Gulf travel turns nightmare for family
Jeddah: Some Gulf based NRIs and their families have been passing through difficult times in the wake of Covid-19 travel restrictions. The confusion over approved vaccination taken in India and subsequent travel relaxation for various visa types added to their problems. Transiting through different airlines in various gulf neighbouring countries makes the situation worse for […]
Updated On - 3 December 2021, 01:01 AM
Jeddah: Some Gulf based NRIs and their families have been passing through difficult times in the wake of Covid-19 travel restrictions. The confusion over approved vaccination taken in India and subsequent travel relaxation for various visa types added to their problems.
Transiting through different airlines in various gulf neighbouring countries makes the situation worse for families with children.
Airlines operating out of RGIA at Shamshabad have been having a tough time in understanding the complexities of vaccinated travelers of various types of visas and extension of their visas, since any lapse would mean a nightmare for travelers.
It’s rare for anyone to be denied entry on arrival into any Gulf country, unless there is a lapse on the part of airlines that are required to ensure that passengers have the right documentation before allowing them to take the flight.
The family of Riyadh-based NRI Mohammed Fayeez Khan, a native of Warangal, was denied entry and turned away from the airport in Riyadh as their visa had expired which was discovered by immigration authorities upon their arrival in Saudi.
The family consisting of two children and wife who traveled to Riyadh on a family dependent visa to join Khan had to return home only after being stranded in the airport for four days. The validity expired after 90 days of its endorsement. However, airline staff at Hyderabad allowed them to board the flight for Riyadh as they failed to understand complexities, according to sources.
Khan ran from pillar to post to extend the validity of the visa validity but failed as it was required to be done only in Saudi diplomatic missions in India. “After spending four days at the airport lounge, the family was sent back to India accompanied by Khan”, said Abdul Jabbar of Telangana NRI forum.
The family returned home from Riyadh to Dubai, from there to Amritsar then New Delhi and finally to Hyderabad by different aircraft with long hauls.
Now you can get handpicked stories from Telangana Today on Telegram everyday.
Click the link to subscribe. Click to follow Telangana Today Facebook page and Twitter .