So today was the day the boys and I needed to visit the FRRO (Foreign Regional Registration Office). This is mandatory for all non-residents and is required to be done annually. It is required for you to stay in the country if you're staying/working longer than 180 days and MUST be done within 14 days of arrival. The process is very strict and no short-cuts are made - you register online for a slot on a day (not sure why it's a free for all when you arrive there). We are lucky enough to have had a relocation person assist us this first time who had completed the relevant paperwork and had all our ducks in a row, and also had a queue spot closer to the front - score !!
We all had to go today as Mike went thorough the process last week due to the 14 day limit, and we weren't sure if they wanted him with us with his company documentation etc - better to be safe then sorry.
You must arrive at 8.15am (45min commute for us at the early time). You take your place in the queue - it's already 40 long......
And you wait.....
The gates are supposed to open at 8.30, apparently we were lucky - 8.40am. And then you queue again and wait.....
Once you get your token (slip of paper with a number in it), you wait again....
The staff processing the applications don't start until 9.30, so it's a lot of, yep, waiting.....
Thank god for technology and having two people watchers for sons!! Oh, and the power keeps cutting out, generator being kicked over etc etc.
You then get called in waves up to the second floor where you're waiting for your token number to be called - we were Number 05 at counter E. As its all random, it's the luck of the drawer when your queue moves next.
We, unfortunately, had an Iraqi man with the incorrect paperwork...his application alone took 40 minutes!! The boys were getting impatient, as upstairs there is 'no technology allowed or eating'!!
We then had a couple jump the queue because they had a newborn baby. Rules, what rules ???!!! Oh, only if the parents are Indian born !! Argh!!!
Finally my number was called - I then sit and watch a man tick and flick every page of my document which took 10 minutes- then a photo - oh no, the camera is not working...... So he bangs his mouse on the table for about two minutes and surprisingly that didn't fix the problem. Helpdesk is called - 10 minutes later the IT guy comes, nope can't fix it.
Luckily we are able to get to another camera and another 20 minutes later we are done - for now !! So it's 11.30..... What a way to spend a morning.
I'm now told come back at 3pm to collect the paperwork. So we now have to kill time until the next shuffle of paper is completed. Lunch??!!
I return at 2.30 to be told without even looking that I must wait until 3pm. The scribble on the slip pf paper says 3pm. Another seat, another wait. The boys are in the car watching a movie - lucky them. I take Mike's advice and just plant my big butt right in front of his counter window and stare him out. He eventually gives in - with a smile, and gives me my papers - yeh!
This is a process that needs some serious reviews but it is what it is, no getting around it. I thought it interesting that one of the 'Values of the FRRO is 'Innovation - to encourage new ideas, methods, processes and practices'. Hmmm, not sure that Value should be included in the Mission Statement???
Crying babes, smells like nothing on this earth, dirt, people sleeping, but all the while smiling happy faces everywhere. It is a unique place, India.
We only have to do this FRRO process two more times in our stay in India !!!! Only two more .......
The queue outside
The counters
Some fellow 'Waiters'
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