I originally got a 1 year work visa in India. I got the visa from the Indian embassy in NYC. It was a very straightforward process. I sent ~8 documents to the embassy along with my passport, and they immediately sent my passport back with the visa.
Now I need to extend the visa, as I plan to stay here longer into 2012. However, once in India, the process needs to happen at the local offices here, and the process is not so simple. Everyone has heard of the horrible bureaucracy in India, and of the corruption as well. I did my homework and went to the immigration office with all my documents in order. They still sent me away saying that my documents were insufficient. They don't believe that I am a permanent employee here, they require my contract dates. They also require proof of address, so I brought my lease agreement, which is good until Feb2012. They told me I need a lease renewal agreement. How stupid, to require proof of where I will be living 3 months from now??? This should not be required, and my landlord has moved to New Jersey, so I can't get these notarized docs so quickly. I think they purposefully ask for unreasonable things so that they can take bribes. I will be very upset if I can't continue my work here. I am learning so much and enjoying this time in India immensely.
Now I need to extend the visa, as I plan to stay here longer into 2012. However, once in India, the process needs to happen at the local offices here, and the process is not so simple. Everyone has heard of the horrible bureaucracy in India, and of the corruption as well. I did my homework and went to the immigration office with all my documents in order. They still sent me away saying that my documents were insufficient. They don't believe that I am a permanent employee here, they require my contract dates. They also require proof of address, so I brought my lease agreement, which is good until Feb2012. They told me I need a lease renewal agreement. How stupid, to require proof of where I will be living 3 months from now??? This should not be required, and my landlord has moved to New Jersey, so I can't get these notarized docs so quickly. I think they purposefully ask for unreasonable things so that they can take bribes. I will be very upset if I can't continue my work here. I am learning so much and enjoying this time in India immensely.
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