I have to first of all appreciate Vijay to write to us all about this horrible experience.I am not sure why there was NO HUMANITY there to consider this situation.I do not entirely agree with the family taking a trip to India without the right visas for children.At the same time the Indian authorities could have imposed a penalty and issued a temp visa so as this is NOT repeated.In that way we would have earned few more bucks, vijay family would have had a reasonable good experience at the same time the message would have been conveyed not to come to any country without visa.I feel humanity has died in the name of Law.
This is an article that the President must read. According to the President's recent 4 page article which talks of Indian being cowards and running away to other countries, this is an article which is an eye opener as why every Indian should renounce his / her citizenship
To quote a corollary incident, I am on H1B visa. I went on a 2 day visit to India and I had forgotten to carry my H1B petition papers. While entering the US, INS inquired for the same and I told them I had forgotten. They indicated that I would have to be detained. But I emphasized that I had visited India and re-entered the US a month ago and had forgotten my papers at home which could be faxed by my wife. I told them if detained / deported, my wife and infant would be stranded in the US. Trust me, I did not have to plead, just explain my situation and they let me enter the US with a warning of course. And I did not have to beg or plead or be treated in an inhuman form - the INS team treated me as a human being and with full respect despite being brown skin. Its unfortunate that the family on which the new article is presented had to lose their dignity in their home country. I feel ashamed to be called an Indian
She wanst to travel from india to US back and forth with out having visas for her kids who are American citizens ?Immigration people to wait for her kids with garlands ?
I think in this episode only the lady needs to be blamed for being so irresponsible .
I am an NRI too ..but i condemn such things liek saying ashamed of being a Indian
not atleast for this
If the french have not cheked for it then it is their problem ..does she mean to say that If Frecnh themselevs have not cheked y shud Indians check ?
I do not see any reason to get worked up to this extent. The official did their duty. If a parent is so irresponsible to forget visa for both the kids, he/she deserves it. I think the father boarded the flight with a 'I don't care' attitude. Having a green card does not 'buy' you any right to usurp law of the land.
And we all know how the immigration officials in US are! I visit that country regularly.
RE:Pls. do not parade your kids to get sympathy and usurp the law
by Ashwin on Dec 21, 2006 01:56 AM Permalink
I fail to understand what is the big deal if they are denied entry. Its the fault of the parents who are so irresponsbile. If they ask for few more hours to furnish documents, someday somebody might ask for a few days. A line has to be drawn somewhere. I am an Indian living in US and know that travel documents such as Passport and Visa are on top of the list when you travel outside US. Please pay more attention to the rules. I feel sorry for your kids who has to got through it, but learn to take responsibility for your actions rather than blaming the system.
What can one say? How much money did the rogues in immigration want? Can Mr. Vijay make the names of these officials public? WE can start an internet chain mail and send a few thousand signatures to the commissioner and the PM
RE:Unbelievable .... but this can only happen in India
by Vijay on Dec 21, 2006 07:57 PM Permalink
Mr Kalyan Raman
I fully agree with you asking Mr Vijay to name the immigration officials in public. But one thing we should remember. To get posting in Bombay international airport, custom officials have to pay a huge bribe which is shared to the level of union minister who has his cut. It is not very easy. Not only that, even every month a fixed amount from bribe has to go to the higher authorities....the roots of corruption is very deep. Cant you see how the Jessica Lal murder case was conducted in the first instance? Had it not the media and the whole public expressed anger, do you think the union government would have conducted another probe and Manu Sharma finally convicted. I can share lots of my experience with the Bombay Int'l customs and immigration officials....but I finally won when I stood up to them, once even almost went to fist fighting with the head of customs.
I fully support you if we can launch a signature campaign and nail the RASCALS at the Bombay International airport.
Man, I feel sorry for the painful experience you went through. The Mumbai Immigration officers are the worst of all the Immigration officers I saw at all the places. For my first visit to India, I had to land in Mumbai and the custom officers were pulling my Wallet out forcibly when I said that I didn't have $150 they demanded as Bribe. I was shocked to see how inhumanely they behaved with me, and after that experience I avoided Mumbai in my next trips to India.
But the Immigration officers are bad no matter where they are. Even in U.S, the immigration officers treat the Indians as if we are like Terrorists.
Dude, being Indian we get treated badly at home and outside. This has to change, we have to fight for our self-respect, and the change should happen at home first.
I hope Rediff instead of posting stupid "spot the stars" section, collects all the complaints in this Message Board and submit it to some officials/Politicans who can take action against these immigration officers. Atleast we can hope this will bring about some good change.
RE:Mumbai immigration
by NIKHIL JAIN on Dec 21, 2006 02:39 AM Permalink
use ur brain man..its a simple case of their stupidity..why are you relating it to your own experiences ?? they didnt bring the visas..its their mistake..not the Indian immigrant officers.
What a great India, which will not allow our Natives but can allow Foreigners. SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME SHAME on us(Indians), still, we are bonded slaves I think. What a shame for us, immediately we should change these type of inhuman staff those who cannot understand the feelings of an Indian family. We should take immediate measures to take actions against these corrupted imigration staff. Can u feel about their(indian family's)suffering. NO. BECAUSE WE R NOT GENTLE HUMAN BEINGS.
RE:This is our Indian(Mumbai) Imigration for an Indian Family
by Noor on Dec 20, 2006 04:34 PM Permalink
They are not carrying visa and expecting the officials to allow them inside ?? how can it is possible yaar ? and these children are foriegners as per their passport and then how will they be allowed ..I dont think any other country will allow. Kudos to immigration officials ,they have done their job well..Having US passport doesnt mean u can go to any country without visa .
I have full sympathy with u & ur familY thanks for sharing ur experience with public nothing will change it will happen this time was with next who knows Rgds
