Neil Miller - 17/20 - Learning India

Neil Miller January 31, 2014 Filed Under: #IndiasNotIndia, Book Reviews

Book Review: Culture Shock! India

Marshall Cavendish, 2012 (latest edition)

This book is in the Culture Shock! series of books that covers many different countries.

It is a good choice for someone with a very light understanding of India who is getting ready to spend a lot of time here. Its best quality is how comprehensive it is. It is partly a book about general Indian topics (e.g. food, festivals, family relationships) and partly advice for people coming to live in India (househelp, entertaining, communication). The information is about as accurate as you can be when speaking about such a large topic as India, though you should make sure to get the most updated edition (currently 2012). [Read more…]

Neil Miller January 29, 2014 Filed Under: #CustomerIsAlwaysThere, #ThinSkinned, Communication

Are All Indians Indirect?

It is standard practice in the world of cross-cultural knowledge to say Indians are indirect in their communication. And it is true. Sometimes.

You have likely interacted enough with India to know that such a simple and generalized statement will break down eventually.

Indians can be very direct and very indirect, all depending on the context.

Before we get ahead of ourselves, let’s hear from one of the great modern writers on India.

Craig Storti’s Model

In 2007, Craig Storti gave the world an extremely helpful framework for understanding the differences between communication in India and the West. His book, Speaking of India
described a communication spectrum with indirect communication on the left, direct communication in the middle, and rude or blunt communication on the right side. [Read more…]

Neil Miller January 27, 2014 Filed Under: #GreyIsWhite, #PowerPlays, Be Prepared, Daily Living

How to Please the Babu

Your Guide to Filling Out Forms In India

Photo Credit: http://www.janbanning.com/

You will spend most of your first three months in India filling out forms: visa, immigration, customs, mobile connection, internet, lease agreements, etc. Every country has its own peculiarities when it comes to filling out forms, but in India it is all about pleasing the Babu.

Babu is a term given to a government official who sees a lot of papers going across his desk. He signs it or stamps it and passes it along to the next person. If you know how to make your Babu happy, he will pass along your form. If you don’t, he may decide not to approve it.

Before we begin, here’s a story to introduce the topic: [Read more…]

Neil Miller January 25, 2014 Filed Under: #GreyIsWhite, #IndiasNotIndia, #See1See100, Daily Living

Getting Advice on India

On your way to an Indian wedding and not sure if you brought the right gift?

Don’t know how to make it up to your colleague that you missed his son’s first birthday party because you booked a last-minute pleasure holiday to Goa?

There is really only one great way to get the best advice on India.

Ask an Indian.

Then ask a different Indian.

Reading articles (like this one) online, purchasing books on India, taking cross-cultural training courses, joining online expat forums, and many other options can be helpful, mostly in that they make you aware of everything you don’t know and offer some nice principles and guidelines.

However, India is nearly always different in practice than in theory. [Read more…]

Neil Miller January 23, 2014 Filed Under: Visa Information

Indian Medical Visa and Medical Attendant Visa Information

Medical Visa (Med) and Medical Attendant (MedX)

This visa is given to people seeking medical treatment in India. Each patient can have up to two attendants helping them.

Approximate processing time:

Two to four weeks

Difficulty to get:

Moderate

Maximum validity:

One year, or the duration of treatment, triple entry, can be extended

Maximum continuous stay:

180 days, unless registered

What you can do:

Get medical treatment at a recognized institution

What you cannot do:

Same as Tourist visa

Rules:

You must have a letter saying that you have been advised to pursue specialist treatment in a significant area of treatment.
You must register at the FRRO within 14 days, unless your stay is less than 180 days.
If you are coming for surrogacy, this is the visa you should have.
If you are on a longer term visa and you fall ill after coming to India, it is possible to convert your visa to a medical one.

Back to the full list of visas here

Neil Miller January 23, 2014 Filed Under: Visa Information

Indian Project Visa Information

Project Visa (P)

This is a new visa that is a subset of the employment visa. It is given to skilled workers coming to execute projects in the power and steel industry.

Approximate processing time:

One to two months

Difficulty to get:

Moderate

Maximum validity:

Usually valid for one year, multiple entry, can be extended

Maximum continuous stay:

180 days, unless registered

What you can do:

You can work on one specific project in a specific location in the steel and power industry

What you cannot do:

Work on any other project

Rules:

Extensions must be approved by the Ministry of Home Affairs.
It is only given to skilled workers (often from China).
The Project Visa is not subject to the same salary requirements as the Employment visa.
You may not take up employment in that Indian company for a period of two years from the date the project is commissioned.
There are ceiling limits to the number of visas issued per project.
You must register at the FRRO if your visa is valid for more than 180 days.

Back to the full list of visas here

Neil Miller January 23, 2014 Filed Under: Visa Information

Indian Conference Visa Information

Conference Visa (C)

This visa is for people attending or presenting at a conference in India. Since this is considered more than tourism, it is placed in a separate category.

Approximate processing time:

Within a week if it is a public conference, up to a month if it is a private one

Difficulty to get:

Easy to Moderate depending on the conference

Maximum validity:

Usually valid for 30 days or the duration of the conference plus travel, single entry, not extendable

Maximum continuous stay:

Length of visa

What you can do:

Attend a conference held by the government, public sector, private sector or an NGO
Be a tourist
Present a paper at a conference
Participate in a sports tournament

What you cannot do:

Same as Tourist visa

Rules:

If it is a sports event, it will need clearance from the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports.
If it is put on by a private group or an NGO, it will need approval from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Ministry of External Affairs.
You will need an invitation letter from the organizer.
If you are setting up an exhibit at a conference in order to build business relationships, you should have a Business visa.

Back to the full list of visas here

Neil Miller January 23, 2014 Filed Under: Visa Information

Indian Research Visa Information

Research Visa (R)

This visa is for professors and scholars who want to visit India for research purposes.

Approximate processing time:

Can be several months depending on the subject

Difficulty to get:

Difficult

Maximum validity:

Usually valid up to three years, multiple entry, can be extended with approval

Maximum continuous stay:

Length of visa or 180 days

What you can do:

Conduct research

What you cannot do:

Visit restricted areas, especially those affected by terrorism, militancy and extremism

Rules:

Your approval is subject to the reputation of the institute sponsoring you, so it is advisable to go with a larger, recognizable name.
Your research must be approved by the Ministry of Human Development, Department of Education. They will also approve any extensions.
You will need to register at the FRRO when you arrive.

Back to the full list of visas here

Craig Storti’s Model

Your Guide to Filling Out Forms In India

Medical Visa (Med) and Medical Attendant (MedX)

Approximate processing time:

Difficulty to get:

Maximum validity:

Maximum continuous stay:

What you can do:

What you cannot do:

Rules:

Project Visa (P)

Approximate processing time:

Difficulty to get:

Maximum validity:

Maximum continuous stay:

What you can do:

What you cannot do:

Rules:

Conference Visa (C)

Approximate processing time:

Difficulty to get:

Maximum validity:

Maximum continuous stay:

What you can do:

What you cannot do:

Rules:

Research Visa (R)

Approximate processing time:

Difficulty to get:

Maximum validity:

Maximum continuous stay:

What you can do:

What you cannot do:

Rules:

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