So at the moment it's a bit of a strange situation, equally frustrating as well considering i was signed up to do a ten day Vipasna course, however i am currently without my visa or passport! The joys of Indian bureaucracy means that despite starting the visa process two months early, because of how difficult it is at the Foreign Region Registery Office and how they change their mind so many times, i still only just got my paper work in on time. My visa was due to expire on the 29th May and i was able to get it to them for the 25th May, result?! No! That's when they inform me that they will be sending it to the Rajasthani Government and it will take up to a month!! So that means no travel, no going anywhere and no staying anywhere else. Which meant that my Vipasna course had to be cancelled.
It's kind of a crazy situation that makes me smile, that at this point in time i am in no man's land, unable to travel or leave the country and yet no official paper work to say that i am allowed to be here. It's kind of funny and typical of the situation out here. It was a pain in the arse due to the fact that my mobile and internet have been cut off due to not having a current visa but as i have come to realise in India, i have good friends and they have sorted out my phone and internet issue for me and got me the necessary sim.
You have got to love Indian bureaucracy though because at the same time as applying for a visa extension the head lady there told me to apply for registration for my residency permit which i did. The thinking at the office was hey we will give her a residency permit for the 25th May when she put in the paper work until the 29th when her visa expires!! Like i want a piece of paper for four days. Common sense would tell you i was applying for visa registration to go along with the visa extension but no apparently common sense did not register with these people. So all the paper work i put in will have to be submitted again for the second time and knowing this scenario, i will have to pay a fine for applying late due to the fact that they have my visa......got to love their system!
Hopefully it will be back with me soon and that will be paperwork complete for the next year with regards to the visa and i can go stay in a hotel or take a train without any problems. Got to say, it makes you realise how difficult it must be for people when they move to the UK and the frustrations or complications people face because they were not born in a specific country.
It's still all worth it though and i'll glad when the passport is back as i am in need of a little break and it is time to go and explore some of India for a few days or head up to Spitti to escape monsoon when it comes.
It's kind of a crazy situation that makes me smile, that at this point in time i am in no man's land, unable to travel or leave the country and yet no official paper work to say that i am allowed to be here. It's kind of funny and typical of the situation out here. It was a pain in the arse due to the fact that my mobile and internet have been cut off due to not having a current visa but as i have come to realise in India, i have good friends and they have sorted out my phone and internet issue for me and got me the necessary sim.
You have got to love Indian bureaucracy though because at the same time as applying for a visa extension the head lady there told me to apply for registration for my residency permit which i did. The thinking at the office was hey we will give her a residency permit for the 25th May when she put in the paper work until the 29th when her visa expires!! Like i want a piece of paper for four days. Common sense would tell you i was applying for visa registration to go along with the visa extension but no apparently common sense did not register with these people. So all the paper work i put in will have to be submitted again for the second time and knowing this scenario, i will have to pay a fine for applying late due to the fact that they have my visa......got to love their system!
Hopefully it will be back with me soon and that will be paperwork complete for the next year with regards to the visa and i can go stay in a hotel or take a train without any problems. Got to say, it makes you realise how difficult it must be for people when they move to the UK and the frustrations or complications people face because they were not born in a specific country.
It's still all worth it though and i'll glad when the passport is back as i am in need of a little break and it is time to go and explore some of India for a few days or head up to Spitti to escape monsoon when it comes.
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