The illusive visa

The small piece of paper that caused so much trouble and finally arrived on 29th November

"Employment visas take a long time madam"

I wasn’t sure whether to include this as my first blog entry but I think it’s important that I do because it’s been a significant prequel to my trip.  The Indian employment visa.  My first experience of Indian bureaucracy and I’ve not even got to India yet.  First it was the visa that never arrived, then my passport arrived but with no visa, then there were the numerous phone calls and conversations with polite officials at the Embassy and visa office.  I continue to receive a variety of different responses on the status of my application which largely depend on the question I ask or what they think I want to hear but which usually end in, “employment visas take a long time madam.”  How long ranges from 3-4 working days, 10-15 working days or 7-8 weeks depending on who I talk to and again what they think I want to hear on any given day. 

My family and friends are now thoroughly confused as to why I’m still around as I should have left the UK three weeks’ ago.  I think they are perhaps starting to wonder if I am really going to India or whether it was just an elaborate ploy to have a party and get lots of presents and cards.  Perhaps this is my comeuppance for my occasional outbursts of spoilt child syndrome, when friends or family have dared to mention an activity that is taking place after my departure and I’ve stamped my feet at the very notion that their lives should be continuing without me. 

I’d be lying if I said this hadn’t been a trying period but I am a firm believer that all things happen for a reason (I can say this now after I’ve done lots of counting to 10 and yogic breathing) or can be turned into something useful and this experience is no exception.  I do think I’ve been particularly unlucky in my dealings with the Indian Embassy and visa office on this occasion but it has taught me some useful lessons in patience and persistence in the process which I have a feeling will stand me in good stead for the long haul when I eventually make it to India.  One of the best things to also come out of it has been the networks I’ve found out about along the way such as a Yahoo online group, Yuni-Net, an email list for foreigners living in Delhi who you can email for advice and information. Through this network and through being in touch with other volunteers in Delhi and friends of friends that have spent time in India, I’ve probably learnt more about the various systems in India, and possible ways round them, than I would have done if I’d not had so many visa issues.  I’m sure there will be plenty more similar incidents to come but hopefully I’ll now be slightly better prepared for them when they happen. 

I do however hope that my next entry in this blog will be posted from Delhi otherwise this is going to make for a very dull and fictitious report of life in India.