I read the most horrifying news story today about how Goan authorities are letting people enter India before getting a visa prior to arrival. The procedure is that you are supposed to get a visa from the Indian Embassy in the country of origin before you proceed for travel to India. There are some exceptional cases where visa can be issued on arrival in India - like family emergency etc.
Now I can only guess why they did this, as can us all. Most of the tourists who availed this facility - almost 2000 in all - were from Russia it seems. I don't know about most things, but I do know that Russia is a BIG country, and it may not always be possible to apply before hand for a visa. In some cases, the country requires you to come in person, and the process can take upto two weeks. E.g., in a recent case that I know of who wants to go to Copenhagen for the UN Conference on Climate Change, she has to fly to New York to get the visa and apply in person to the authorities in Denmark. This is, as you can imagine, costing at least $300 more. You can't simply send your passport and get it back by courier.
I know that in most places you can have tough laws and you can have easy laws. India is often criticized for its many digresses, lack of procedure etc. But what happens to the person who was deboarded at Czech Republic because he did not have a transit visa for London? And this poor guy was flying in from Poland. Do you make out that there is a security threat because he didn't know that to stay at Heathrow Airport you needed a visa? What of the time, money and anguish that was spent?
That's when I wish we were more harsh at Indian airports. But not indiscriminate harsh; just firm.
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