Graphic tales of the FRRO
Posted by Ayeshea Perera on Monday, November 2, 2009
The FRRO and the MHA. A double whammy abbreviation guaranteed to reduce any Indian expat to a whimpering mass of nerves. You know the little clause on your visa that says “register within 14 days of arrival?” what it really means is; “You think exotic India is going to be fun? Take THAT (a visit to the FRRO) and THAT (a visit to the MHA) and THAT (the inevitable repeat visit to either or both). Call it an initiation ceremony of sorts — the ultimate reality check.
Apart from registration, visits to one or both these places is required if you wish to:
* change your address
* renew your visa
Going through the why’s and wherefores would simply take too long, so with the help of an awesome and extremely talented colleague who wishes to remain anonymous for reasons best known to himself, I present my visa renewal experience in cartoon form!
At the long lines outside the FRRO, you can always tell the veterans from the newbies. The veterans are armed with water bottles, reading material, ipods and a thick sheaf of papers which they will constantly check and double check. The newbies are the loud ones who demand to know “why this is taking so long”. This year in the whole process of trying to renew my visa, I visited both organisations at least 20 times (This is by no means an exaggeration).
Part 3 later….
Glossary:
* FRRO – Foreigners Regional Registration Office
* MHA – Ministry of Home Affairs
Filed under Expat Life · Tagged with cartoon strip, Delhi, FRRO, India, MHA
u should send it to some officials to be circulated , think they will be amused???
ha, ha
good work
Looks like u never been outside India. N India is your so called foreign trip. Go to US,n they will do more than what you would have ever thought of. That’s the process lady n if you were not aware. Then better be. Which country EXAPT R U FROM????
you know i’ve always liked your writing, but expressing it in cartoon form? i think i may faint! hilarious stuffage.
I had recently visited FRRO with my cousin who is a pilot… for his visa renewal and i concur to what you say.. this is by far the most amusing article i have ever read and its really refreshing…. Really cool.. good work and keep it up…. looking forward to read more articles from you////
Genius!!
Brilliant. The man at the reception really does tell you there is ‘no form’, and then it is hard to know just what to do next.