New Delhi – Pakistan Visa Struggle

Hotel Bajrang 100 Rs

The day started not quite in smooth way. I took a bus to Channakya Puri, and this is my dozenth time taking the very bus. I know exactly that the fare should be 5 Rs, but the conductor insisted to get 7 Rs. The person beside me paid only 2 Rs and travelled further than I did. So I really dont know how the fare system works here, maybe conductor mood? OK, what was occupying my mind only the Pakistani visa, so I didnt argue at all for this 2 Rs rip off.

Friends, I got already a letter from Indonesian embassy in Beijing. The diplomat there was so friendly and helpful, I just got it by sending my passport photocopy by fax. And the second day my aunt went to the embassy, picked it up, and faxed to me here in Delhi. The problem is whether this would help, because now I am in India, not in China.

First I went to the Indonesian embassy to find the staff, to ask for suggestions of what to answer if I was asked. Then I went directly to the Pakistan embassy. There was long queue everywhere, but foreigners are always allowed to go directly to the first place. There were many of Indian applicants there, and they were very friendly and let me go to the window. I was so anxious at that time, and oho, stupidly when I handed in my application, letter from embassy, and passport, I told him alrady, that I got my letter from embassy in Beijing. He suddenly said, no, no, you have to get from Indonesian embassy in New Delhi.

Prepared with this question, I anticipated by telling as I was living in China, I should have got my embassy from China, as embassy in Delhi cannot. It is true, I have some stamps in my passport showing I am living in China, and I have the stamps from Indonesian embassy of Beijing also. But all didnt work, he just let me go to Indonesian embassy in Delhi to ask for letter of recommendation, or go to Chinese embassy (how can, my passport is Indonesian and not Chinese….). “If your country doesnt recognise you, how can we recognise you?” that question put me off. I was completely understanding that my head was not cool at that time, I decided to get down a little bit.

Guess what, I had so many supporters. Local people applying for Pakistani visa came to me, gave me spirit.
“Why didnt you argue? Try again, dont waste your time waiting?”
“Hey, you have been to Pakistan, there is no reason they refuse you”
“Try again. Do you want to try the main gate to meet the counsellor”
….

I decided to make my head down, and waiting for better time to try again. I went back to Indonesian embassy, but the friendly lady was not there. 5 minutes sitting in receptionist, I went back to Pakistan embassy. There is 500 m distance between these two embassies.

I tried the second window. It’s different officer. Everything goes smooth, he read my application, looked at my passport, and read the letter from Indonesian embassy in Beijing. But the man behind the window next to him, that is the one whom I talked to earlier, asked me to go back to his window. And the argumentation started again.

This time, I talked slowly, but confidently. I explained that due to my condition, I only could get letter from embassy in Beijing. Indonesian embassy in Delhi has passed all of my requirements to Beijing and the reply from Beijing was the letter. I explained to him, I need to go to Pakistan ASAP to be involved in volunteer job there, and I have cancelled all of my Indian travelling plan because I want to go to Pakistan. He asked why I didnt apply in Beijing, and I replied that I traveled all the way overland. It seems that these explanation worked. And I added, “merhbani karenge”.

Yeah, at last, my application is accepted. I paid the fee (2160 Rs for Indonesians), and supposed to get my visa tomorrow afternoon. If everything goes smooth, tomorrow I will be relieved and finish all of this visa hassles. If not, I will fly to Kabul instead.

And the locals behind me was so happy to see me successfully handed in my application. They hugged me, kissed me, and even bought me tea. It was like a celebration of an Indonesian olympic medalist. But I didnt get any medals, I just successfully handed in my application form for PAKISTAN visa. And even though there is still a possibility to be refused. But at least I have made a big progress forward. Wish me luck for tomorrow