The South Asian: How do I get an Indian Visa?

September 13, 2005

How do I get an Indian Visa?

Maryam Arif, a young student of Pakistani origin, writes about her recent trip to the Indian Consulate in New York, the whimsical nature of the process and the politics of peace.

My name is Maryam Arif and I am a student of Boston University. I am going on an International Honors Program this year, with the theme “Rethinking Globalization.” It is a comparative study of five different countries including England, Tanzania, India, New Zealand and Mexico.

I went to the Consulate General of India in New York twice but I have not been granted the Indian visa as yet. Usually the visa is given on the same day that you submit your passport in the Consulate. However, the rules are different for people of Pakistani origin. It takes upto 3 months and you have to pay an extra $20 in addition to the $60 visa fee. Another requirement that is not mentioned on the visa form is to have influential contacts in India.

I am leaving for England on the October 6 and I hope that I am granted the visa by then. Given the absurdity of the policy and the injustice in my situation, it is hard to sit and wait patiently.

Visa – an obstacle in the peace process

Recently I was denied a visa by the Indian Consulate in New York. I tried to plead with them, explained to them that I was in India last month, but to no avail. “That is the policy,” I was told. Who makes these policies, I wonder, that keep friends away from each other and distance family members?

Since I have been to India before I fail to, rather refuse to understand this policy. India greeted us with her arms wide open. We were given a warm and enthusiastic welcome wherever we went. The hospitality and generosity of our hosts, whether they were devotees of a Gurdwara in Beas or students at Jawaharlal Nehru University, was heart-warming.

Forty of us went from Pakistan to attend a Peace Convention in Delhi, where the demand for a Visa-free South Asia was on top of the agenda. . Indians and Pakistanis, together we discussed the visa issue. As the hours went by, the discussions went on and we came into closer contact with more and more people (whom we can now proudly call our friends). We began to feel a greater sense of urgency, and with much more intensity the need to solve the visa problem. We were already thinking of coming back and our friends were contemplating returning our visit.

It is very unfortunate that despite all the efforts to promote the peace process between the two countries, neither side is willing to reconsider its visa policy. If the policy makers ask me I will tell them that if there is any place other than Pakistan that I can call home, it is India. Where else would students I met for the first time take me to the cinema to watch a movie of my choice? Where else would perfect strangers make me feel like a part of their family? Where else would a friend take photos of us in the Metro Station knowing that it is against the law, and then happily pay the fine and make the risk worth taking? Where else would I not be allowed to buy Gandhi’s autobiography because it had to be given as a gift? (The book has become a most prized possession). Where else would I find people who are so magnanimous in their encouragement of inexperienced youths like me? Where else would food taste like home, people speak the same language and wear the same clothes as me?

It is a source of some comfort to know that we have the support of people like Nirmala Desh Pandey, Member of Parliament, the Chief Ministers of Delhi and Lucknow, and the Mayor of Lucknow among others. All these people graced us with their company and showed solidarity with our cause of a visa-free South Asia.

I sit here in New York waiting to hear from the Indian Consulate, hoping that I will get lucky this time around, despite being a Pakistani. I am optimistic that one day I will be able to go to India without a visa. My status as a citizen of Pakistan and member of South Asia will be my visa.

Posted by collective at September 13, 2005 09:10 PM

Comments

Consulate officials are the slime of the Earth, especially in the UK, arrogant idiots without an ouounce of class. Is it any wonder India is in such dire straits with dummies like this at the helm.
Posted by: manjit Nagra on January 23, 2006 06:09 PM

i am a citizen of islamic republic of pakistan, my mother was born in Ram Pur India in 1942. now she is more than 60 years old and wants to see her birth place. is there any policy in indian immegration to grant her special visa for visiting her birth place? i will also gop with her as guardian.
Posted by: wasim aqil khan on April 17, 2006 07:07 AM

iam 24 yr old, i want to visit india n i have lot of friends who were workin with me in pakistan call centre who were of indian origin , now they want me to come to indian work with them , how faster i can get a visa can anybody help.
Posted by: Rebecca on August 20, 2006 06:57 AM

TO
CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA

Respected Sir,
I was born at Quetta , Pakistan on 28th June 1951, and migrated to India on, 11 Oct, 1955 and remain there till, 15-08-1968. I was granted, Indian Nationality, by lower Court of Lucknow,in (1956-57). After appealed, by Govt. of India, the case proceeding was in the High Court of Lucknow, till my re-migration to Pakistan, 15-08-68. The case of Nationality was not decided, by the High court, till my re-migration to Pakistan. The case was withdrawn, by my Grand- Father, before my, remigration, to Pakistan.
1- My primary education from class, 1 to Intermediate from,India,from class,6th-10th, by Mumtaz Higher Secondry School Lucknow, Allahabad Board,and from 11th-12th,by, Shia Degree science, College Lucknow.

