On my way from Dallas to Karachi, I had to transit at Frankfurt, Germany for few hours. Germany requires a transit visa for passengers transitting through the country airports. This concept of transit visa was beyond my comprehension. But I had already purchased the ticket so applied for the visa, which cost me a few bucks at a time when I was trying to save every single dollar. I got the visa and I was ready to travel so everything was cool and there were no complains.
What really aggravted me was that at the Franfurt airport, no one ever checked my transit visa. Nobody asked for my passport. I was roaming around in the airport like a wild horse and no one seemed to have a problem with that. I would have gotten away with it if I hadn’t had the transit visa.
I think it is very irresponsible for the airport staff as well as the country’s immigration authority to be so careless about this matter. Either you should strictly enfore the immigration visa policy or shouldn’t require it at all. I would pick the second option as I don’t see how someone who is just staying at the airport for few hours could use a visa. The only justification that I can think of for all this is that they just need money.
When I came from Karachi to Dallas,I had to transit at Amsterdam,Netherlands for few hours.They also requires a transit visa but no body checked that.Its only a way of making money.
Oye, if you are in Karachi, wanna meet up or something?
Well I think its still better than not being informed of getting a transit visa and then later realizing that you did need it.. hence getting screwed by the ticket-walas. As a safety precaution I would not mind shelling out 50 bucks if it means peace of mind and comfort in reaching my final destination.