Having Met Uncle Sam - Chapter #2
The entry to the den was finally visible over the horizon. As the swinging doors opened, there was a gust of cool air that came as a welcome relief. I guess that it wasn't a prelude to the squall that lay in store. The security check was equally thorough this time around. Only, the person was a bit more friendly. I finally entered inside to see a sea of people. All waiting for their turns. Before I could finish half a glance, I was pushed towards a queue for collecting my papers. I guess that there is no escaping queues anywhere in India. I wonder whether it is the same case in the rest of the world. Or is it the burgeoning Indian population!
As I reached the counter, I was attended to by a petite Indian female. She was probably the only Indian out there who seemed to have her feet firmly planted on the ground. She was very courteous and amicable. She fished out my envelope out of a pile and asked me to proceed to the finger printing section. Here I came across this other Indian female who was in stark contrast of the one I had just interacted with. She was totally pretentious and had a very condescending towards all the visa applicants. As though she was doing us a favour by going about her job! In stark contrast of this was the American female who was at the counter. She was very friendly and jovial. I guess that barring the one Indian female, the other Indians at the embassy needed a serious makeover in terms of attitude. Having received my pink token, I decided to take a seat. Here I met the P & O Nedlloyd person again. He had done all the other processing and was waiting for the final interview. I assessed that it would be a while before I would be called. I hadn't my breakfast and so proceeded towards the counter to grab a bite and a cup of coffee. Barely had I taken a bite of my sandwich when I heard my number being called over the public address system (PAS). I was shocked with the early response. I guess that god was tired of making me wait and wanted to get done with the process. Probably, he couldn't take the prayers anymore! I deposited the grub with the food counter and proceeded towards the counter. There were a few ahead of me in the line and I waited patiently. I kept telling myself to smile! You cant help but be nervous. I guess that one is always apprehensive in a situation like this. I over heard the person in front of me in the line as he put forth his case. The lady at the counter seemed to be grilling him, asking him about the kind of work that he does and the reason that warranted his travel. I shifted my gaze to the people around. More than eighty percent of those present seemed to be Gujratis. I deduced this from the names being called out on the PAS, the general 'loud' attire and the animated discussions that they were having with each other. No wonder that the American government is apprehensive of giving visas to the gujjus! My turn finally came. Smile! Smile! that is what I told myself one last time. The interviewer again was a very sweet American. She asked me a couple of questions on the reasons that I required a visa, the nature of the emergency...Once she had read the name of my employer, she was sufficiently relaxed. I guess that the name wields a lot of importance in the US.
Moral: Its all in the name!
It was more like a conversation and less of an interview after that. There was no grilling and there were no documents sought. In fact, I did not have to produce even a single document. Even the emergency letters from the company were not sought. The questions now moved to topics like 'Since I would be in NYC, I must have made a lot of plans!' And 'I must be very excited, considering that it is my first trip abroad!'. She than gave me a big broad smile and declared 'Okay Ameet, (she pronounced it perfectly!) your passport will arive in 3 days!'. I couldn't believe my ears! Was that it? I asked her whether it was the end of the process. With a big grin, she replied in the affirmative. She said that I could leave. Thanking her, I moved out.
I couldn't believe myself. I knew it wasn't supposed to be a marathon (although it was potrayed to be one), but I didnt expect it to be a walk in Central Park! For, that is exactly what it was!
So much for the gyaan that I received.
So much for the anxiety.
So much for the 3 sets of documents that I had carried, neatly segregated into logical bundles in a chronological order.
So much for the formal attire (although I dont know whether it helped or not!).
Having completed the process without any hassle, I sat down to complete another important task...breakfast! Something that was interrupted mid-way. As I munched away to glory, I saw the P & O Nedlloyd guy. The look on his face said it all! I guess that the sun had set prematurely on his campaign. I decided to leave him alone. It was no use adding to his misery.
Moral: Gyaan doesn't count for much!
