My brother just now mentioned that he was waiting on his visa for his upcoming trip to India and I said "Oh, I know all about that!" I looked for the blog entry here that details that fiasco but it turns out, I never blogged it! Here we go...
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As I have blogged before, in the mid-to-late 90s I worked for a company that flew me around the world doing some technical work for them. One very memorable trip for me was to India.
Before I left on that trip, I found out I would need a visa to travel to India. Back then, formalities like this were just part of the landscape of life ("I'll grab lunch over there, swing by the Indian Consulate, and come back to work around 2PM); now I feel like I have to shut down an entire day to get something bureaucratic like that done. In any case, the guy helping me with the visa pointed out that my passport expired later that year. I was like "So?" and he kindly explained that India does not let people in on a visa on a passport that expires in less than 3 months. I was kind of incredulous as I had return tickets for one week after my arrival. He shrugged and gave me my visa and I went on my way.
Fast forward to my actual trip: After a hop from Houston to Los Angeles, I tried to check in for my flight to India and the lady wouldn't let me. The reason: my passport was expiring too soon! What? You mean the guy whose job it is to give out visas knew what he was talking about? Who would've guessed?
So, I talked with the check-in lady and she put me on the list for the last flight out that night (this was an early flight) and I went off to find the State department offices and beg for a new passport. After a 15 minute taxi ride, I went in and pled my case. Luckily I landed in the hand of sympathetic young guy and he rushed it through and issued me a new passport within a few hours. I didn't even know that was possible! To keep the visa, he punched a hole in my old passport and I carried both with me and had no further issues. Honestly, I'm kind of amazed it all worked out. Back then, I didn't know any better so I tried to make it work out and... it did!
Oddly, the taxi ride back to the airport was taking over 30 minutes and didn't seem to be traveling the same efficient path my earlier ride had taken. I sighed loudly and, all of a sudden, the driver hopped on to an interstate and I was at the airport in less than 5 mins. Strange how that happens, huh? Only time in all my travels around the world where I felt like I was literally 'taken for a ride' by a taxi was here in the USA!
Note to self: Don't try to out-think bureaucracy, just comply.
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| AI art prompt: travel red tape passport India |
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