2- M.B, B.S. in (1976), from DOW Medical College, Karachi, Pakistan.

3- Two years Civil Service, as Medical Officer incharg, T.B Clinic Sibi, Balochistan Pakistan. (1976-78)

4- Compulsory Service of armed forces in, Pakistan (Oct 1978-84)

5- Private Clinic, at I-25, Siddiqabad Naval Colony Hawksbay ,Road Mauripur Karachi,from1984-till to date.

Due to High School certificate, of Allaha- bad Board of India. I was not cleared , by the Security Deptt. Of armed forces, so I was released, from the services in 1984., my age at the time of release was, 33 years ,so due to overage, I was unable to get any government job etc.,so,
I started my private clinic, at mauripur,Karachi,in 1984 till to date.
I visited, India, on 7th Oct, 2005, I was remain there till 27th Sep, 2006, five months remain free and enjoying wonderful and respectful life in India. I visited many places, such as Delhi, Agra, Ajmer, Lucknow and, Khijna ,( 5, Places visa, granted by Indian High Commissioner, Islamabad, Pakistan). I was also allowed, not to report to the Police Deptt, of India, this can be confirmed. I was remain in Barbanki Jail for about, seven months, (due to, only 7 Days over- stayed according to false charge- sheet by the L.I.U Deptt. Barabanki), of U.P.

Sir, It was not a simple over- stayed case, actually, it was a case of disputed property of my forefather’s (late) Mr.Haji Abdul Haq urf “Munney Mian” and my Grand Father (Late) Mr. Muhammad Manzoor Ul Haque and My Grand Mother (Late) Mr. Kaneez Fatima, my grand parents was expired in 1984, before their death they suggested, my name, and authorized me, to look after their property, and it was their last wish that, I may do welfare work by the whole income of their property, they were also interested, that, I may re-migrate to India, to fulfill their last wish, so, I reached, Khijna and made a foundation and started, the welfare work there. The present illegal owner, of the property, Mr. Tariq Muhammad Khaliq and Mr. Wasiq Muhammad Laiq , both, were disowned by their parents in their life, due to mal- treatment by their above said sons ,of India. Both my Grand-Parents passed, their last days of life miserably, they were kept, by above said sons in the servant quarter of Wasiq Muhammad Laiq.
My Grand’s Parents had been living alone, in the servant quarter and they were not allowed to take any share from the income of their property. My Phophi Mrs. Zubaida Khattoon, had been looking after their parents. This can be, confirmed by my family members of India.

At the time of death, of grand mother, Mrs. Kaneez Fatima, my phophi Mrs. Zubaida Khatoon wife of Mr. Sakhawat Ali Siddiqui(late) was present, expired in the house of my phoopi at amber- ganj, lucknow. no son was present at the time of her death.

At the time of death of my grand father, Mr. Muhammad Manzoor Ul Haque, my real uncle, Mr. Khalid Muhmmad Shafiq of Pakistan, was present who visited India for condolence of his mother, Mrs. Kaneez Fatima. After about two months, my Grand father also expired, suddenly, at Aminabad Lucknow, in presence of my real uncle Khalid Muhammad Shafiq. of Pakistan.

According to Mr. Zubaida Khatton and Mr. Khalid Muhammad Shafiq, both my grand parents authorized me, to make a foundation “ Haji Abdul Haque ‘urf’ Munney Mian” at Khijna, also appointed me, as a Managing Director of the Foundation.
According to my real uncle, Mr, Khalid Muhammad Shafiq, my grand-parents also instructed, my real uncle Khalid Muhammad Shafiq, that the whole income of their property of Khijna and Rasoli, should be utilized only and only,
For welfare work, not by any one, including myself, because, I was brought- up by grand- parents in India, not by my real parents, so they authorized me, to fulfill their last wish. I came to Khina and started the project, I managed to print the Letter Head of the foundation, and I was planning to apply for the registration of the foundation, but my real uncles of India, not allowed, me to start the welfare work, because they managed to make false papers by the TEHSILDAR and LEK HPAL of Tehsil Fateh Pur, District Barabanki . According to the details of family members of late Mr. Muhammad Manzoor Ul Haque:

