Indian Embassy, Colombo
These are photos I took with my Razr in the waiting room
The Embassy sucks, but not as bad as I’d expected. This is just for my reference, and anybody elses. Intel is free flying people out to Mumbai for some press conference, so I photocopied my soul and went to stand in line. Barring that, you need a copy of your National ID or birth defect. Basically you go and sacrifice one work morning to Shiva the Destroyer and the Indians will let you enter their country. White people too, all must be humbled before the great state of inefficiency. They take your cell-phone when you enter, so it’s really feels like entering foreign territory. Like Afghanistan. I hung out there for literally 3 hours, nodding off and watching Miss Posh Spice flip out. Last time I yelled at the Indian Embassy they asked ‘are you threatening my sovereignity’, so I don’t do that no more. Basically it suxors and I’m probably going to miss the press drunket, but these are the lessons I’ve learnt.
Don’t Go To India
It’s not worth it. The process in a pain in the butt, and really expensive with a paraya passport (4,500). You seriously have to flush the whole morning down the toilet, and I had PMS the rest of the day. Angry angry hippo. First they make you wait in line outside, in the hot sun. I saw three old people straight die. Then you go upstairs and stand in another line, with your fk compatriots riding your ass like the interminable line creeps we are. Sometimes I think an elbow to the face would be so satisfying. That guy turned out to be nice though, I feel bad. Mmmm, anyways, I would never take a vacation a l’Inde cause the process is traumatic and not relaxing. If I want to vacation I’ll go to, well, I’d watch TV, but normal people could go to boutique hotels here or something. Getting a Visa really really sucks, and it doesn’t need to. You can go from Canada to the Etats with a drivers license and I don’t see why SL and India can’t work something out. I don’t get who’s going to flee from the frying pan to the fire, and it’s not like they’d notice five extra brown people now and then.
Sort Your Papers
To get a Visa you need, minimum,
passport photocopy, national ID OR birth certificate two passport sized color photos first born child
Just to be safe, I brought every piece of paper that has ever caused me intense trauma, including Dual Citizenship and a book of Yeats. I got the photos and copies at this cyber-kade near the Majestic/Unity parking lot. If you’re missing the papers when you get up to the counter it is like flying into Mars on inches and feet.
Take Drugs and Be Mean To Old People
I had a seat but there are so many old people that I couldn’t keep it. I was also bored, though I shouldna left the iPod in the car. I guess the drugs could make the time go faster, though I’d ruther sleep. I would also recommend eating breakfast before you go. Hungry hungry hippo.
Do Not Count
The counters make no sense. One went from 80 directly to 160, directly to 200. There is some logic there, but I can’t parse it. My number got skipped, but I swear to g I was watching the LED. I had no other measure of the value of my life. They let me back in, but wtf, you know? The three counters also have no relation to each other either. Just ax the lady on the way in and she’ll tell you which counter you’re waiting for. Oh, and paste your photos on before because I lost like 5 spots that way. Just watch your counter only. When it bounces around and settles higher than your number, then it’s your turn.
Uh, I’m sleepy. I’m calling Canada to try and expedite but someone answered to tell me that no one is there. The people at the Indian High Commission in Ottawa are seriously the most braindead ass-clowns that country has ever produced. Apparently it’s one o’clock there and that, my friends, is the final lesson of the day. The national Indian faith is defined by rigid observance to a one hour lunch from 1 to 2 pm. Do not threaten their soveriegnity. Show up at 9h30 and get your sheet finished by 1.
Oh, I almost forgot. For foreign passports it takes 5 business days to get a visa. Today is Wednesday and my flight is Monday. Hence, I’m fucked.
I want to visit my friend in China before he comes back. Free place to crash and all. So, I applied for a visa to China, from Colombo. I’m not sure I’ll get it, but this is process to at least apply. For official but incomplete info, check out the 
The Mahavamsa (a history of Sri Lanka) is full of conflicts between generals and kings. Usually, the more bloodthirsty and unscrupulous would win. Our current (elected) ruler Mahinda Rajapaksa has had his own general conflicts, namely with one Sarath Fonseka. In the old days Fonseka would have staged a coup, as in literally try to cut of Mahinda’s head, and Mahinda would – if that failed – tie him to four elephants and split his parts asunder. Can’t do that shit anymore. Instead Fonseka ran for office and lost and Mahinda tossed him in jail.
