Oh what a day!

If I thought that applying for a Myanmar visa was difficult I was about to be surprised. I was requesting a 6 month multiple entry visa for India. The rationale behind this was quite simple. I intended to fly to New Delhi from Bangkok after my teaching course. I had chosen to do this as it is notoriously expensive to fly direct to Kathmandu from anywhere and Air Asia offered a reasonably priced ticket to India. I would spend a few days in Delhi before flying on to Nepal. This would save me about £200 and budgets are tight, I'm unemployed you know.
As I was intending to spend around two and a half months in Nepal before making my way back to Delhi overland a six month multiple entry visa was the only option. That's where the problems start. VFS the company who have been given the outsourced job of processing visas on behalf if the embassy only have authority to issue 3 month single entry visas, hence, I had to go for an interview with the 'consular officer' at 9.00am on Monday.

Despite yet another sleepless night I was up early and took a taxi to the National Stadium where I caught the Sky Train to Ashok station. It is then just a 10 minute walk to the Indian Embassy. On arrival I signed in and was ushered through security . My phone and camera where taken away and I was issued with a receipt. Through a courtyard was the office. I handed over the appointment paperwork issued by VFS and was told to take a seat. Within 10 minutes I was called and directed to office 104. It was like going back in time. On the door was a sign 'Deputy Consul to India' wow! One of the big cheeses! The office was just like a scene from passage to India. Old mahogany desk, panelled Walls and a miserable man sitting in a large leather chair peering over his glasses. On the desk was a lectern type affair with my passport and paperwork on.

'Good Morning'

I received no acknowledgement whatsoever.

'When did you arrive in Thailand'

He barked

'9th June'

I replied.

'Where are you staying'

I told him, he wrote something down.

'We only issue 3 month visas' he stated.

Maybe he had graduated from the 'University of Stating the Bleedin' obvious'. I realised that. Is it not the reason I was here in the first place. I didn't respond. I was beginning to feel like a naughty schoolboy who had been called before the headmaster.

'When did you decide you wanted to go to India'

I told him I had planned the trip some time.

'Then why did you not get your visa while you were in the UK.'

I explained that I had returned from 9 months travelling and had only been in the UK a month. I had to get a new passport and a visa for Thailand and didn't have the time.

'You will stay in Delhi, go to Nepal then go back to India'

'Yes' I said.

'This is going to prove very problematic for you' he stated.

Not inviting a response.

' I will grant you a six month tourist visa - subject to checks'

'Thank You'

There was silence.

'So what happens next.'

'You don't get your Visa today'. He snapped.

No shit Sherlock, I thought.

' I realise that, I was wondering when it would be ready'

He shrugged his shoulders.

'Five day's, it needs to go through the process'

'How will I know when its been through the process. Do I collect it from VFS or here'

'VFS of course'

'And how will I know when it is ready' I enquired.

'You track it on the Website'. He did not say it, but he meant to conclude the sentence with 'stupid!'

I had started to take a grave dislike to this bureaucratic asshole. It was a typical example of position power. The type you find worldwide from many people in decision making position. Maybe it was the Monday Morning blues, I suspect he was always like it.

He passed my paperwork across his lectern, indicating my interrogation was over.

'Thank you so much ' I said leaving the office. ' Have a nice day' I said, 'You little shit'. I thought!

I smiled to myself as I collected my phone and camera from security. I hope the rest of my Visa securing experiences are more pleasurable.

My immediate thoughts were, 'it looks as though I will need to stay in Bangkok a few more days than expected. Bugger'

Stopping off at the 'Queen Victoria' cafe for a coffee I reflected. This wouldn't have happened in her day.

I am one step closer to getting the visa but also one step closer to insanity due to sleep depravation caused by a mixture of jet lag and that infernal disco next to the hotel in Khaosan Road. I need to consider changing my accommodation!





You can indeed track your passport..... Whooopy Dooo. I feel so much better.

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Location:Thanon Khao San,Bangkok,Thailand