Notwithstanding the megawatt smile, flamboyant British billionaire, Sir Richard Branson, was almost deported from Mumbai last morning. The chairman of Virgin Atlantic landed at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport*, without a valid visa.
Immigration authorities at Mumbai airport found that his visa had expired in February and he was issued a ‘refused to land’ certificate.
Taking it in his stride, Branson then allegedly called the PMO in Delhi and got himself a Temporary Landing Permit (TLP), which is issued in special cases only and generally to airlines’ cabin crew.
“While he was waving flags and dancing on the airport tarmac his officers came to us for immigration clearance.
“It was then we found that his visa had expired in February. Under normal circumstances the person is liable to be deported,” said an immigration official.
Branson was issued a ‘refused to land’ and that is when he called the PMO and subsequently the Bureau of Immigration issued a TLP to him, valid for 72 hours.
Immigration officials were adamant that Branson would not be given a TLP, because he did not satisfy the TLP conditions. But after ‘higher-ups’ intervened, they were forced to do so.
Branson is in Mumbai to promote the inaugural Mumbai-London flight. The flight landed in Mumbai at 10.10 am and the landing was followed by a song and dance session on the airport tarmac.
Confirming that Branson’s visa had expired, DCP SB-II Deven Bharti said, “We have issued him a TLP after verifying that he had a confirmed ticket to go back to London and his request was legitimate.”
Neither Branson nor the airline was available to comment.
* I changed the airport as the original link called it Sahar. Sahar is long gone as the name is now Chhatrapati Shivaji!
Leo/ORD -- Groetjes uit de VS! -- Heeft u laatst nog met KLM gevlogen?
Laxintl From United States of America, joined May 2000, 22026 posts, RR: 51 Reply 2, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 12 hours ago) and read 5917 times:
Would not be the first time SRB manages to nearly get deported. He was forced to leave Mexico in a hurry after offending a senior government official at a party that turned wild during the early 90s.
From the desert to the sea, to all of Southern California
Zvezda From Lithuania, joined Aug 2004, 10511 posts, RR: 65 Reply 6, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 6 days 6 hours ago) and read 5519 times:
IF Cat Stevens had contributed money directly to Hamas, that might have justified turning him away. However, it certainly doesn't justify forcing several hundred passengers to land at Bangor. There was absolutely no reason to believe that Cat Stevens presence on the aircraft constituted an imminent security threat to anyone.
On the other hand, in the Branson case it was just an issue of dotting 'i's and crossing 't's on silly bureaucratic paperwork.
Supa7E7 From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 9, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 5057 times:
It's not like Branson gets his own visas. One of his travel underlings screwed up. Regardless, airline CEOs are afforded all crew privileges as a rule, are they not? Therefore he deserved a crew waiver.
Schipholjfk From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 579 posts, RR: 6 Reply 10, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 5023 times:
Quoting Zvezda (Reply 1): That's almost as absurd as the deportation of Cat Stevens from the US.
Why is it absurd? Just because you are FAMOUS does not mean you can enter any country without their visa regulations. Especially India, the largest democracy in the world, where rule of law is supposed to be enforced (most of the time anyway) Would you be able to enter India without a proper visa? I had to pay $110 for a 10 year visa to India few years ago. We are all required to go by the rules including famous people! Being famous does not give you the right to enter any country at will without meeting the entry requirements of that SOVEREIGN country. Having said that I am glad that the Indian government used their brains and did not deport him and gave him the temporary stay.
And as for Cat Stevens... yes it may have been absurd in some people's views and more explanation is perghaps necessary, nontheless U.S. reserves the right to deny entry to anyone. And that right to grant or refuse entry to a particular country is reserved by EVERY single country in the world!
Schipholjfk From United States of America, joined Jan 2005, 579 posts, RR: 6 Reply 11, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 21 hours ago) and read 5017 times:
Quoting Zvezda (Reply 6): On the other hand, in the Branson case it was just an issue of dotting 'i's and crossing 't's on silly bureaucratic paperwork.
Having an EXPIRED visa is NOT silly bureacratic paperwork. In this case the Govt. of India is not to blame, but the great Branson himself!
