December 2003

This is regarding the new rule of India passport holders requiring a UK visa even if they are just flying thru UK in transit to India.

It is not just the inconvenience caused to these passengers, but humiliation too. This is because of the following reasons:

1. India has been clubbed together with the poorest of the third world countries in Asia and Africa which is not fair as India in considered to be the third biggest superpower in another 10-15 years.(As per Goldman Sachs and Mckinsey report)

2. The rule does not clearly state the period of travel. As a result lot of people have already come here about 3-4 months back and not even aware of the rules.

3. They are being sent back from the check-in counters with confirmed seats for the very next day. However, since many of them come from out of New York area, it does not give them enough time to come to NY, get the visa and go back to their respective airports to take that confirmed flight.

4. Since the rule does not state clearly that any person can come to the UK consulate with the necessary documents, all the passengers are coming to the consulate. However, the UK consulate as well as the building security does not allow all of them to go up and wait in the consulate`s waiting hall. They are being humiliated and asked to wait not just downstairs in the building but OUTSIDE the building in the bitter cold. Since this rule is applicable to all Indian travelers, there is always a huge line at the consulate which results in their having to wait several hours standing in the bitter cold winter of New York City.

5. Last week, we saw old people, women with children, toddlers and infants waiting out in the freezing weather with no place to go to feed an infant. When they tried to go in the building to breast-feed their child, they were thrown out of the building which shows their lack of human values. And they preach India for violating human rights!

Would it not be better if the UK consulate could sit outside on the cold streets themselves with a begging bowl to support the Iraq war, and all the Indian people would gladly give them alms!!!!

I hope it will be possible for you to report this situation to all your readers, and send the message to everyone to ban any airline which travels through UK.

IndiaCause Member