; this blog has long supported making it easier for people to travel abroad.


Now there's some good news. India, a nation notorious for bureaucracy and red tape—not to mention the long queues outside its diplomatic missions of people hoping to visit the country (see picture above of India House in London)—has dramatically loosened its visa policies. Travellers from 43 nations, including Germany, Japan, Russia and America, will now be able to receive visas upon arrival. There are, unfortunately, some restrictions:


You have to apply online four days in advance, pay a $60 fee, and upload a passport photo and a scan of your passport.
It only works for the international airports in nine cities: Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Thiruvananthapuram, Kochi and Goa.
It is valid for 30 days, and you can only get two per year.
Narendra Modi's government has referred to the changes as being for a "tourist visa". But the announcement makes clear the visa can be used for a "casual business visit", and many Gulliver readers may decide that's good enough for them.


The new policy is far from perfect, but it's a step in the right direction and one that travellers should applaud. It will "send out a clear message that India is serious about making travel to the country easy," Mahesh Sharma, the country's tourism minister, said in a statement. That's an encouraging attitude. If Mr Modi's government can pull off more changes along these lines, travellers—and the Indian economy—should benefit greatly.
Visas for travel: Common sense comes to India | The Economist

 

[krish44]

we talk of travellers to india. Do you know how dificult it is for indians to go to any western country or us/canada for tourism or visting relatives?

The whole process is made difficult with lots of papers , interview after a good period of time and a reluctant visa. one gets treated like dirt , standing in queue with

with two level barricades, talking with visa officer through a hole in the wall . It gets real bad in summer or winter holidays time. The visa fellows behave as if we are

potential criminals or terrorists or potential immigrants who are likely to disappear in their country once a visa is issued . most white skin countries treat indian

travellers shabbily as far as visa is concerned.

 

[renuka]

Malaysia and Brunei are NOT included in this list.

We still have to be present in the Indian Visa centres out here in person to get our biometrics recorded.

I wonder why India decided not to include Msia in their list when they allowed Singapore.

I just hope it has nothing to do with the official religions of the countries they did not include.

Totally unfair when we have much more Indians from Msia travelling to India as compared to S'pore!


Anway I dont really mind applying for Visa before arrival..who wants to spend time waiting at the air port for Visa on arrival and if there is any glitch we might not be allowed in.

 

[krish44]

in india i had a funny experience.

I had gone to singapore embassy for going to singapore on official business on the day before leaving. the chinese lady at the visa desk said a blank no citing I was late.

when I had walked out , the security man there told me to wait for a tamil lady who will take over shortly with change of shift who will oblige . He turned out to be correct

and I got the visa. this is how embassys work.lol

In malaysia ,it was more interesting . I and another official from company were giong for official work together . I had official and he a tourist visa which only he could get due to

paucity of time.In KL airport my friend got a lecture on travelling on wrong visa from visa checking lady [ a pretty lady with scarf covering head and looking holy]

before letting him go with an admonition.I consoled him saying , she is a pretty lady forget it. not many govt officials get this treatment. he should feel honoured,lol

 

[renuka]

in india i had a funny experience.

I had gone to singapore embassy for going to singapore on official business on the day before leaving. the chinese lady at the visa desk said a blank no citing I was late.

when I had walked out , the security man there told me to wait for a tamil lady who will take over shortly with change of shift who will oblige . He turned out to be correct

and I got the visa. this is how embassys work.lol

In malaysia ,it was more interesting . I and another official from company were giong for official work together . I had official and he a tourist visa which only he could get due to

paucity of time.In KL airport my friend got a lecture on travelling on wrong visa from visa checking lady [ a pretty lady with scarf covering head and looking holy]

before letting him go with an admonition.I consoled him saying , she is a pretty lady forget it. not many govt officials get this treatment. he should feel honoured,lol

But nothing beats Indian airport officials.

Firstly they will give you a look and then they will tilt their head a bit and squint their eyes a little.

Then give you a serious look and look at your passport and Visa and look at you again and then they shoot off questions.

1)Where are you going?

2)What is your profession?

3)Why are you visiting India?

4)What is the distance from the airport to the place you intend to go?

5)Tell me the the date of the last time you visited India?

Then when you are leaving India and going back they will ask you questions:

1)When are you coming back again?

and when I reply 'not too sure.." they ask again "why are you not sure? You dont like India that you are not planning to come back again"

Sometimes I really dont know how to answer these guys!LOL

 

[krish44]

Sometimes I get into difficulty with my name.

I have ended up with a second initial due to wise teacher in school who added a second initial -denoting my grandfathers name- to distinguish from another school mate

with same name and one initial.

when I expand it is too large to be filed in any form as there are not sufficient boxes when booking online tickets.

also ticket and passport mention my grandfathers name as surname.

It creates a problem when I am addressed abroad and I am called by my grandfathers name. I many times do not rspond to it making people suspicious.

Also hotels get booked in my Grandfathers name. I am tired of this double name and double life. in half my certificates ,service books bank accounts name initials are

at the end instead of the beginning. this means that often I have to give a declaration that both names are mine.

It is a dicey issue which I think I have to live with it. My grandfather is unable to object to it as he is no more. But he must turning over in his grave regarding misuse of

his name by grandson

 

[tbs]

Sometimes I get into difficulty with my name.

I have ended up with a second initial due to wise teacher in school who added a second initial -denoting my grandfathers name- to distinguish from another school mate

with same name and one initial.

when I expand it is too large to be filed in any form as there are not sufficient boxes when booking online tickets.

also ticket and passport mention my grandfathers name as surname.

It creates a problem when I am addressed abroad and I am called by my grandfathers name. I many times do not rspond to it making people suspicious.

Also hotels get booked in my Grandfathers name. I am tired of this double name and double life. in half my certificates ,service books bank accounts name initials are

at the end instead of the beginning. this means that often I have to give a declaration that both names are mine.

It is a dicey issue which I think I have to live with it. My grandfather is unable to object to it as he is no more. But he must turning over in his grave regarding misuse of

his name by grandson

hi sir,

you are better than me...my first name is MY ANCESTORS VILLAGE NAME....MIDDLE NAME MY GRANDFATHER'S NAME...LAST MY

NAME...SO GENERALLY IN USA...THEY CALL BY MY FIRST NAME....IN REALITY ...ITS MY VILLAGE NAME..NOT MY NAME....

EVEN THEY ARE NOT ABLE TO SPELL FULL VILLAGE NAME..THEY CUT SHORT MY VILLAGE NAME TOO..LOL

 

[Jaykay767]

Agree with Krish. It is an absolute nuisance & harassmentto stand in queue to get the junk western visas.

 

[zebra16]

Sometimes I get into difficulty with my name.


It is a dicey issue which I think I have to live with it. My grandfather is unable to object to it as he is no more. But he must turning over in his grave regarding misuse of his name by grandson

I think his Atma must have got mukti and gone to vaikuntam by his own puNyams and because of mAsika tharpaNam and annual Shraddham performed by your father and his brothers and also by you (in the past may be, if not now) and your cousins