Jasepl From India, joined Jul 2004, 3582 posts, RR: 44 Reply 12, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 5003 times:
Quoting Schipholjfk (Reply 11): Having an EXPIRED visa is NOT silly bureacratic paperwork. In this case the Govt. of India is not to blame, but the great Branson himself!
Yeah. But exceptions are made for all kinds of people all of the time. It's really not a big deal.
Jacobin777 From United States of America, joined Sep 2004, 14968 posts, RR: 61 Reply 13, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 20 hours ago) and read 4940 times:
Quoting Rlwynn (Reply 5): Landing in India without a visa is a bit different than contributing money directly to Hamas. Or so it seems to me.
Quoting Schipholjfk (Reply 10): And as for Cat Stevens... yes it may have been absurd in some people's views and more explanation is perghaps necessary, nontheless U.S. reserves the right to deny entry to anyone. And that right to grant or refuse entry to a particular country is reserved by EVERY single country in the world!
where is the PROOF? It has NEVER been bought up since the incident. Supposedly the Massaud or some part of the Israeli govt. had found some "evidence" documents which "may" have shown Yusef Islam (which is his proper name, and how he likes to be addressed as) "might have somehow" supported Hamas in some way..........
Funny, if I can recall, a man/woman is innocent until proven guilty, that is how our forefathers of this country have setup our constitution...of course, that was until this administration took over......case in point....how many Guant. Bay prisoners were released YEARS AFTER NO CHARGES???? There are a few.
Zvezda From Lithuania, joined Aug 2004, 10511 posts, RR: 65 Reply 17, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 17 hours ago) and read 3728 times:
Quoting Schipholjfk (Reply 10): And as for Cat Stevens... yes it may have been absurd in some people's views and more explanation is perghaps necessary, nontheless U.S. reserves the right to deny entry to anyone. And that right to grant or refuse entry to a particular country is reserved by EVERY single country in the world!
That's not what happened. The US gummint didn't just deny him entry. They forced the airliner he was on to divert. That was very expensive and seriously inconvenienced hundreds of people. There was no justification whatsoever for diverting the aircraft.
Mrniji From , joined Dec 1969, posts, RR: Reply 19, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 16 hours ago) and read 3324 times:
A peson who does not have a valid document pemitting its entry (and does not want to apply for Asylum, which is 0 % Branson's case) is supposed to be deported. This is the rule, and the rule is enforced rigorously in India - and it is good they do it. Just recently, the top CEO of an American MNC was taken in custody and consequently deported because he forgot to renew his visa - and it is good it happenen, considering the s--t many of my country people have to only go through to get a western visa, regardless of their treatment abroad - I myself have two foreign, western passports, so it is not relevant for me. However, I have worked in HC of countries, and see the Western Visa system as completely ridiculess.
Same rights for all citizens please, with minor exceptions.. Branson is not an exception. If that guy wants to be treated better than many other honest businessman, tourists, he shows what an arrogant idiot he is.. hopefully virgin India will never take off
Quoting Zvezda (Reply 6): On the other hand, in the Branson case it was just an issue of dotting 'i's and crossing 't's on silly bureaucratic paperwork.
It is not silloy paperwork. Even if it was silly, it does not give him the right to not comply with rules. Why is ammlying for a visa silly paperwork? A visa for India is veey easily obtainable in a very speedy manner (often within 5 hrs, and even by post) - if that guy just forgets or does not have the time, energy.. his problem
What you consider as silly paperwork is something a sovereign nation is permitted to do.. and seeing India's transformation, I hope the process gets even tougher.. so infom yourself a little before making statements which are absurd and ridiculess
Quoting IAHTowTeam (Reply 8): Sounds to me like he thought he was above the law and just because he's got money he can do anything he pleases....haha. Hope he learns something.
I completely agree. Being a CEO does not put him above the law. See the example above
Quoting Schipholjfk (Reply 10): Why is it absurd? Just because you are FAMOUS does not mean you can enter any country without their visa regulations.