Today on the 
Janith has updated 
Same sorta thing happened to me at the Indian consulate in Toronto, over the course of 3 or 4 visits and lots of waiting around for people to finish things at their own pace.
I found they were really flexible though, if you’re able to get past the first line of automatons. My mom got her stuff approved and couriered to her after a day, it took me a few days longer because I wasn’t trained in the art of dealing with south asian bureaucracy. So yeah, you might not be totally sol yet, although i’m guessing it might be harder in SL.
oh, and by “art of dealing with south asian bureaucracy” I didn’t mean bribery!
They’re just much more flexible than they seemed at first, a lot more informal than the facade made it seem.
Count me in. The injuns managed to lose my passport the last time around and I could see this guy shifting through mountains of passports which were piled up on tables. They asked me to come back the next day and luckily they’d found it by then.
If the Indians can come to Sri Lanka without a Visa then WTF, why can we go to India without one?
But you have to admit that getting a Visa to India is a lot easy than getting one to Europe :D well provided u have a SL passport. Lots of guys I know just went there filled some stuff and got it. I guess the waiting and the lines is what they use to keep ppl out of india :)
I wonder if India’s visa regime were made more liberal would it contribute to a higher economic growth rate? the current 8% isn’t bad, but wonder how many percentage points could be added if they made it easier for people to visit the country. anyone know of any studies? SL is far more dependent on tourism revenue than India and it is much more in SL’s interest to have a liberal visa regime…Having said that, I favor a reciprocal arrangement and Sri Lankans should get a visa on arrival when they land in India. I really have no qualms about US, Canadians, Europeans having to go through hell to get an Indian visa, cause I have to go to hell and back to get a US/Canadian/European visas. I will never forget the indignity of having to stand in a line at 3.30am outside the US embassy in Chennai, getting drenched in the rain and trying to save land deeds, affidavits and all sorts of bullshit documents from turning into soggy pulp. Then having to prove to the visa officer I wasn’t “desperate” enough (standing in the rain in the middle of the night) to immigrate to the US of A. Thankfully, now they have visa interviews by appointment.
To get a residence visa in the Netherlands, I was asked to produce a birth certificate that was stamped by three different entities (federal, state and local) in different cities. My father travelled from Calcutta to Delhi and Pondicherry to get the various stamps on a photocopied birth certificate stating that I wasn’t some figment of imagination, that I was conceived and delivered and still living. My dad had to travel to the Dutch embassy in Bombay to submit this much stamped document in person. Subsequently, a six month long investifgation was carried out by a PI on the Dutch payroll who visited my place of birth, asked the hospital staff if they knew me(**??!!@@##), asked to see my grandfather’s grave (he relented when it was explained we Hindus are reduced to ash), and went about checking every piece of factual evidence stated in response to the lengthy questionnaire that they had asked me to fill. All this, just to determine I was born on the stated date in my birth certificate. Mind you, not all nationalities have to go through this, only Indians, Pakistanis, Nigerians and a few others who are reputed as habitual liars.
In comparison, getting an Indian visa was a walk in the park.
Viva la India!!!
yindians. each time we complain about the turgid visa process they quickly say “nor nor, we have already made the process super fast, can’t do anymore” cheek. But how to blame them, 1 billion ppl there why would they want any of our buggers coming and cluttering their streets? the number of yindians in independence square is amazing, proper majlis that’s become.
main reason why indians do not reciprocate our liberal visa policy is of course the terrorists. after all ‘our’ fellows did assassinate a former pm. but on the other hand this sort of thing never prevents terrorists.
result: our frustration, their loss.
Given below is the agreement of visa issues reached between the governments of Sri Lanka and India in the context of the negotiations on the India Sri Lanka Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (ISLCEPA):
Visa Issues
5.11 In light of the expected increase in travel resulting from the CEPA, the JSG recommends the
further liberalization of the visa regimes of the two countries to include more categories of visitors
for long term multiple entry visas and simplification of procedures for other visas. This is essential
in order to facilitate trade and investment cooperation and mutual understanding. Both countries
should explore the feasibility of allowing bona fide third-country tourists to obtain short-term visas
Joint Study Group Report on India Sri Lanka Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement
in each other’s countries as part of the overall effort to encourage cross-destination travel. Ease
and convenience of border crossing is critical to attracting and holding high-spending tourists in
the region.
I guess someone should remind the Indian Foreign Service that it should live up to the limited commitments it has already made.
