It is a shameful act on part of the Immigration department and they must be questioned for this. If there is any senior official reading this, pls own this responsibility of finding the reasons for this kind of act/double standards. We are Indians and if we also dont get a nice behavior from our countrymen, what can we expect from others.
You made a mistake.....You should have tried to bribe that person...that would have solved it right there....or else asked him for his name and stuff jus to scare him that he mus have felt that you know higher authority and that you can screw him later....these are 2 things u need to remember while dealing with ppl in INDIA....i m ashamed of such corruptcy in our country....i think i need to become a politician......lol
I would have been ashamed of my country had the immigration official in Mumbai accepted bribes and let the family in. Using photocopies or fax copies of immigration documents are unacceptable. So the official did the right thing by sending the family back.
But the most disturbing part in the article, is the kid's attitude towards India. To quote the eldest kid "The elder son questions the behaviour of people in India".
A misconception about India at such a young age will only trigger a negative attitude towards India and would worsen as the kid matures.
The dad, in the right frame of mind, should have told his son that it was his mistake that caused such misery to the family and not of any official in India.
The kid would have learnt a valuable lesson not to take things for granted and to obey the law of the land, wherever he is.
Instead, we have this kid growing up with a complete misconception about the people in India.
lot of posts suggests Indian immig officer were doing their duty and right things? Do they really do their duties???? except harrassing people....govt of india had to install CCTV cameras in the customs area, just to monitor corrupt customers officers taking away items from passangers. then customs offices didn\'t like getting caught on tape accepting bribe and they put chewing-gum on lenses of those cameras.
Indian rules are very simple, you could have tried bribing them $100 is all it takes to get through. Other wise who in India want's to work?? I mean this is the only solution in such a situation.
I feel sorry for the family but if they have been to INDIA many times, how can the family forget to get a visa? Its also amazing that when the kids visited India in past how did they travel, without VISA???Being a U.S. citizen doesn't mean you are above the law. If you can follow the laws in US you should follow the laws in India. Its easy to say that you feel ashamed to be Indian but has anyone ever thought that if they allow one family they will have to allow others too. When you plan a trip to any country the first thing you look is visa requirements. With some sympathy towards the family, I still feel that Indian officials did the right thing.
Its very frustrating that it happened for kids. But at the same time, wondering what kind of parents are they. How could they forget to carry visa for their kids. Will they forget their Green card while coming back? And make a big issue out of it when INS send them back to India.
Thump rule: When you travel, carry your travel documents, rather than carrying big luggages.
