My husband is currently working in Switzerland, and for purposes of my spouse visa, I needed to get my marriage certificate legalized. My marriage registrar helped me attest my certificate from Writers Building, Calcutta, along with the legalization. However, after the legalization was complete, I came to know that I would actually need an apostille sticker for a Swiss spouse visa and not the legalization stamps. So, I approached the MEA Branch office for the said sticker. That’s when the trouble began.
Day 1, middle of March
I stand in the queue for around 20 minutes, after which I reach the counter. I ask the gentleman, “Sir, I would like to get an apostille sticker for my marriage certificate. What should I do for that?”
“Read the board outside,” is his response.
The board reads, “Apostille sticker work will begin here from October 20, 2008.”
So I tell the gentleman that I’ve read the information, but that it is not helpful, and could he please tell me what I need to do to get the apostille sticker. Then he tells me that I need to get my marriage certificate and a postal order for Rs 50.
Day 2, March 26
I deposit my marriage certificate and the PO forgat the counter. The same gentleman is there. He looks through my marriage certificate.
MEA Gentleman: Where is the photocopy of the marriage certificate?
Me: But you didn’t ask me to get a photocopy!
MEA Gentleman: I tell everyone to get a photocopy. It is not possible that I have forgotten to tell you. You must have forgotten.
There is no photocopying shop nearby, so I take the bus and travel one bus stop and get a photocopy. I stand in the queue again to wait my turn.
I pass the marriage certificate, photocopy, and PO to the gentleman at the counter again.
MEA Gentleman: I cannot put the apostille sticker on this certificate! It has already been legalized! Why should I do double the work (his words EXACTLY)! I cannot accept this certificate.
In vain I tell him about my situation, how I had mistakenly got the legalization stamps, but he is adamant. So, finally, I ask him to check if everything else is alright on my documents. He checks, and says yes.
I write to my husband in Switzerland for the second copy of my marriage certificate so that I can get the apostille sticker on it. It takes me around a month to get it.
Day 3, April 22
I go to the MEA office with this second copy of the certificate. The same gentleman is there. I give him the fresh marriage certificate and the PO. He reviews the document, and then, to my utter dismay, says, “Where is the Writers Building stamp? I cannot give you the apostille sticker without the stamp!”
Me: Why are you doing this to me? Why don’t you give me all the information at one go? Why haven’t you got this information written anywhere in front of the office?
MEA Twerp: My job is to provide apostille stickers, not to say what is needed for getting the sticker (he said these exact same words).
Me: What are you saying??????
MEA Twerp: Yes. So many people come to get their documents legalized everyday. How do they know they need to get a Writers Building stamp first? Ask them. Don’t come here wasting my time. Get lost. (again, his exact same words)
So, my questions to you are:
1. Is it not the responsibility of the MEA Branch Office Staff to provide information regarding requirements for any service they provide to the public? To give an example, if I were to request my Mother to cook me pulao for lunch, is it not my mother’s responsibility to tell me the complete list of ingredients that are needed by her to cook the said dish?
2. Why is no public list of such requirements displayed prominently in any location around the MEA office? Is this not my right to information?
3. Are the requirements for an Apostille sticker common public knowledge that everyone is assumed to know? Like how we all know that the sun rises in the east? Or is it specific information that the government must impart to its citizens?
4. I now know that the requirements for the apostille sticker are enumerated online. However, there is no instruction from the MEA office to me to refer to the said website. How am I supposed to know to look online for the information?
5. What action can I initiate against the said gentleman for withholding information, giving it to me in piecemeal fashion, and wasting my time?
Current Mood: |
 enraged |
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