I thought that I'd had enough action for the day. I came out and headed in the direction of the PCO after inquiring for the same. This time around, I seemed to find it without much of an effort. Suddenly I remembered that there was something that I had to pick up! My secure-id token! I rushed back to the bushes. As I looked for the same, I felt a chill down my spine. The worst had happened. I was shocked to find that the token had gone missing! I began to panic. The wonderful brainwave of tossing the token into the bushes suddenly didn't look all that smart. I cursed loudly, this time at myself for having taken such a grossly irresponsible step. I wondered as to what the repercussions would be! As I stood there, sweat trickling down my neck, I noticed a small kid appear. He asked me "Do you want to store something with me till the end of the interview?" This was the first time that I came in contact with the 'mobile lockers'. More curses followed. Why on earth didn't I meet this person before??? I could have deposited it with him and retrieved the same at a small price! I explained the situation to him! I told him about the fact that I had already tossed my 'stuff' into the bushes and that it had now disappeared! That is when the angelic kid spoke "I think I know what you are talking about". I almost jumped with joy when he said that a friend of his had picked up the token. He went in search of the other kid, me in tow. After a few minutes, the angelic saviour (who had picked up my token) appeared. He asked me what it was that I had tossed away. After sufficient substantiation, he handed it over to me! I didnt know what to say! I offered him money, which he politely refused. Flashing me a smile, he turned back and walked away as I stood there speechless!
Moral: Mumbai contines to have a semblance of integrity and honesty left!
I left with a feeling of contentment.
PS: I eventually got a 10 years multiple entry visa.
Moral: Its all in the name!
It was more like a conversation and less of an interview after that. There was no grilling and there were no documents sought. In fact, I did not have to produce even a single document. Even the emergency letters from the company were not sought. The questions now moved to topics like 'Since I would be in NYC, I must have made a lot of plans!' And 'I must be very excited, considering that it is my first trip abroad!'. She than gave me a big broad smile and declared 'Okay Ameet, (she pronounced it perfectly!) your passport will arive in 3 days!'. I couldn't believe my ears! Was that it? I asked her whether it was the end of the process. With a big grin, she replied in the affirmative. She said that I could leave. Thanking her, I moved out.
I couldn't believe myself. I knew it wasn't supposed to be a marathon (although it was potrayed to be one), but I didnt expect it to be a walk in Central Park! For, that is exactly what it was!
So much for the gyaan that I received.
So much for the anxiety.
So much for the 3 sets of documents that I had carried, neatly segregated into logical bundles in a chronological order.
So much for the formal attire (although I dont know whether it helped or not!).
Having completed the process without any hassle, I sat down to complete another important task...breakfast! Something that was interrupted mid-way. As I munched away to glory, I saw the P & O Nedlloyd guy. The look on his face said it all! I guess that the sun had set prematurely on his campaign. I decided to leave him alone. It was no use adding to his misery.
Moral: Gyaan doesn't count for much!
I thought that I'd had enough action for the day. I came out and headed in the direction of the PCO after inquiring for the same. This time around, I seemed to find it without much of an effort. Suddenly I remembered that there was something that I had to pick up! My secure-id token! I rushed back to the bushes. As I looked for the same, I felt a chill down my spine. The worst had happened. I was shocked to find that the token had gone missing! I began to panic. The wonderful brainwave of tossing the token into the bushes suddenly didn't look all that smart. I cursed loudly, this time at myself for having taken such a grossly irresponsible step. I wondered as to what the repercussions would be! As I stood there, sweat trickling down my neck, I noticed a small kid appear. He asked me "Do you want to store something with me till the end of the interview?" This was the first time that I came in contact with the 'mobile lockers'. More curses followed. Why on earth didn't I meet this person before??? I could have deposited it with him and retrieved the same at a small price! I explained the situation to him! I told him about the fact that I had already tossed my 'stuff' into the bushes and that it had now disappeared! That is when the angelic kid spoke "I think I know what you are talking about". I almost jumped with joy when he said that a friend of his had picked up the token. He went in search of the other kid, me in tow. After a few minutes, the angelic saviour (who had picked up my token) appeared. He asked me what it was that I had tossed away. After sufficient substantiation, he handed it over to me! I didnt know what to say! I offered him money, which he politely refused. Flashing me a smile, he turned back and walked away as I stood there speechless!
Moral: Mumbai contines to have a semblance of integrity and honesty left!
I left with a feeling of contentment.
PS: I eventually got a 10 years multiple entry visa.
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