Thought I would just have another normal flight on BA. But it turned out to be different.
As a non-European might not know. There are two Europe's. One is the Europe that is also called EU (European Union) and the other Europe is the Europe out of EU. The other Europe is inhabited by countries like UK etc.
I'm an Indian citizen living in Barcelona and I have the residence permit to live in Spain and travel around EU countries. But in the hurry of my vacation planning I forgot the travelling part and brought the air tickets to fly British Airways.
Finally came the day of the flight and we packed all our stuff and were on the airport three hours before time as it was the time of the security alert in UK and USA(August 2006). I passed all the security checks and things and was finally at the boarding gate of my flight. The surprise was soon to come.
Me and my wife were busy taking care of our baby as he was asking for water. My wife went to get some water. Finally we were the last at the boarding gate. The women at the desk went through the passports of my wife and son. Until then no problem as both of them are Spanish nationals. Then she looked into my passport flipping pages right and left looking for something pink. She didn't find it and there came my shock. I couldn't fly in the Iberia flight to London, because I didn't have the transit visa. I stood there dumb, absolutely speechless. Knowing I couldn't take this flight, thinking what could be the way from there. My wife was in tears, as we were going to India after a gap of 2 years and for my son it was the first visit to see his grandparents in India.
We came to know from the boarding desk that I need a transit visa to spend 2 damn hours on the London Heathrow airport before taking the next flight to Delhi. 2 bloody damn hours at the London Heathrow airport!!
This was the beginning of my ordeal. That would take me through the human jungle. Where people are running right and left, up and down, 24/7/365 literally all the time. But our world still seems to be becoming a worse place.
So we came back to the BA desk. Hoping to change our ticket to the alternate day and in the meantime get the transit visa. My wife had a hard time explaining to the person there, that we couldn't take the flight as I didn't have the transit visa. But the women there thought that I didn't need one, as I was married to a Spanish citizen. She went back inside, which seemed like an eternity to me. I could see her flipping papers, asking questions, going through some recent laws implemented. Then she was back outside with her fundamentals cleared. She was quite nice though. She told us about the new law that came into place since 2003. That required people like me to get transit visa. Anyway she changed our ticket to the alternate day.
Then began our quest to get this pink slip pasted on my passport. I call it pink slip because that’s how the women at the desk referred to it. Quite a colour, as I remember pink slips used somewhere in world to fire people. This time it was to let me inside.
We came back home. My wife started to take care of our baby who was short of sleep and quite irritated at all that was happening. And I absorbed myself in the internet. Looking for shreds of information here and there. Trying to make a list of tasks in the order of execution. I found the website of the British Consulate services in Spain, which is www.ukinspain.com. Just in case anyone needs it.
I was internally cursing myself, why did I choose to fly British airways. I could have flown trouble free through Amsterdam, Paris or Moscow. Just like the previous times. Why in the gods name did I choose the British Airways this time!!! A voice inside me said, lesson my boy, another lesson in this world that seems never to get tired of giving them.
So with a mind in a little bit of mess. I was an easy target. A trap was waiting right there on www.ukinspain.com. I followed a misleading link on the website. Someone forgot to delete the old link from the site which leads to the old ways of applying for this type of visa. Where there was a download of this visa form and some arbitrary comments on the documents required. Anyway I presumed a little. Applying some logic and reason(very bad practice, I was to learn) that what should be the proper documents to present. Passport, residence card and me in person should be enough for this type of visa. After all I will be there for only 2 hours at the airport in London. Logic and reason leading my way!!!
I came to know that for this type of visa one had to go in person. As It could not be done by a travel/visa agent. Anyway no travel agent would be able to do it in 1.5 days. Also this type of visa is only given in Madrid(Why the hell not in Barcelona I wondered). So my journey to Madrid was inevitable. It was evening time already, some 6:30pm. Flights were few and expensive. No seats left in trains. The only possibility was in a bus on the back, last seat in the corner. Where the bumps make sure you will have a sleepless night. Anyway I wasn't good at sleeping in the bus.
After such an eventful day I found the journey quite uneventful. So in Madrid I was. 7 am in the morning still 2 hours before the consulate opens. Planning my day in my mind....like going to coffee shop near the consulate, fill the visa form, wash myself a little in some bathroom etc. I had the return ticket to train already taken. It was at 5pm in the afternoon on the same day. I’ll be on that train today and the next day on the flight to India, I thought to myself and smiled. Off I went to a flying start.
I took the metro map of Madrid. Found out from helpdesk which is the station close to fuente cebeles. It was with a combination of 2 metro lines. I was at the fuente cebeles at 8am. Went into a coffee shop, filled the visa forms and was at the door of the consulate 10 minutes before 9am. Where another surprise was awaiting me.
