Comments on: Another Round of Frustration at the FRRO http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/09/another-round-of-inefficiencies-at-the-frro/ Thoughts and Experiences of an Expat Living in India Mon, 15 Mar 2010 01:37:19 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: Abdullah K. http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/09/another-round-of-inefficiencies-at-the-frro/comment-page-1/#comment-3181 Abdullah K. Wed, 28 Oct 2009 12:23:08 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3289#comment-3181 <blockquote> @ Sharell - "I already have a visa. I’m entitled to be here (just like every other foreigner who has a visa). I just need to register myself as being here."</blockquote> If the hassles at FRRO gets too much for you, you can alternatively get it done at the office of Superintendant of Police in your area. It is usually quicker, especially if you go with someone who is well versed with bureucratic processes in India.   <blockquote> @ Sharell - "So what actually happens in the USA after you’ve been allowed to enter on a long term visa? Do you have to keep reporting your movements to the authorities?"</blockquote> Compared to the painful and humiliating process of getting a US visa for a non-WASP, I think the Indian FR process is a walk in the park. I had my tourist visa process outsourced to a travel agent, but that didn't stop me from the sickeningly rude and insulting US border and custom officials. Apparently, I am not the only one, as Chicago lost its Olympics bid of 2016 because of the same attitude.   <blockquote> @ PGB - "...if India gets the national ID project going (largest of it kind) … it may make a lot of things easier."</blockquote> Issuing fresh national IDs to more than 1 billion people is no cakewalk. I think it would take years for the process to materialise and then more years for the bureaucratic controls to come in place to prevent the wrong types of people getting the card. Most likely, a national ID card system would be just another bureucratic hurdle for Indians to justify their existence.

@ Sharell – “I already have a visa. I’m entitled to be here (just like every other foreigner who has a visa). I just need to register myself as being here.”

If the hassles at FRRO gets too much for you, you can alternatively get it done at the office of Superintendant of Police in your area. It is usually quicker, especially if you go with someone who is well versed with bureucratic processes in India.
 

@ Sharell – “So what actually happens in the USA after you’ve been allowed to enter on a long term visa? Do you have to keep reporting your movements to the authorities?”

Compared to the painful and humiliating process of getting a US visa for a non-WASP, I think the Indian FR process is a walk in the park. I had my tourist visa process outsourced to a travel agent, but that didn’t stop me from the sickeningly rude and insulting US border and custom officials. Apparently, I am not the only one, as Chicago lost its Olympics bid of 2016 because of the same attitude.
 

@ PGB – “…if India gets the national ID project going (largest of it kind) … it may make a lot of things easier.”

Issuing fresh national IDs to more than 1 billion people is no cakewalk. I think it would take years for the process to materialise and then more years for the bureaucratic controls to come in place to prevent the wrong types of people getting the card. Most likely, a national ID card system would be just another bureucratic hurdle for Indians to justify their existence.

]]> By: Ramit http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/09/another-round-of-inefficiencies-at-the-frro/comment-page-1/#comment-2060 Ramit Tue, 15 Sep 2009 09:50:54 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3289#comment-2060 Oh and Qatar Airways has a wonderful new flight to Melbourne! Have fun! Oh and Qatar Airways has a wonderful new flight to Melbourne! Have fun!

]]> By: Ramit http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/09/another-round-of-inefficiencies-at-the-frro/comment-page-1/#comment-2052 Ramit Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:46:17 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3289#comment-2052 Believe me Sharell, the Visa process would be easier than the visits to the FRRO & stuff. Try doing it. And if you get any obstacles on the way, you can always use your rights as an Australian citizen. Go for it. All the best. Believe me Sharell, the Visa process would be easier than the visits to the FRRO & stuff. Try doing it. And if you get any obstacles on the way, you can always use your rights as an Australian citizen. Go for it. All the best.

]]> By: Sharell http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/09/another-round-of-inefficiencies-at-the-frro/comment-page-1/#comment-2037 Sharell Mon, 14 Sep 2009 06:07:18 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3289#comment-2037 Thank so much, for all the info and encouragement but I really do think I'll have to leave it until next time. We were planning on visiting Oz next year, but my mum called and wants me home for Christmas. So I'm aiming to go mid November. Before then I have to deal with the FRRO, including registration and PIO application, and more travel for work. I don't think I could handle the visa application process in between all that. It might make me a little bit mental! :-P V tells me the Mumbai office is in a mess so we'd have to go to Delhi. Next time, definitely next time!!! :-) Thank so much, for all the info and encouragement but I really do think I’ll have to leave it until next time. We were planning on visiting Oz next year, but my mum called and wants me home for Christmas. So I’m aiming to go mid November. Before then I have to deal with the FRRO, including registration and PIO application, and more travel for work. I don’t think I could handle the visa application process in between all that. It might make me a little bit mental! :-P V tells me the Mumbai office is in a mess so we’d have to go to Delhi. Next time, definitely next time!!! :-)

