Shameless trips to the White building

Facing the blazing morning sun the educated crème-de-la-crème of India had queued outside the building on the sidewalk to get an entry into the prestigious building in the town. Primp and proper in their attire they were wiping away the sweat beads and ego on their forehead. Well a few things don’t change, like the sunrise, sunset and the lines outside the American Consulate never seem to go away. But a lot of things had changed for good over the years. The ecosystem of photographers and brokers to help with bank drafts, visa forms and photocopies was destroyed.

American consulate is a service organization and there seem to be no trace of courtesy and service with their employees. We are used to American treat us with discrimination like the cattle from a third world country. Submissive attitude of helpless and hapless Indians were exhibited time and over again. Isn’t that why we got invaded by British in the 16 century? Well we are forgiving and forgetful.

The sad part is the way you get treated by the Indians who work at the consulate. They have an attitude hanging on their chest along with their ID cards. They expect you to know about the floor plan and procedures at the Consulate. Well I have lived overseas and I have seen how meticulously planned Americans are with their name boards and signage. There was no signage anywhere in the consulate offices and when you asked for directions there was an arrogant reply making you feel like a wiggly worm. At times I also felt that I was in a Central Prison. Thick steel gauge doors and security personnel posted at every door made it feel like Guantanamo Bay. None of us were physically tortured but the verbal abuse and arrogant language was enough to wipe away your self respect and ego.

Our fellow Indians at the consulate seem to be wearing an immunity shield and sworn in to oath to mistreat and disrespect their country men. The crowd that enters the Consulate is really tensed and scared and their haughty replies made them quiver.

As I waited for my turn to be finger printed, I thought the day was not too far to have a RIFD chip implanted in the subcutaneous tissue in your body and you being identified by a 9 digit number, XXX-XX-XXXX. For once I felt like an animal for sure, the process of tagging animals and other extinct species came to mind, thanks to National Geographic and Discovery channel.

I heard a few of my country men denied visa for various reasons from being a Muslim, spending too little time with the present company to go on a overseas trip to not finding convincing reasons for their travel. When one of my brave elderly folks questioned the ground for his rejection, the officer on the other side of the thick sealed glass window said it was not her business to explain all the reasons. With the tight slap on his face and walk on his self respect he wiggled out of the door like a worm. For once I thought that it is a bug’s life inside here. Your multiple degrees, Phd’s and being a wealthy tycoon didn’t really matter to them. They seem to the more than “GOD” above and beyond all.

If you a American Citizen then you get a direct entry through the main door and you can carry your mobile phones and paraphernalias. You get to hear kind words, you get offered a seat and there is someone to attend to you immediately. It is the Red Passport that makes the difference.

This has become a part of American Visa process to get humiliated and get treated like a criminal before their trip to US. Why don't the Embassy make this process a healthy experience? Denying an entry into their country is definitely their choice, but isn’t treating humans with some respect a basic quality of mankind? This doesn’t project a good image of America and Americans. Well God Bless America and Americans.