I think India allows Nepalis (more than 25 million people and an even shittier government than here) and Bhutanese (less than a million, and no government in the modern sense) to enter without visas. India allowed that kind of access only for Sri Lankans from the militant groups it funded in the 1980s. If you’re not funded by the RAW and you’re Sri Lankan, you need to stand in line.
well nepal and bhutan are more or less parts of india. you really can’t call them real countries, any more than old state of sikkim (is that the name ? that no one now remembers).
Ummm, Nepal and Bhutan are both kingdoms, and the king in Nepal at least is pretty tight with his rule. I wouldn’t call either of them part of India. In Bhutan you’re even forced to wear national dress, and I don’t think they have Visas at all, only invites
sure. :-) ever seen them doing anything against india’s wishes? jayalalitha in tamilnadu is more independent than king gajaya .
Comparing Bhutan with Nepal is really shitty, with none of us knowing what’s going on in this Himalayan kingdom.
I had the opportunity to help a Bhutanese student get his accomodation (actually I had to accomodate him for 2 months, till he got his own place) in Chennai during his college days.
And from what I heard from him was really amazing. Their king had anonunced that after him tehre will be no kings in Bhtuan.. And he is bringing up his children like that… He has proposed a parlimentary democracy at the end of his term (of course, he has to decide when he will reach the end of his term).
While Nepal has an autocratic king, the king of Bhutan is more liberal and is positively trying to move his country towards democracy.
And this king reaches out to people so direct that his regular itenary includes a visit to the country’s remotest schools every week. He speaks to children and studnts and tells them to prepare themselves for serving the country.
Every student who passes a minimum set standard in his school exams is sent abroad for collegiate education wherever he / she is willing to go, with full scholarship… This particular student’s scholarship was more than my salary at that point of time. And when these students return to their country, they are given a position in the government services. All jsut to improve the standrad of living and governance in this tiny kingdom.
Now, this country already had panchayat elections and has other forms of local governements. What more if you can meet the king personally by fixing an appointment? Much faster than the US visa appointment!
I am sure to take up the invite extended by my friend’s father to visit this beautiful kingdom which is marching towards democracy slowly but steadily.
indi you funny. made me laugh about 10 times and that’s pretty good on this gadawfully cold day.
I went to India last year for a few weeks on a project. The company who was sending me sent a guy and got my visa. So I was saved once. Then again I was dropped in a shitty part of Mumbai that reminded me of Gunasinghepura.
The advice is mutual. Don’t go there. There is nothing there that we don’t have here and its worse. There maybe a few pockets of development here and there but from what I saw its a dump.
Does anyone know who you can complain to about the people and service at the Indian Consulate in Toronto? They have given me so much trouble and taken my time and money, and will not issue me the visa even after getting the clearance from India. Someone please help. I want justice
I found this site by typing in “indian consulate sucks” on google.
The reason: My experience in obtaining a visa to visit the “motherland”. I’m a Canadian born person of Indian origin, so
getting the visa was hardly the problem. The problem was:
1) Long lineups. My first visit, I lined up at 6:30am and was the 9th person there. (2nd visit was for a friend, so I was
the first one there at 6am). Keep in mind the windows open – which means they pull up the cheap blinds at 9:30am.
2) Rude service. Absolutely lacking all graces of social communication.
3) Hesitant to provide any help or information. It’s like pulling teeth to get any information out of them.
4) No organiztion in the waiting room.
5) The numbering system makes absolutely no sense at all.
6) No signs to indicate where any one person should line up.
7) There is not any recogizable way of determining who works there. Basically, if you see someone walking around with a stern look on his/her face, rude in responding to inquiries, that’s an employee then.
8) Website completely sucks.
9) Procedures are poorly explained for people of non-Indian origin. Found out my friend has to talk to an officer first before submitting his application for a visa – this! after waiting in lines for so long all morning. The lady behind the counter did not explain this to me on my first visit. Nor was it explained to my friend on his initial visit.
10) How is the Indian economy growing!!!?? Foreign investment is very much needeed and encouraged, this type of
introduction to India, for somone new wanting to go there for business purposes, is completely discouraging.
AND FNALLY – THANK GOD MY PARENTS CHOSE CANADA AND THAT I’M CANADIAN!!!!
ahahaha, so true. I didn’t know the numbering system was globally nonsensicle.
It’s a little unfortunate that this comes up for ‘indian embassy sucks’, but its kinda intentional. I like India, but their consulates could do with a few simple changes. Just not trying to fuck up my next visa is all..
