Never and Again

Today is the last day of my visa. And I failed to get it extended in Peshawar. They need a letter(For God’s sake, I don’t even know what the f**king letter is) from the Ministry of Interior(MOI) in Islamabad as part of the document support before they can issue the extension. They claimed that they can only and easily extend the visa in just a few minutes if my visa was organized at foreign embassy. Since my visa was issued on arrival at Sost Check Post which is under the MOI, it is beyond their legitimacy to extend it. Hao Xiao(Hokkien). I never heard of this rule before. I tried to beg some mercy and sympathy from the officer at the Directorate of Passport & Immigration as I will be fined or even get caught on the street and put in jail for allegedly overstaying the next day I walk out to the street. As hard as nails, he ignored me but then further assured me that there are 2 weeks of relaxation(5 days according to Karimabad Inn Hotel in Hunza) for those seeking visa extension in Pakistan. Having no choice and feeling unsure, I left.

All the ill-fated enmeshment began when I decided not to get my visa extended in Gilgit. According to past record, it’s far easier to apply for it there. No letter from whatsoever Ministry is required. Only a letter from the hotel you stay is to be submitted. The Passport Office is walking distance from the guesthouse and the guesthouse – the Madina Hotel & Guesthouse, is extremely friendly and helpful in providing invaluable assistance for those seeking visa extensions including issuing the letter from hotel without any hassle. And I heard that the extension can be done in one single day, free of charge. (The extension is supposed to be free of charge but more and more people have been repeatedly requested to pay as per ‘new regulation’ and considering the frequent changes of the visa policy without any reliable notice, it’s hard to distinguish between facts and scam). However, only 2 to 3 weeks of extension is usually issued there according to previous travelers’ account. I think I need a month more to travel around Pakistan if I really want to make my way to the far south. So I made up my mind to get my visa extended in Islamabad where 1-month extension is relatively feasible.

When I went to the Regional Passport Office & Immigration Building in Islamabad 5 days prior to my visa expiry date, I was told that I’m only eligible to apply for it on the last day of the visa. I presume they were simply meant to send me away with that excuse as they seemed busy when I visited. When I asked the possibility to do it in Peshawar as there is no particular interest to hold me here for 5 more days, the officer said yes. I can apply for it not supposed to be on the last day. See, not ‘Hao Xiao’ meh?

So I hopped on a bus heading to Peshawar where the overstaying life in Pakistan dramatically took over.