“What the heck?” “Why is this website so crappy?” “Are you serious, I need my photos, and a demand draft?” “Why is it so tough to get an Indian Visa?”
These are all her words. An American trying to get an Indian Visa in Bangladesh!
It was a bright sunny, rather sweaty morning, and I was in the auto rickshaw with her, on our way to Indian Embassy. It was her first ever visit to any embassy. An American, she rarely needs to visit any embassy for Visa. Mail in the passport, and the Visa is returned within 3 days, that is what she is used to. But, here in Bangladesh, she has no such privilege, and she has to make efforts to get a Visa. As we have been together since the first day of our internship, naturally, I am bound to be with her.
Anyway, so we reach the Indian Embassy, and she collects a form. “Oh Darshan, I don’t have a photo with me?” Here starts the American ignorance or what so ever you wish to call it. Now, we rush for a photo, to realize, we have no details as to how much money would it require, in what currency, or in what format. So, the second search for an internet café starts. Finally we find one, and we check it. Comparable to Visa websites of other countries, ours is equally complicated giving no practical details. Finally we figure out the amount we need to pay, and go to the bank next door to get a DD (Banker’s check) for that amount in the name of the Embassy. Then the visit to the photocopier for making double copies of all these documents. Finally we head back to the Indian Embassy.
We are directed to the third floor. Straight faced people sitting in waiting lobby, not a single smile… A security woman asks her to enter her name in a register, and points us to two empty chairs. We are seated, and suddenly a Chinese lady rushes out of the Officer’s room, to her friend/sister/daughter waiting outside, and asks for change. The Consular Officer wants exact 30 Takas, he will not render any change. I am lucky to have it in my pocket and so offer it to the lady. She smiles, says thank you, and goes back in. Few minutes later, she is out with a face of a warrior who has achieved a huge task. After a couple of other candidates, my friend’s name is announced. She goes in, and in a few minutes I hear her pleading voice. Unsure of what’s happening, I enter the Officer’s cabin. The Officer has refused to accept the DD, and now wants cash. Luckily, once again my wallet proves a savior and I have the amount. But, the Officer makes the same demand again, “render exact change.” Now I am loosing it. With straight face, and staring in his eyes, I remind him that the lady earlier has already given him the change and if he cannot accept the worn out notes given by me, he should return me the change for a higher amount note. Officer is quite, accepts her form, and after exchanging a few words, lets us go. We have to collect the Visa tomorrow.
This was one of its kind experiences. Two reasons made it unique for me. One, to see how ill prepared an American could be for a Visa procedure. I should confess, I actually felt better, that for a change an American was realizing what it takes to get a Visa. If I have to put it in words of one of my Bangladeshi colleague from Grameen, he said, “Darshan you should have had let her do the whole procedure on her own. That’s when she would have realized what we go through for an American Visa.” The second reason: I realized how our people are as bureaucratic in other countries, as they are back home. Ain’t there a saying in Hindi, “Ku… ki doom tedhi hi rehti hain!”
Disclaimer: No offence to my American friends. This is a politically motivated post! ;-)
