Walking towards the airport checking-in in the evening today I was really feeling the devoid of energy, although I had had lasagna in afternoon at a nice restaurant along with mom and brother. My stay at home had got extended more than initially planned, totaling 4 weeks, could spend quality time with folks back home. I got a good break from the non-rewarding job that I was doing back in US and enjoyed the stay completely.
The end of the sojourn came rather abruptly, that’s what I felt. The Jet Airways personnel started asking me the regular security questions. I was answering animately, and might have simply accepted if he would have said that there is some problem and I cannot travel back today. It was a regular drill, next was the immigration counter and I half heartedly filled the form and proceeded to the next available window.
The immigration personnel inspected the form, I had filled the wrong flight number, it was corrected. He then started asking me the regular questions, which VISA are you travelling on, who is your employer. I gave home single word answers for his questions. And then it started, the questions came pouring in, where did you work before this, what is your job, where did you do your studies. I started getting bit irritated, it was none of his job to ask me where I did my college from. I kept answering. Then he asked me what where did I apply for the job I got in US, what marks I got in ehgineering. Then I realized what he was upto, He was trying to figure out what would be required to a get a job in US.
He told me his daughter was also an engineer and had scored 95% marks and he wanted her to do M Tech . He was surprised how I managed to land a job in US on H1 VISA with just BE degree from India and that too with 68%. I told him that it was also about the job experience and I had the relevant experience for the job, During the conversation I started feeling better, I was not being sentenced to another term in US, but it was rather a sought after opportunity.
For the first time an immigration personnel smiled at me and told me, "Best of Luck :-)". I would say that made my day and gave me some energy for the long-long flight ahead.
Hi,
ReplyDeleteYou are lucky that in the end it got better.
I had a harrowing experience with Immigration to be specific Delhi one. While coming to US I was supposed to board the flight from Mumbai but somehow I was asked to board the flight from New Delhi. Everything went smooth until I reached at the immigration counter. He asked me a hell lot of questions like on what visa are your travelling even it is clearly written. He asked all the questions mentioned by you. Now here comes the twist. In your case it got better, in mine it got worst. In my case he saw on my passport Australian visa (Work Permit for 4 years). He asked what visa is this.I replied. Then more intresting why you haven't gone to Australia. I said the project got delayed, and moreover it's none of my business it is in my company's hand to send me or not. Then he again pounced back with irrelevant questions. I was answering all politely as this was my first travel abroad and i don't want to invite any trouble. He asked me to show Company ID, proof of employment and all that stuff to harrass me.
Finally I was fed up. I procatively asked him "What is the problem??". He replied in haryanvi accent "Tere ko jyada garmi chad rahi hai". I questioned again "What is the problem??". Now he called his some senior officer. I politely asked him "Please let me know what is the problem with my visa or passport". He checked with the counter person and then replied you are allowed to go.
I thought finally it ended up but it wasn't. After having the stamping the Airline personnel escorted me for security check. During this time that bloody personnel had taken my passport and handed over to CISF security. Now this person again started his questioning. He asked where are you from and where are you going. I replied.
Then he said regretfully(may be this is the right word) "Our job is to ask questions"