'Visa-on-arrival' in India soon

Rob_The_Pom

And my contention is that someone here just doesn't like Britain.

With the data collected by the airlines, and efficient border controls I don't see how issuing a piece of paper at an embassy is any different to a proper check of a passport at entry (especially in light of the revelations about how the visas are issued above).

Over 400,000 British tourists visit India each year, I don't know whether that is the highest for any one country, but one would suspect that it is up there. That is an awful lot of valuable hard foreign currency. Bring into that visas for Australia and the USA that is an awful lot more money compared to just stamping someone on arrival.

(Unless of course they still intend to charge the others countries on arrival in which case this argument is invalid).

__________________
There is no God but Dawkins and Hitchens is his prophet.

shere

Agreed. Another plus point if people on blacklists go to India using the visa on arrival basis (there must be some reason they are on a blacklist) then the GOI will be ale to arrest such people with ease. The immigration officers at Indian airports also run a check against black lists, so anti social elements can be screened at this stage.

alabamagoa

I think its because the UK indian High Commission makes so much money, in any case should think it would only be 6 month tourists that would get a visa ion arrival??

bongdongs

The immigration counters are manned principally from the local state police force. They are not well trained and it is difficult to rely on them to make a good judgement call. It is not just a matter of checking against a list. There has been talk of a dedicated immigration police under the IB.

Of course I understand the economic benefits of a liberal visa regime. It's not possible till such systems are overhauled. The ministry of tourism can push all they want but the IB will veto any such change.

About the British situation, I suggest some of you read and start understanding the world around you.

alabamagoa

wHATS TO UNDERSTAND ABOUT THE BRITISH SITUATION? at the end of the day the work force in indian HC in the UK has'nt a clue how the systems and laws work here, which many of us would have found out by now and i'm perfectly aware of the world around me that's why i moved to india!!!!

GoanCanuck

Of course citizens of those countries will be charged the prevailing rate. No chance of a free ride.

GoanCanuck

I agree. The PSI's on duty do not have the proper qualifications. The problem is the lack of an Immigration and Naturalisation cadre in the Indian administration.

Rob_The_Pom

It doesn't actually say that in the article though - Goancanuck...

Wow, that's pretty presumptious. I do love being told what I should and shouldn't be reading by people I don't even know. Particularly when they're telling us that their own view of the world is correct, and mine must be wrong.

So, let's get this clear - the issue here is that the people working border control are incompetent? That must fill everyone with confidence.

You also think that any potential terrorist is likely to be travelling on a real passport? You would think that all the terrorists will be now stocking up on their fake New Zealand, Chilean,French and Vietnamese passports.

GoanCanuck

You may want to keep in mind that it is not just the UK which is not on that list. There are plenty of other countries which are also not on the list. After all this is a pilot project of sorts.

cyberhippie

Ha finally the penny drops

by GoanCanuck
I think we might be reading a wee bit too much into this, in the goodness of time I'm sure this will be extended to others countries as well!
Perhaps Britain was left off the starting list BECAUSE of the large number of tourists from the British Isles, could put a bit of strain on what is for the humble immigration official a thoroughly new concept!!
I don't know but talk of terrorism and recipricol agreements, are little more than stabs in the dark.
It's policy end of story!

Rob_The_Pom

I think the issue regarding Britain is being discussed is due to Bongdong's assertion is that it because Britain is more of a terrorist haven than those other countries, and so we can't be trusted to be let in without a visa. I, for one, think that's utter cr@p.

Britain is no more a haven for terrorists than so many countries in the world. Spain for example, suffered the dreadful Madrid bombings from internal groups - they are no less of a 'haven' than Britain. There are fundamentalist groups across Europe. And as Shere pointed out it is certainly the case in Germany.

I think it could well be because of the foreign currency generated by the purchase of visas. Alternatively it could be simply trying the scheme out on nationals from countries that only generate a few visitors each year - thereby simply testing whether the systems can cope.
(And by the sounds of the training offered to the immigration officers - they probably can't.)

(And I cross posted this with Cyberhippy)

alabamagoa

It took me 2 hours to get through immigration last year at Mumbai to go out of India because no one could understand what an "X visa" was and they all thought i'd overstayed aug2003 to aug2004, it was March 2004?????? after long discussions a young uniformed guy came along looked at my visa and said ok. he'd looked up the rule book!!!! and coming out of Mumbai going to Goa photo is taken at check in on some of the airlines.
Knew a guy here that had stayed 33 years on a 6 month tourist visa, didnt get into trouble so was never caught, sadly he died couple months ago, there must be many like him all over the world!!!!!

GoanCanuck

Have come across a few of these "permanent" tourists in Vagator and Chapora.

Aristocat

shere

You saying the staff at HCI London are well trained ? . The chap I know who worked there was just a grade 10 drop out from India. He was not well trained. He was just shown how to type a name into the PC against the blacklist. Not exactly rocket science. I am sure those from the local state police in India are more than capable of doing a similar job.

I think you seriously need to take the blinkers off. What you read in the press is often exagerated. I more than understand the world around me but I am not going to believe puerile rubbish about the UK being a terrorist haven. It is like me believing that all the Indian Army does in Kashmir is go around killing innocent people. If I used similar logic to you then India is a haven for politicians who like to murder its own people http://news.google.co.uk/news?hl=en&...8&q=sikh+riots