Visa hassles are inevitable; they become the first priority as soon as we plan our international vacations. Many countries offer us the option to obtain a travel-on-arrival visa, making the journey smooth and flexible. However, the supposed smooth e-visa experience turned out “stressful” for actor and travel vlogger Shehnaz Treasury, who was denied boarding a flight to Argentina at Dubai airport. Reason? She did not carry a printed copy of her e-visa. Left teary-eyed, she was finally made to enter the plane at the last minute preceding a round of pleading.
“They just wouldn’t let me board with the E-visa. I had to run back to the lounge 1 km away to get it printed. The printer was not working. They were closing the flight. Until I started crying and made a scene. They finally held the flight and let me on. So stressful,” she wrote on Instagram stories, sharing her ordeal.
In another story, she reiterated: “Lesson learnt, print your e-visa, and best to have it printed in your passport.”
So, the next time you travel abroad, don’t forget to follow this 7-step checklist to avoid any mishap:
1) Don’t forget to check airport guidelines, which vary from country to country.
2) For instance, if you travel to Dubai, UAE, and take an Emirates flight, you must check their guidelines for the passengers section:
Under Dubai Immigration Procedures, the airline’s official website clearly mentions, “As an added security measure, Immigration Authorities at Dubai International are now conducting random eye screening for visitors to Dubai. Visitors asked to proceed for eye screening must present a hard copy of their visa or a printed version of the visa number confirmation page at the screening counter. If you do not have a copy, a charge of AED 30 per copy applies ‑ payable only in AED.”
3) For Indian nationals, countries like the UAE have new visit entry permits or pre-approved visas. The new rule, effective from January 7, 2024, allows Indians with a normal passport valid for at least six months to get a single-entry visa-on-arrival, applicable for 14 days.
4) Don’t forget to carry supporting documents such as a physical copy of your e-visa. Other supporting documents include your hotel booking, a copy of the invite from a client/organisation (if on an official visit), and a flight itinerary. This will help you avoid unnecessary questioning at the immigration counter.
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5) Always choose official websites. Whenever applying for an e-visa, opt for the government websites of the country/countries you visit to avoid scams. If possible, avoid any third-party agents who often overcharge. And if you opt for one, convey to them that it only applies through official websites and not ‘sources or contact’. This way, you will not be misled, and your personal information will be in the right hands.
6) Before booking your flight, don’t forget to track your e-visa status. Keep an eye on the official website to check your visa status. These sites offer a “Check Visa Status” option that provides all the necessary details.
7) Checking passport validity is a must-do. Ensure your passport validity is for a minimum of six months and has sufficient blank pages for immigration stamps.
