There is no bureaucrat I hate more than the immigration bureaucrat.
It all began when I went to England for higher studies. The visa official at the British High Commission created so many hassles for me that my hatred for his entire tribe was born, and has only intensified since.
I hate the visa-passport regime – deeply.
It was therefore wonderful to read that the government of Bahrain has decided to give Indians the benefit of visa-on-arrival.
India should do the same for all nationalities. Our own visa officials are a pain in the butt for all tourists. All tourists I meet complain of the expense and the delays in getting their Indian visas.
Bahrain aims at expanding tourism – the biggest industry in the world, bigger that airlines, automobiles and railways combined. Much, much bigger than software and IT. It is said that one tourist creates 12 jobs when he visits India.
If we instituted visa-on-arrival for all tourists, students, medical treatment seekers and the like, India would gain immensely.
The case that immediately comes to mind is Kabul: the embassy was bombed, but it is back to business-as-usual now – the business being the issuing of visas to Afghans who want to study or receive medical treatment in India. 65 visas were issued in one day.
Read the news report on the visa seekers outside our Kabul embassy here. Unfortunately, the internet story does not contain the picture that came in the paper – of young students lining up for an approval from Indian baboodom. It reminds me of my own experience with the British baboo when I was a student seeking a visa, and I empathize deeply.
Away with the visa-passport regime!
As Marley sang:
Why can’t we roam this open country.
Why can’t we be what we want to be,
We want to be free.
He added:
Hey Mr. Cop,
Got no birth cerfiticate (sic) on me now.
Away with all these government papers.
Freedom!
If your credit card guarantees your identity and solvency, no government paper is required.
And the credit card company is called Visa.
That’s the only Visa we need.
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
For Visas On Arrival
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Wonderful Dream. We do need to get rid of the countries.
ReplyDeleteThe Amount we spend on "Defence". I mean what defence? Defence from other governments, our governments spend huge amount on money to protect us from other governments!And all those able man wasting their lives. Military is an institution that honors death over life and government sponsored education tells us to take pride in military! All thieves of the highest order.
All immigration laws are pure discrimination.