Monday, May 5, 2008

The Indian Embassy - Kathmandu, Nepal

For the love of whatever religious figure you revere most, DO NOT EVER try to sort out an Indian Visa while in Nepal. I don't believe in complaining and even wear a rubber bracelet sometimes to publicize that belief, but this experience is worth mentioning because it's been utterly ridiculous and has grounded me in Kathmandu for a solid week.

Months ago I purchased a flight from Nepal to India, no problem except that e-tickets are not allowed for this route by government mandate; The ticket would have to be mailed from London to Kathmandu where I'll pick it up in person - call this bureaucratic foreshadowing.

Attempting to book a flight from Bombay to Paris I was rejected. One can book a flight into India easily, but you can't book a departing flight without proof of an Indian Visa.

How to get an Indian Visa while in Nepal:

1 - Arrive at midnight to stand in line with other travelers until 4am when numbered tokens are handed out.

2 - Return at 9am, hand in your token, take your designated place in line, and enter the Embassy single file

3 - Stand in line to submit an application to apply for an application for an Indian Visa. - The counter closes at noon no matter how many people are still waiting faithfully in queue and have been for hours.

4 - Pay $5 to send this application for an application to sit on someone's desk in Delhi

5 - Wait no less than 3 and no more than 10 business days before returning for Phase 2 - otherwise start over

6 - Repeat steps 1 and 2

7 - Stand in a different line leading to the same clerk to submit the actual application for an Indian Visa

8 - Pay $50 processing fee and add the usual US-Citizen tax ($25 in this case)

9 - Return to Embassy no earlier than 4:30 and no later than 5:30pm to pick up Visa, if approved.

These steps lack logic, efficiency, and display - it's up to each individual to figure it out his/herself. I met many people making their 12th, 14th, etc. etc. visits after standing in line all morning and being repeatedly turned away for a multitude of reasons. One guy had visited over 20 times in frustration to the point where it looked like he needed potent anti-depressants and a hug. To make matters worse, the guards will distribute tokens all morning long knowing people will wait for 6 hours only to find out that the counter closes sharply at noon, the time at which all those in line are ordered to vacate the premises and try again some other time.

Lesson learned? Always carry an iPod and a good book.

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yeah, nothing like a good book to melt away the hours. You've proven to be a good savvy traveler, so we hope this too will pass in due time.

Samuel said...

maybe the perfect opportunity to try a virtual assistant.

Anonymous said...

Wonder if that could be outsourced to India?