It will be interesting to know if the father would have forgotten his GC and his son's US passports when he would be flying back. Nah..that never happens.
Looking at the various responses, it seems many people are rationalizing the actions by
1. Americans should not assume they can go anywhere in the world without a visa.
2. The immigration officials were doing their job.
3. How can we let someone inside India without a visa?
These are valid points, but firstly we should not care whether it is an American or anyone else everyone should need a visa. If they cannot provide a visa give them reasonable time if they can claim to be able to obtain it. Deport adults immediately if need be but be more considerate with children. We cannot justify our actions because others behave irrationally. I would strongly recommend people who are vehemently arguing for the official's actions to travel with children for 18+ hrs and then comment. There is no reason to defend the parents as they committed a mistake they'll never forget but I think it would have been a better experience for all (officials included) if they could give more time only because children were involved.
Both are wrong. The first mistake is done by the V family, who neglect the kids to the fullest. The parents keep their documentation handy but just forget about kids and their being born in USA. It might not be the first time they were travelling to India with kids. Secondly, the officials should have given a little more time than they have given. It is an irony that we have to wait some 12-24 hours before getting any emergency ticket in long distance flights but for being deported you get the seat/stand in less than an hour.
The whole indian security system of india is hopeless. They are still living in British Raj or should I say mogul raj. At least this person could post his agony on rediff there are thousands of others who go through it everyday and there is no one to complain.
In marathi we say.. "Kumpananech jar shet khalle tar dad magayachi konakade" meaning if
"If the fencing itself start destroying your field whom you would complain to" Those who are suppose to protect us start killing us.. what can u do? "Other than removing such fence"
hey guys, reading about this incident I am reminded of a survey where Mumbai was voted as the "world's rudest city" by a readers digest survey. It shows it is. Dont know why people are so rude in their behaviour over there. New York also has 8 million people but over there nobody is discourteous or as rude as in Indian cities. Dont understand why people in India dont have patience and time to listen to others. When some basic civic sense prevails in India then only it will be a better place to live. Media shud stop singing payens in India's praise ,, Its going to be developed soon blah blah... Unless people's minds are developed and they come out of their narrow thinking and start thinking about others and India as a whole, nothing is gonna change....
If we are travelling to India on a vacation and want make our vacation a pleasant experience then we should avoid landing in Mumbai, thats the worst place to land, the immigration officials, the travel mafia outside the airport, they are all big suckers, no human behaviour can be seen around mumbai airport. I have had many painful situations with these guys. Its very unfortunate that the govt does not take any action against these suckers.
I can appreciate ure pain and trauma with your 2 small kids but lets look at this issue rationally and logically without emotion.
What exactly are you blaming the immigration official for? Doing his job? Granted, that rules can be interpreted flexibly in certain cases but thats upto the official. Dont you think the primary responsibility is with you for forgetting the VISA to begin with? Did you expect that the officials would bow and bend in respect seeing ure kids US passports and ure GC? If the same situation happened while travelling to any other country, would you blame the Govt, the officials, the rules and everyone but ureself? Can you even imagine pleading with US immigration if u didnt hv ure passport? Rather, you would be happy to be deported and not thrown in jail!
Living in the US for 9 years should have tought you respect for the law. Its really sad that you have no respect for the laws of your country and are already sowing the seeds of disrespect for India in ure young kids.
Pls look in the mirror and realize that the person to blame the most is the face staring back at you!
You know what first thing the parents would have done?
They would have called their friends and told.."U know, these stupid indians they don't even ask for the VISAs for US born kids."
Then you know what will happen, then 1000s of people will try to follow the same example to board the flights with kids without a valid VISA to india.
Good thing about this getting published on Rediff, is that next time people won't make that kind of stupid arrogant mistake of forgetting their VISA thinking they can rule the world with a green card.
It saddens me to see so many messages against the action taken by the immigration officials. It is a shame that someone who has traveled abroad so many times did not even bother to take the correct travel documentation with them.
This is more ridiculous than showing up at the airport with just tickets for yourself and request the airline to travel with you.....Indians should learn to respect the law of the country - and other Indians should stop supporting those who show no respect for our laws. The parents probably stood in long lines overnight to get their US visas before their first visit to the US - why can they not take the simple pains to courier a form to the Indian consulate and get visas stamped for their kids??
Why do we Indians ourselves accept double standards. If the same situation had arised in an airport not in India, this couple wouldnt make such a hue and cry. My condolences with the couple that they had to undergo difficuties by travelling back but then rules are rules.
How can someone forget such an important document at home before international travel...shows they take Indian authorities for granted