I am a Sri Lankan national with Sri Lankan passport residing in Canada as a Permanant Resident. My mom is from India and still holds Indian citizenship.
I applied for Indian visa on August 10th. Astonishingly, I was told to check back after a month about my visa??? 1 friggin month? to issue a visa? WTF. Well as I had time, I waited. After a months time, I called, they said okay call back next week. I called back the other week, the lady said ok you have to come and see the officer? well ok I need the visa so I went to see him.
Went at 8.30 am, waited and had to write my name on a sheet of paper. I was called in at 10.45 and he took my receipt and said he will check and call me back!!! 11.50pm, I get called in and he says, it’s not ready, call back in 3-4 days and see. Indian Embassy at Toronto really really sucks big time. If they want a bribe, just ask, I went to the UK Embassy the other and was issued the visa same day.
It’s been 6 weeks now and still haven’t received my passport and visa and my travel date has neared. Have only one week left. What should I do?
You can take a chance and come to Sri Lanka and get a Visa from the Indian High Commission in Colombo. They usually give the visa the same day for Sri Lankan passport holders.
concur with most regard indian process/ handlings. I ‘ve travelled to hongkong, manila, sidney,singpore, bangkok, KL, colombo, bombay, and allover usa, ny to la , most ofwestern europe since 1979 to date. All of which with canadian passport[naturalised cndn of sl orgin]. Only India had visa reqrment and indeed after hours and hours of confused / deliberately slow staffs at toronto consulate[mid 1980 and mid 2000]. half similar experience in late 80s at srilankan high comm on relative passport matter… less annoying but with morning hours only, long line up and a very vigorus visa process at usa consulte for my east asian brn-cdn landed immgrant friend[2003], a swift and same day visa at greek embassy for another southasian born visitor friend [1990].
In terms of having the most difficult time at customs/ ticketting was at bombay, it tops[1 out of 1 time] mid 1980. 2nd goes to usa immigration at tor airport but 1 out of 15 times. 3rd goes to usa land cross border immigration espeacialyy since 9/11 [still 5 out of 10 times].
may be thats why a last week survey shows indians are tied with china and few other african nations at 138 th for burecratic red tapes, bribes,etc. How do they realy have all these call centres staffs whom seem to be speaking very polite and conducting business very well for their american and canadian companies[many calls in canada going there in last 2-3 yrs], I wonder how and how long they are trained!
Dude..u r so right. Guess what happened to me. I work for a prestigeous IT consulting company in Toronto that does some work for one of the leading employers in Canada. So the Indian-based company decides to send me to their home base for meet and greet. So I went to the Toronto Indian Consulate to apply for Visa. I only had a week to plan and get the Visa. I spoke to the pleeb at the entrance so he looks at everything and goes, fine. Then he goes, hold on..where were u born. Oh my god ..Lanka…now u go home and wait for 40 days to get the Business visa. I had all the f’ing documents. Can’t be more organized than this. Employer even sent an invitation letter and stating the urgency for a meeting, etc. in India. Then the embassy pleeb goes, Oh, go to Sri Lanka, you will get the visa. I am like, dude I haven’t stepped on that soil for god knows how long, 20 years, why the f’k would I go to lanka to get an Indian Visa. I hear apparently that’s the fastest place to get Indian visa for people who were born/ or their parent who were born in Lanka … low in the Indian Caste system (Lankans)..just because we happen to hang off the deep south end of the Indian map… they think we are low. When people ask me if I am Indian, I get fumes coming thru my ears. Sorry to say, I look at my self as the SOPHISTICATED INDIAN – That IS I am Lankan, and proud to be. Apparently the going rate for an Indian Visa in Toronto is CAD $ 350 thru some travel agent contact. Apparently this is true for Indian as well..Canadian Foreign Affairs should investigate the bribery in the Indian Embassy as this is happening on Canadian Soil. This is blatant violation of Canadian law and sub-standard treatment of a Canadian Citizen. Real discrmination. Why do these brown people complain about racism in Canada..when their own country discriminates against them in a foreign land. What a way..man some one should get W5 of CTV or market place of CBC to investigate.
all i can say indians r fckin ass holes. i sent my passport to indian embassy in texas for some attestation and is 5 weeks now they dont answer there ph calls no reply e`mails.
all i can say i will get us citizenship and say fuck india. what a fuckin country. no body likes to work in any indian embassy or and indian govt office.