Archive for the ‘India’ Category

All those looking to go to India for holiday, business or to visit family remember to get a visa. Be warned the Indian government is clamping down on people trying to get in without valid travel documents.

This comes as a Pakistani traveller found without a visa was sentenced to 5 years in prison for staying in India illegally. As the judge, Arijit Pasayat, said, “Considering the large number of infiltrators coming to India without valid documents, there is a need for imposing stricter sentences.”

“Applying for a visa to India is not a difficult process,” says Ajay Hasija of www.globalvisas.com. “It is just a matter of going through the process and abiding by the visa’

The Supreme Court in India has announced that they will show absolutely no leniency toward those in India without the correct papers no matter what the circumstances.

Last night I said good bye to my wife and children when the driver knocked on my door to take me the airport for my week long trip to visit our Indian office to discuss the new tier 1 and tier 2 visas.  My laptop was packed, Rupees in my pocket and my Passport. I was even prepared for the 40 degree temperatures at this time of year in Delhi and my diary was full of things I had to do and meetings I needed to attend.

I arrived at the airport where I was greeted by a well presented young lady with a warm and genuine smile from the car who asked for my Passport which I provided as they took my bags away.  Then all changed in a heartbeat a she asked if I had renewed my India Visa.

I knew the thing she continued to look for in my passport would not be found.  I said as relaxed as possible “No I did not.” she kindly pointed out my current visa for India had expired just a few days ago which wouldn’t help my case but she felt in someway it might make me feel better.

I was going to get on the plane.  She knew it, I knew it and all the other passengers around knew.  I bet they all remembered to get their visas.  I wondered just for a minute how many used Global VIsas to get their visas but that was another issue.

The lady past me onto one of her colleagues to re arrange a flight.  As we discussed my options and of course re booking fees he thought it best he explain to me how a person needs to go to embassy or High Commission where you complete the relevant paperwork and finally receive a visas which allows the passenger to travel.

I wanted to in some way to confess like a criminal after committing a crime.  I reached into my bag and pulled out my business card.  He read it and at first was in disbelief “How could a man in your position miss a flight due to your visa being out of date?”  The only thing that came to mind was the old cliche about shoe menders.  Still I stood red faced. 

The man quickly regained his sense of humor and started seeing the funny side.  So much so he decided to invite all his colleagues to share the joke and witness the card he was holding and the man it belonged to.  I was in a Victorian freak show - I was the freak!

After paying a large sum for a reschedule of my flight and firm promises to all the staff of the airline next time I WILL have the correct valid visa I found my way to the taxi rank and finally my bed.

This morning I arrived at my London office where several of my colleagues pointed out I should be India.  Once I told them I didn’t have a visa they looked at me in a way I look at people in padded cells on TV.  Mm mm, I thought - the water cooler will be buzzing with my name today.

Anyway, the good news is I gave my Passport to a colleague who completed the paperwork within 10 minutes and had it whisked off to the India High Commission to have my Indian Visa updated.

Now I know the impact of not having the right visa I now know more than ever my company does provide a very worth while service.  I am looking forward to seeing all my new friends at Virgin Atlantic again same time next week.  

I was asked recently to provide information on the state of UK Immigration in India.  To assist the UK’s Independent Commission on their visit to India regarding the issues faced locally.  So I asked our India Office www.globalvisas.co.in to provide their feedback on the situation.  It is a shame they reported the issues below.

The issues are that people applying for tier 1or other visas are being told by VFS their staff will assist with the application.  This maybe the actions of well meaning individuals however VFS are paid for by the British Goverment and as such can not represent an individual.  This is a complete conflict of interests which must be stopped.  People who trust untrained if well meaning VFS staff to assist in their application are coming across difficulties later.  It is only when they complain that they realise VFS should not assist in the completion of applications. 

I have raised this matter again with UK Visas and pointed out people who require assistance and legal advice must be sign posted to a registered and qualified team of experts to assist them.  Currently VFS are not sign posting anybody to anywhere.  In effect this restricts the persons access to legal representation.

The final point I raised is that Working Holiday maker visas are taking 13 months to complete.  These visas are relatively straight forward compared to the complex tier 1 visa which is currently taking between 15 and 25 days to complete.

It would appear on the surface there is a clear policy to discriminate against India nationals as Working Holiday visas in Canada South Africa and Australia are being completed in a matter of days.

I have raised this now with the British Government so we must now wait and see.