I stood in the queue at the consulate. Soon came my turn and the security guy asked me where was my appointment. I said sorry I didn't understand. He explained in a nice voice. That to go up and apply for the visa I need to get the reference number of the application and using that reference number, I should apply for the appointment. I was blown.....my knees felt week. I could feel the energy leaving my body. I couldn't stand more of this bureaucracy!!! Felt like shouting "somebody help me"!! Somehow, all the energy didn't leave my body. I heard some words coming out from my mouth asking the security guy...what can I do now? A plain simple, show me the path......If you know one!!!
He must have looked a little inside me. Could have sensed my internal storm passing into sudden quietness. As happens in the physical world the deafening silence after the storm has passed. He told me to go to the internet cafe nearby and fill the application online. Whereupon I'll receive the reference number. Using which I can apply for the appointment.
There was no way for me to know this procedure of applying for the visa. As no one lifts the phone they have for enquiry purpose and the website has some misleading and old links taking to the old procedure of application. Lots of websites suffer from this sickness though. So I was condemned in some way by my tiredness to go after this old link lying on the website. Awaiting its prey. The prey was in!!!
So what to do next. Go to the internet cafe or call my wife at home and ask her to fill the application form, from the comfort of the home. I though of the second option and called my wife explaining her the situation. She agreed with me and filled the application form rapidly. I laughed at my luck, that I had a very internet literate wife and thought of those that don't have it and are themselves not very comfortable on the internet. She tried to get the appointment, but nothing was available within the next 2 weeks. 2 weeks was also the duration of my vacation. So I had no choice but to take my chances.
So I went back at the consulate within minutes with the reference number of my application. I explained to the security guy my ordeal and why I can't wait for 2 weeks to get an appointment. My vacations were 2 weeks long!!! I recited my story again, he got the cream of it pretty fast. Called someone and made sure I got in. Very good listener the security guy was. I felt a little luck on my side.
So at last I was in. I thought to myself....In a few hours I'll have my visa and will be off to India the next morning. How very happy I felt at crossing all this barriers and making it to India finally. But soon I was to realise, how naive I was to think that.
I waited a few hours for my turn. They called my name and I was off to the counter in a flash. The guy asked me to hand over the documents. I handed my passport, residence card and stood right in front so that he could match me with the photos there. He looked at me in disbelief and asked, where are the rest of the documents. I said what other documents you can need for a 2 hour transit visa to London? He started writing things on a piece of paper -
1. Airline tickets.
2. All the work contracts I had in Spain.
3. Last 3 pay slips.
4. Up-to-date bank book with all transactions.
I was petrified!! Got the shock of my life!!....waited for all the information to sink in. Now it was my time of disbelief. I looked at him shock eyed. He made a gesture like he was sorry...but also saying this was the only way. I shot at him...you need all this just because I need a 2 hour transit visa in London?! Yes he said sorry eyed. I understood, I was wasting my time there. I stormed out with a hurricane in my mind and astonishment in my eyes!!!
I called my wife dejected, broken, sapped of all energy. Explaining what documents we need!!!! And I'm sure, she got the shock of her life too!!! Soon she was in tears and shouting at the world!! This is impossible!! Thinking this transit is next to impossible, just like me!! Soon she calmed down. I explained, dear we are not going to India this time. It seems we can't do it!! Despite all our efforts it seems unreachable somehow. We should think of next year or in winter. In August 2006 forget it. We talked over and an idea came, of the possibility of cancelling this ticket and trying other airline.
Off I went to the nearest internet cafe and soon was absorbed in the world of airline tickets!! No less complicated then stock markets!! Prices follow what patterns, how they reach such high amounts I have no fucking Godzilla idea!! The cheapest one I found for next day was 3250€ for an adult. Meaning for a family of 2 adults and a 1 baby it would be close to 8000 fucking euros!! Another devastator!! I gave up right there!! Collapsed in my mind!! Took out the phone and dialled my wife. Saying dear "forget it, its over we are not going this time, in winter or next year". But during this time she had thought about some other plans. She thought of giving another try. She would send me all the documents over speed post. She did some phones to courier companies and found a company which could deliver me a post in Madrid before 9am in the next morning. I too saw a ray of hope in the blinding darkness spelled by god knows what. This required us to change the flight ticket one other time to the next day and my train ticket to the other day as well. She checked the possibility and both were possible. So we went for it. The ray of light filled us back with some energy. Hope was awaken!! Our only tool against this cruel non-functioning world.
My wife called a friend of hers, Silvia. Silvia lives in Madrid, near the British consulate. Another little stroke of luck. Though they were on holidays somewhere in mountains. Silvia invited me to use her house for the night. I went in my mind looking for people I know in Madrid. A name rose above all, Raul. Raul a very friendly colleague from my previous work and with good ears. I called him and a plan for the night was hatched right away. We were to meet for dinner at a restaurant and then go for drinks to another place. Which is a very Spanish weekend plan. Only thing was this was not a weekend and I was not on a courtesy visit. British bureaucracy was drowning me in shallow water.