]]> By: Ramit http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/09/another-round-of-inefficiencies-at-the-frro/comment-page-1/#comment-2035 Ramit Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:42:51 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3289#comment-2035 See this website. It should help. Good luck. Keep me posted. http://www.vfs-au-in.com/ See this website. It should help. Good luck. Keep me posted.

http://www.vfs-au-in.com/

]]> By: Ramit http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/09/another-round-of-inefficiencies-at-the-frro/comment-page-1/#comment-2034 Ramit Mon, 14 Sep 2009 05:41:47 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3289#comment-2034 But that doesn't mean you will not even try! You should try! It'll be easier if you could arrange from your parents to send him a sponsor letter. Try finding out a bit more about it though. Another thing that you could probably do is go to the embassy and talk to the Visa officer there. He cannot refuse a meeting with you because you are still a Aussie Citizen on Indian soil. He'll be in big trouble if he refuses to meet with you. A few phone calls here and there should get things rolling. Let me know what happens. But dont' be shy to meet the Visa officer directly. He cannot refuse you. Being a Aussie citizen, you have the right to just walk in to the embassy and demand to speak with whosoever is in charge. All the best! But that doesn’t mean you will not even try! You should try! It’ll be easier if you could arrange from your parents to send him a sponsor letter. Try finding out a bit more about it though. Another thing that you could probably do is go to the embassy and talk to the Visa officer there. He cannot refuse a meeting with you because you are still a Aussie Citizen on Indian soil. He’ll be in big trouble if he refuses to meet with you. A few phone calls here and there should get things rolling. Let me know what happens. But dont’ be shy to meet the Visa officer directly. He cannot refuse you. Being a Aussie citizen, you have the right to just walk in to the embassy and demand to speak with whosoever is in charge.

All the best!

]]> By: Sharell http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/09/another-round-of-inefficiencies-at-the-frro/comment-page-1/#comment-2024 Sharell Sun, 13 Sep 2009 08:42:05 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3289#comment-2024 Thanks V, that's such a relief to know. I was really expecting the worst after dealing with so much bureaucracy here (and hearing other people's horror stories elsewhere)!! Ramit -- he really doesn't have a visa. The opportunity hadn't really come up for him to visit yet, and now I've planned an impromptu trip home in November/December there just didn't seem time to arrange everything. His paperwork is in appalling condition and I wasn't sure he'd have the necessary documents. Thanks V, that’s such a relief to know. I was really expecting the worst after dealing with so much bureaucracy here (and hearing other people’s horror stories elsewhere)!!

Ramit — he really doesn’t have a visa. The opportunity hadn’t really come up for him to visit yet, and now I’ve planned an impromptu trip home in November/December there just didn’t seem time to arrange everything. His paperwork is in appalling condition and I wasn’t sure he’d have the necessary documents.

]]> By: V. http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/09/another-round-of-inefficiencies-at-the-frro/comment-page-1/#comment-2023 V. Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:17:29 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3289#comment-2023 Idon’t know when my husband will be visiting Australia with me because of the huge process required to go through just to get him a visa. - Don’t stress, It took my partner the standard week to get his tourist visa, I have all the info for you. Compared to the FRRO, you could call it pleasant experience!!!! :) Idon’t know when my husband will be visiting Australia with me because of the huge process required to go through just to get him a visa.

- Don’t stress, It took my partner the standard week to get his tourist visa, I have all the info for you. Compared to the FRRO, you could call it pleasant experience!!!! :)

]]> By: Ramit http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/09/another-round-of-inefficiencies-at-the-frro/comment-page-1/#comment-2022 Ramit Sun, 13 Sep 2009 07:16:19 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3289#comment-2022 What? He still doesn't have a Aussie Visa? How come? Why? That's strange! You're kidding me, right? What? He still doesn’t have a Aussie Visa? How come? Why? That’s strange!

You’re kidding me, right?

]]> By: Sharell http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/2009/09/another-round-of-inefficiencies-at-the-frro/comment-page-1/#comment-2015 Sharell Sat, 12 Sep 2009 15:14:12 +0000 http://www.whiteindianhousewife.com/?p=3289#comment-2015 Hey Ramit, no need to apologise. It's great that you can help Karin out. I wish someone could give me such useful advice about getting an Australian visa for my husband. :-) Hey Ramit, no need to apologise. It’s great that you can help Karin out. I wish someone could give me such useful advice about getting an Australian visa for my husband. :-)

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