Sons:
1.Late Mr. Muhammad Izhar ul Haque
(only, son) Iqrar ul Haque (Pakistani)
2. Mr. Muhammad Islam ul Haque. (Pakistani)
(4 Sons and 4 daughters)
3. Late Mr. Muhammad Salim ul Haque (Pakistani)
(3 Sons and 2 daughters)
4. Late Muhammad Siraj ul Haque (Pakistani)
(4 Sons and 2 Daughters)

5. Mr. Khalid Muhammad Shafiq (Pakistani)
(4 Sons and 2 Daughters)
DISOWNED by their parents In their life:
6. Mr. Tariq Muhammad Khaliq ( Indian)
(4 daughters only)
7. Mr. Wasiq Muhammad Laiq. (Indian)
(2 Sons and 1 Daughter)

Daughters:

1. Mrs. Kaneeza Khatton (Indian) expired.
(4 Sons and 1 Daughter (Pakistani) 1 son expired)

2. Mrs Rabia Khatoon. (Pakistani)
(4 Sons and 7 Daughters)

3. Mrs kaniza Khatoon (Indian) expired
(2 sons and 1 daughter)

4. Mrs Zubaida Khatoon (Ind ian)
(2 Sons and 1 daughter)

5. Mrs Humaira Khatoon (Pakistani)
(4 Sons and 4 Daughters)

According to the law of govt. of India, (five sons and two daughters) are Pakistani nationals and share of the property of seven Pakistani Nationals, instead of handing -over to the Govt. of India, Mr. Tariq Muhammad Khaliq and Mr. Wasiq Muhammad Laiq managed, to make the false papers, showing, only two sons and three daughters of India. Both had been taking the income of the whole property since 1984. They had not given, any share to their 3 sisters, living in India.

It is requested, by me the whole property, of Khijna, should be taken by the Govt. of India as the property, of foundation named “Haji Abdul Haque ‘urf’ Munney Mian”.property.
I may be allowed, to come to India to look after, the foundation work. I had been suffering, from Heart disease, and I was by passed heart surgery in 2002 in Pakistan, I have passed, about four years of my by- passed life, only about six year of my by passed life is left, so ,I need, re- by pass- surgery, after about six years by ,Apollo Hospital Delhi in India. I want to do welfare work, on the land of my forefathers, and I want to do private practice, at baddupur, to cope up of my daily expenses of life in India.

It is also, requested, that a case habeas- corpus, against my family members of India Mr. Wasiq Muhammad Liaq and Mrs. Tajwar Laiq and Mr. Mugeez, Mr. Sheetla Parasad, Mr Virendra Kumar, Head of L.I.U on duty on 12-03-2006, Thanadar of Kutawali Barabanki on duty, at about 6:30 pm on 12-03-2006, and night duty Officer on duty on, 12-03-2006, S.O Baddu- Pur, Sepahi Faroooq ,of Baddu -Pur, Sepahi Yado, Baddu- Pur ,may please be filed by Indian govt.

Dr. Iqrar-Ul-Haque
M.B.B.S (Pakistan), Flt. Surgeon
Flat.B-10,Yasir Terrace,Gulistan-E-Jauhar Block 10
Karachi, Pakistan.
03349812279, 92-300-3628995, Fax No: 92-21-4970219
e-mail-munemian@emailaccount.com
Posted by: Dr. Iqrarul Haque on December 1, 2006 12:55 PM

It is better you stay in pakistan. Leave the indians to sort out their affairs. It is sadly a political reality
Posted by: mohd ali on February 10, 2007 03:53 AM

To
CHIEF JUSTICE OF INDIA
& Adovocates/ Lawyers

dear sir

im vinod from pakistan willing to shift to india with my ebtire family for ever bcos of the rising crisis in pakistan and also that our entire family lives in india so i want that my family laos lives with them so i wish that is that any lawyers who can deals with my case mentioed above or any judge plz send me mail me at my (vinod_arjun10@yahoo.com) so i can provide you my all information and have a meeting at earliest as he can

looking for a formal response

yours truly

thanking you to those for showing their intrest

Vinod Arjun kumar
Posted by: vinod arjun kumar on July 8, 2007 06:30 AM

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