Exactly, I agree again. It is soooo easy to get a visa for India, so there is no excuse if someone has failed to comply with the rules
Some of you posters think that since you belong to Western countries, you should have more privileges, etc.. people, you are wrong.. learn to see us as sovereign nations with own interests, learn to respect us, then I can only say: Fetch your visa and Welcome to India!
Mariner From New Zealand, joined Nov 2001, 22709 posts, RR: 88 Reply 20, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 15 hours ago) and read 3106 times:
Quoting Mrniji (Reply 19): Some of you posters think that since you belong to Western countries, you should have more privileges, etc.. people, you are wrong.. learn to see us as sovereign nations with own interests, learn to respect us, then I can only say: Fetch your visa and Welcome to India!
Where does that come from? What Westerner is looking for privilege? 99.9% of visitors to India obey the laws of the sovereign nation of India to the letter.
But sometimes things go wrong.
He forgot to renew his visa - it happens. Deport him if you must - he's a sport, he'd have accepted it.
He'd have got a ton of publicity out of it.
You on the other hand, carry two Western passports. Hmmmm.
I'd call that a fairly "privileged" position - most Westerners are only entitled to one.
AirIndia From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1545 posts, RR: 1 Reply 22, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 12 hours ago) and read 2764 times:
Zvezda From Lithuania, joined Aug 2004, 10511 posts, RR: 65 Reply 23, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 2714 times:
Quoting Mrniji (Reply 19): A visa for India is veey easily obtainable in a very speedy manner (often within 5 hrs, and even by post)
Quoting Mrniji (Reply 19): Some of you posters think that since you belong to Western countries, you should have more privileges, etc.. people, you are wrong.. learn to see us as sovereign nations with own interests, learn to respect us, then I can only say: Fetch your visa and Welcome to India!
If India desires to earn the respect of the international community, a Visa Upon Arrival program would be a good first step.
AirIndia From United Arab Emirates, joined Jan 2001, 1545 posts, RR: 1 Reply 24, posted (8 years 1 month 2 weeks 5 days 11 hours ago) and read 2696 times:
Only during a calamity. India issued it for tsunami victims.
Quoting Zvezda (Reply 23): earn the respect of the international community
It earned considerable international respect
Quoting Zvezda (Reply 23): If India desires to earn the respect of the international community, a Visa Upon Arrival program would be a good first step.
As a regular feature, its difficult to implement due to the imminent terrorist threat.
[Edited 2005-04-03 12:51:00]
25 Mrniji: No need, as visas area easily to be obtained overseas. Moreover, I see visa-on-arrival rather as a money-making machine, since there hardly is any sc
26 Nudelhirsch: Whatever the details are... this is the kind of press SRB wants, this is the kind of press that makes VS interesting...
27 HAWK21M: Whats the connection.National security would come first. regds MEL
28 Stealthpilot: Trident2e and Guru, SRB is indeed dollar billionaire, according to Forbes. Visa on arrival need not necessarily be a bad idea. Threat to national secu
29 Misbeehavin: I don't quite agree with that Zvezda. Respect from the international commonity has nithing to do with visa regulations. However, I do think India sho
30 Aa777jr: Any check they can write Branson seems to be able to cash with his check book or his ass. I like the guy and the way he runs his company. Regards.
31 Schipholjfk: That's your view and I respect it. If US law enforcement authorities deemd so, they have every right to take any action they deem necessary. Expense
32 Schipholjfk: In this case an exception was indeed made. But I don't think if I arrive in India without a visa I would be granted the same treatment.
34 TKMCE: May be put it this way , if Canada and USA and UK and countless other countries want to earn the respect of the Indians, then they should stop litera
35 Mrniji: Nikhil, than you must have done something wrong. Indian regulations are very easy (and you being an NRI should not have a problem). In this matter, I
36 Stealthpilot: Mrniji, well I agree that it can be a relatively hassle free process. Relatively. I don’t think I did much wrong, what’s there too do wrong it’s
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Would you be able to enter India without a proper visa? I had to pay $110 for a 10 year visa to India few years ago. We are all required to go by the rules including famous people! Being famous does not give you the right to enter any country at will without meeting the entry requirements of that SOVEREIGN country. Having said that I am glad that the Indian government used their brains and did not deport him and gave him the temporary stay. 
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