Never have we seen red tape so thick or so totally pointless. We went back today for our Indian visa.
The process, in theory is this:
1. Take ticket
2. Wait for number to be called
3. Apply for clearance
4. Pay Rps 300
5. Return in 5 days with completed visa application form
6. Take ticket
7. Wait for number to be called
8. Submit Visa application
9. Pay Rps 3050 (for 3 month visa)
10. Return at 4.30pm to collect visa
See, simple and straight forward 10 step process. So, we've got to point 4 earlier in the week and this morning, we're aiming to come staright back into point 5. After collecting our ticket from the little ticket machine (that everyone misses as they are not looking out for it, you don't know it's there and it's not advertised as to what to do, so there is one very busy guard directing everyone back to it). We sat and waited and waited and waited and saw quite a few people jumping the queue.
Rich, to my horror even went up and complained at one point. But finally they started sending people away from the queue without the right ticket, much to Rich's delight, now it was motoring. Finally we were called and it was a simple process to get confirmation that we had waited 5 working days for no apparent reason....... they had not sought any clearance for our visa nor did we need any, so it was completely pointless.
But after an hour or so we had submitted the application and had been relieved of 3000 Rupees for our trouble. We tottered off to run some errands prior to our departure.
Rich volunteered to waste his spare time by going to collect the passports at 4.30. In the afternoon there is no ticketing system in operation. So once they open the doors to the visa processing centre (late!!! 4.58, I might add), it's a simple matter of fighting your way to the front of the scrum and getting your receipt down on the counter first.
He was 6th in the “queue” so was going pretty well until they asked where I was. Ahhh!! “Ill in bed”, Rich replied. “Do you have a signed letter?” the man asked. Errr, no. Luckily, by applying the principle of if in doubt just hang around, they eventually turned my passport over to him. He must have an honest face... or something.
So, off tomorrow again. Feeling like we're going to be out of sorts on the bike after so many lay ups, in Kunming waiting for the Tibet permits, in Lhasa, acclimatising and in here, with Rich recovering from not acclimatising. Route is flat and we're leaving early to avoid the traffic and heat, so hopefully should be all good. Only concern we do have is that the trailer is looking likely to be in need of some repair in the near future. Crossing the landslides really gave it a battering and we have more weight on it since we bought cold weather gear in Lhasa. So fingers crossed, and at least we know we aren't going to get cold if the weather turns.
The process, in theory is this:
1. Take ticket
2. Wait for number to be called
3. Apply for clearance
4. Pay Rps 300
5. Return in 5 days with completed visa application form
6. Take ticket
7. Wait for number to be called
8. Submit Visa application
9. Pay Rps 3050 (for 3 month visa)
10. Return at 4.30pm to collect visa
See, simple and straight forward 10 step process. So, we've got to point 4 earlier in the week and this morning, we're aiming to come staright back into point 5. After collecting our ticket from the little ticket machine (that everyone misses as they are not looking out for it, you don't know it's there and it's not advertised as to what to do, so there is one very busy guard directing everyone back to it). We sat and waited and waited and waited and saw quite a few people jumping the queue.
Rich, to my horror even went up and complained at one point. But finally they started sending people away from the queue without the right ticket, much to Rich's delight, now it was motoring. Finally we were called and it was a simple process to get confirmation that we had waited 5 working days for no apparent reason....... they had not sought any clearance for our visa nor did we need any, so it was completely pointless.
But after an hour or so we had submitted the application and had been relieved of 3000 Rupees for our trouble. We tottered off to run some errands prior to our departure.
Rich volunteered to waste his spare time by going to collect the passports at 4.30. In the afternoon there is no ticketing system in operation. So once they open the doors to the visa processing centre (late!!! 4.58, I might add), it's a simple matter of fighting your way to the front of the scrum and getting your receipt down on the counter first.
He was 6th in the “queue” so was going pretty well until they asked where I was. Ahhh!! “Ill in bed”, Rich replied. “Do you have a signed letter?” the man asked. Errr, no. Luckily, by applying the principle of if in doubt just hang around, they eventually turned my passport over to him. He must have an honest face... or something.
So, off tomorrow again. Feeling like we're going to be out of sorts on the bike after so many lay ups, in Kunming waiting for the Tibet permits, in Lhasa, acclimatising and in here, with Rich recovering from not acclimatising. Route is flat and we're leaving early to avoid the traffic and heat, so hopefully should be all good. Only concern we do have is that the trailer is looking likely to be in need of some repair in the near future. Crossing the landslides really gave it a battering and we have more weight on it since we bought cold weather gear in Lhasa. So fingers crossed, and at least we know we aren't going to get cold if the weather turns.
No comments:
Post a Comment