I recited to him my story. By now it was like a recitation for me. As I had gone over it so many times in my mind. Cursing myself and Britain at the same time. Myself for flying British Airways and Britain for its bureaucracy. Raul was great help at that time. I was able to share my pain which helped me lighten it. Also we talked about the last project we were together in and the world in general. How the sense of fear in people is changing the world drastically. With the way things are going now, the future looks quite deathly. The trauma and the events of the day kept me awake long time. At last I slept.
When I got up. I saw another fresh day peeping bright through the window. The world was its normal self. I saw a different house I was in, with a different bed. And it started dawning on me. My situation. What I had gone through. What more is left. Everything came rushing with the force of the water you see, when the gates of the dam are opened.
On my feet I stood. Ready to receive the days challenges. The first one being the wait for the post man to deliver me all the documents I needed for the visa. Which my wife had dispatched the day before. I had got up at 8am and the postman was supposed to be there at 9am. So began one hour of anxiety. I started walking up and down the house, left and right wherever I could go. All I needed was some motion. The sense of moving kept me busy. The wall clock seemed to move slowest ever I'd noticed in my life. Time never moved so slow for me. I wondered at time, if it was against me as well. All the crazy thoughts kept rolling in my mind. Soon the clock struck 9. But my postman hadn't arrived. Called my wife and told her. She said, he should be there before 9 otherwise they'll have to return the money. Gave me some comfort. The courier company took there work quite seriously. And bang, went my head!! The doorbell rang. The postman was there. I ran down. Took the parcel from him, thanked him and started my walk to the British Consulate.
It was some 1 or 2 kms away. I was there in no time it felt. The security people at the door recognised me and I was up again. There I had to wait for a few hours before my turn came. I submitted all my documents. I gave more documents that were required. I gave 20 payslips instead of 3. I gave 2 bank books updated instead of one required. Something inside me wanting them to realise what they were asking!! The man seeing that I had all the documents needed. Passed my file to the next person and asked me to wait for a while. I had just crossed the screening successfully!! The next round was about to begin!!
It was another wait of 1 hour or so before my name was called. I hurried to the window. There was one women. A strict one it seemed. A no nonsense women. Who had forgotten she had ears to listen. All she wanted was yes or no's. And she liked herself to be heard. She started flipping through my papers. One after the other. Returning me the extra payslips and the older work contracts. Looking voraciously for documents that might be missing. Trying to find faults with my documents. Everything seemed fine, then she asked me where is the ticket. I said its right there in the middle somewhere. She found the paper and started looking at the contents. I tried to explain to her that my flight has been cancelled twice. So on the way to Delhi what you see is the old date and the return date is fine. The date on that day was 18th august 2006. And the ticket showed my flight to Delhi was on 16th august and the return was on 30th august. She shot back, but today is 18th. Bring me the latest ticket or we can't give you the visa. I shot back what you see is the print out of the e-ticket. Which the travel websites mail you at confirmation of you ticket. This in no way can be counted as the document on basis of which you can reject me the visa. As its so easy to cut paste on some editor, change the ticket date and take a printout. Its a document which can be easily faked. In no way this document going to decide whether or not I get the visa. But she was from the old world not yet fully awoken to the internet revolution. She told to her superior that this man is stopping me from working. Her boss was a similar type of figure. Bigger older version of her type. I argued the same to her boss. But all my pleas fell on deaf years. She told me to get the latest ticket printout by 12:30pm the same day or I don't get the visa. And she further added that they are doing me a favour as they close at 12.
With no other alternative left and the clock showing 11:45am. I realised its now or never. I though of various possibilities to get the damn ticket somehow in 45 minutes. There was one and only one way. That my wife find this ticket on the internet and fax me the copy. The old copy of the ticket was useless as it showed the old dates.
I called my wife and explained the situation. We had to track the changes that our ticket had gone. Take a printout and fax it to the consulate. Calling British airways and asking them to fax it to the consulate was improbable. As there phones ring, but to no effect. No one there to pick them up. If it was picked and we were lucky then having to explain the whole story and asking them to fax it to the consulate didn't seem like a good idea. The only way was to find it our self. My wife started to look for it on the ba.com. With the clock ticking in some corner, such a task took enormous proportions. Finding your way through a web of misleading links with so much information. Finally she encountered the link. Few minutes before 12:30pm. She had a burst of relief and happiness when she saw all our ticket details on the internet. She quickly printed it and sent it by fax. They received the fax around 12:25pm. And I was saved!!! At last I had the bloody transit visa. Then and there I swore, never ever to transit through London!!!
It was these 2 damn hours at the London Heathrow airport that cost me 3 days of my vacation ,lots of money, sleepless nights, psychological torture !!! Damn 2 bloody hours!!
There is more if I feel like adding later. On landing at the Delhi airport we discovered after hours of searching. That the bag which carried our baby’s clothes and food was lost in transit!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
