Dishonest dealings in the Irish Indian Embassy Visa Department

nickyharris

Three weeks ago my daughter and her friend set off to Khatmandu Umbrella Foundation Orphanage to Volunteer as music teachers for nine weeks. They had tickets through Delhi (three hour stop) to Khatmandu and were told three days before leaving Dublin by the Indian Embassy that they required visas to transit through Delhi Airport. The woman in the visa dpt said "If the plane lands on Indian soil a visa is required". I was not convinced as 25 friends had made the same journey two weeks previous and did not require a visa. So I called the Indian Embassy in London and was told the visas were NOT necessary. However the girls were nervous as the Irish Embassy staff were adamant and we duly arrived with the filled in form, a passport photo, 100 euro postal order, the air tickets (which includes the onward Nepal ticket). The Visas were put into the passports.
The Visas were never checked in Delhi, obviously because they were not required!
I have now sent several emails to the Irish Embassy and to the Indian Government. I want an apology and I want redress and I want others not to be scammed in the same fashion. The last communication to me stated that the reason the girls needed the visas was because they did not produce their onward ticket to Nepal. This is untrue, I was there. I will not leave this until I have some satisfactory answers and an apology. Any idea where to go from here?

Nick-H

Home. And forget it.

Apart from putting in writing, and sending by recorded delivery, which is probably better than e-mails, I think you have done all you could.

I very much doubt that anyone was dishonest with you, as no individual could have had anything to gain. None-the-less, you have been the victim of ignorant and bad service.

nickyharris

Forgive me for being cynical but Visa's are big business and 50 euro plus and extra 50 for a Visa that was most obviously not required smacks of dishonesty and not just a simple oversight. If it was simply a mistake why no apology and why a brick wall?

indracal

I guess unless you are able to get in touch with some senior officials of the embassy in person or work out some contacts at the embassy level, it's not going to work out, more so as the payment has already been made. Even if you get to them, it will be long (if at all) you manage to get back the amount.

It's really sad that the same dept officials in two different locations differ by such huge margin!

MonkeyBoy4u

nickyharris is it possible for you to seek legal help against the embassy ?

__________________
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I took the one less traveled by,
And that has made all the difference

~ Robert Frost

nickyharris

Well there is a small claims court in Ireland. I called Consumer Affairs who agreed there was a case but because it's an embassy it's outside the Irish jurisdiction. I feel that that is how they get away with this, they know there is nothing the host country can do. You are in their hands. The woman I spoke to and quizzed in the Visa department was almost dictatorial in her conversation with me. The replies to my very courtious and detailed emails were scant and very unhelpful. The last reply stated that they would not be replying any further and that as far as they were concerned it was case closed.
The fact that these girls have spent the last year fund raising for this worthwhile charity makes it even more annoying.
Thank you for your interest. It would be interesting to know whether the Indian govt takes a look at this forum?

curtdfw

It's India.

My experience working there for several years was that apologizing or owning up to errors just doesn't happen in the way I was used to. It's just the way it is.

It isn't fair that the error (and I do believe it's just that) happened, but you're only going to become more frustrated and likely get nowhere. Don't let one bonehead employee get to you.

MonkeyBoy4u

Forget about it !! If the Irish court cannot do anything just forget about any help will come from the Indian government. sorry, don't want to be rude but even if you try to seek justice nothing will come, absolutely nothing !

I am sorry 100 euros is a lot of money especially if it was through fundraising.

Haylo

Someone clearly made a mistake in wrongly advising your daughter, but unfortunately - even if you had something in writing which I'm sure she does not - she has absolutely no source of legal redress whatsoever against the Indian Embassy.

Besides, you realised she had been given incorrect advice, sought advice elsewhere, and had it confirmed that no she did not need a visa. In my view, if she decided to apply for one anyway, that was her choice.

Many people who intend to transit do apply for a visa, because it gives them flexibility to leave the airport if flights are delayed or cancelled, or to spend up to three days in India if they change their plans, so while it wasn't actually needed, at least she has that option.

Your determination does you credit, but your energies would be better directed more positively elsewhere. Regrettably, your quest is ultimately futile.

__________________
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capt_mahajan

I have no idea what the rules are, but in any event, this is inefficient- even callous- but not dishonest behaviour.

I will not list many other countries which give bad visa advice to foreigners, except to say that it is not uncommon- and, IMHO, that isn't dishonest either. Unethical, at worst.

__________________
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Outside the machine

nycank

Look at the lemonade aspect of this incident. Your daughter can on her way back spend up to 72 hours in Delhi/India exploring the city. I do not understand why people choose to transit in India for nepal. There are so many airlines that bypass indian airports and deposit you right at Katmandu International.

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bade bhaisaheb is outsourced

namaste_cat

Sorry your daughter and her friends encountered this Alas, you're going to continue to hit up against a brick wall. So I agree w the advice given - tough & unfair as it is, take some deep cleansing breaths, & move on.

Here in the U.S. the rules are pretty clear - if anyone calls the tax authority (IRS) or what used to be the INS, now ICE for immigration help, and the employee gives wrong/bad advice, there is no redress. None. It's typical of govt entities, the rules are stacked against the consumer

And I can say from experience both INS and IRS absolutely suck in terms of "customer service", and not only can but do give wrong advice with a hefty dose of attitude to go along w/ it! Not hard to imagine how govt representative behave in another country where there would be no jurisdiction against them.

MonkeyBoy4u

agree with you 100%, Ive had my share of INS suckiness

Boston123

Clearly a visa has been issued, and cannot be reversed and refunded to you. But here's what you may want to try.. Write straight to the Indian Ambassador(or High Commissioner?), explaining the situation, and describing the impact on your daughters budget( for a charitable cause). Then suggest that the embassy make a donation of Euros 100( or any amount) to this charity, or perhaps a charity in India, so your kids do not get cynical from this experience.

Nick-H

That sounds like a very good idea.

Otherwise, it is as everybody else has said. To put it very bluntly, pissing into the wind.

Even with a government department of your own country, although they might behave just as badly, there is some chance of going to a higher authority. With a foreign government, there is none; if they do not want to listen to you, that is then end of the story.

Whilst the others-are-worse-off argument really is no consolation, consider those around the world who are refused visas for wrong reasons, even families split up by incompetent visa officials.