Can he try doing the same thing in US port of entry. He would have seen the papers one thousand times before boarding the plane. Do not blame others for your mistakes? The airport officer did his duty.
That's exactly what we are!!! We dont need anyone to humiliate us .. we are good at doing it to ourselves.
Thats what the British exploited when they invaded India. Looking at the number of posts suporting the immigration officials, I wonder if there are really people who appreciate the hard and fast rules adopted by the Govt officials? or they were jealous because the kids belong to a NRI?
There are loop holes in every law to be exploited. If the official wanted to give you a hard time, he could give you irrespective of whether you have document or not. The author is not asking for a Maharaja treatment, he wanted more time to furnish the required documents, looks reasonable to me. He does accept his mistake of not bringing the documents. It it very sad to see so many people vent their anger at this poor guy, just because he is a NRI.
The very basic point of this whole fiasco is that the children under scanner were carrying passports without visas.Before even getting to the uptight officials in mumbai airport,What is the first thing you check when you travel anywhere in the world? 1. Passports 2. Tickets 3. Visas if needed, right?How in the world someone would forget such an important thing?Now will the same parents enter or even dare to enter US without the basic requirement. That would a BIG NO. I don't know how many of you have faced the wrath of the officials in US sending back Indians not for the lack of Visa but for the lack of a very minor paper(you cannot get a VISA in the 1st place without these details). But still you have to produce all those irrelevant papers at the port of entry apart from the visa. If they found you not satisfying any of the unknown norms you will be put up in a room without any further explanations given to you. All you know after a while is you will have to leave the country without knowing the reason.I am not saying the officials were right but all these could have been nullified if Vijay and Vaishali were responsible enough when they were travelling with kids.
I love kids., and feel sorry for them. AND I BLAME YOU FOR PUTTING THEM THROUGH THIS, Mr. PARENT! Not the officials.
I had a wonderful experience at Mumbai Airport in 2005.
I went to India with my wife and two daughters (1 and 2years old). We had 12- 13 bags. After we reached Mumbai airport, One bag was missing. We were looking all over and went to a service employee. He saw us with the luggage and kids., took personal responsibility, went into the godown and after 20 minutes came back with the bag. The tag of the baggage was missing., and that was the reason we could not get the baggage earlier.
On my return journey, I came back alone to OH. Two bags were missing. Nobody cared. I had to wait for long time, explain that I lost my baggage to at least 7-8 people. Finally, one employee asked me to fill a form and said would call back. After following up and talking to tens of different people for a week, I got my baggage completely torn and damaged. No damage expenses for the bags were paid., When I asked for it, they referred to micro print on the form, "the airlines would pay only for the lost items and not for the damaged baggage".
I dont know why so many are ranting and raving over this issue? Would the US allow anybody in without a VISA? The same person who were 'Human' to forget getting a VISA to INDIA would they have been 'Human' enough to overlook their Green Card expiring or forgetting their US VISA while coming to the US? For that matter do you think they would have overlooked taking the Hazaar Shots for Malaria, Cholera etc. for their ABCDs? They take India for granted. Would have thought the Indians can be bribed. Most of the desis from the US have an attitude of ¨Mein America se aaya, Mera ***** bada hai¨. The authorities in MUMBAI issued a VISA to a French National not because he/she was white, but probably due to reciprocity. The US does not, it will send you to jail after doing a lot of inhuman searches, and GOD forbid if you are a Muslim. Would the same person talk about the US INS and humanity in the same breath? Let the word get around. Next time you go to India make sure you have the i´s dotted and your t´s crossed just like you checked before coming to the USA. Remember you are just a NRI (Not Required Indian) there. And congradulations to the ACP for doing his job.
Well first of all the authorities could have been a little more flexible (i mean wait for another hour for fax) esp. since they were dealing with kids. I am more appalled by the fact that a french national was allowed a visa if this is true. He should have been sent back definitely.
Thirdly, even though I have sympathy for parents but saying that "I am ashamed of being an Indian" is taking it too far. I am surprised that the person traveled without the correct passport and other documents. I am sure he would not do the same when traveling to US or other countries. The officers have as such taken an officially correct stand (even though it stands a little rude). Please dont make such statements publically or to your indian or foreign friends because an experience can be bad or good but it does not reflect the entire nation.
Tell your kids that you made a mistake rather than saying I am ashamed of being an indian etc.
this is parents irresponsibility and kids had to suffer for their mistake. there is no reason to blame immigration officials, make sure you carry all the required documents with you next time.
Dear vijay , I sympathize with you for the pain caused to you and your family beacuse of the folish,stupid,biased attitude of the immigration offcials.It happens only in Mumbai.People have experienced similar problems in the past.I am surprised how the French guy got temporary visa.The immigration guy musthave been bribed by the french guy.Otherwise,how can they justify their act of deporting kids without waiting for the documents to be faxed.I thought Indian offcials are better than the dumb american immigration guys but I was wrong.You can find only dumb ass people in Immigration office throughout the wrold.
