British film star Orlando Bloom plans to spend Christmas in India began with unpleasant surprise.
The actor arrived in Delhi from London at 1.30 am British Airways flight, only to be deported back by the 4am BA flight because his e-Visa which he had applied for had not been confirmed.
The Indian Foreigner Regional Registration Offices (FRRO) officer said that they followed protocol and Bloom was deported back to the UK by the 4am British Airways flight.
Orlando requested the officer to allow him some time to sort out the issue since he also had a stomach bug. The doctor on duty was summoned to attend to him but soon after, he was asked to leave.
The most interesting part of the story was that Orlando was invited to India as a state guest of Uttar Pradesh Government to promote tourism, on behalf of Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav.
https://t.co/LHNx0c3qVg I thought the Immigration officers can issue visa at the counter, using discretion. @yadavakhilesh @SushmaSwaraj
— Yadu Singh (@dryadusingh) December 20, 2015
Orlando was also supposed to visit the Taj Mahal and he was never informed that the visa has been rejected for whatever technical fault.
The official spokesperson and joint secretary of the ministry of external affairs of India, said, “When one applies for an electronic visa, one receives a mail saying whether the visa has been issued or rejected. I think he must have landed without the confirmation email or forgotten to check whether the visa has been granted or not. The traveller is supposed to carry it along to produce to the immigration officer for scanning.”