hmmmm....
So I'm applying for my Nigerian visa, right? As I'm going next week...
In order to leave the country, my current S.A. extension on my visitor's pass has to come through first...
I set off to home affairs at 9 yesterday morning & after looking for a parking space for nearly half an hour & enduring another 12-15 minute walk to the office (that's how far down Pretorius street I parked), another 15 minute wait in line, they tell me that (and it had been more than 30 days): My visa is not ready.
"Try again in 2 weeks!"
"But I'm leaving the country in 2 weeks!"
"Ok, try next week!"
Wow. I'd even called ahead, but no one picked up...
I thought "Oh, well!" Let me at least be productive & go apply for my Nigerian visa, so as to save time...(the idea being that my Nigerian visa would be through by next week if the application was submitted yesterday) & I'd go collect my extension at Home Affairs next week..
Phone information told me that a) Visa applications were excepted between 10am & 2pm Tuesdays & Thursdays. b) forms were given at the embassy as the website was experiencing a problem (I wasn't able to view the visa forms earlier--or load the page at all for that matter..).
I rushed to find the place, not knowing that Rivonia Road was so long that it would take me all the way through Sandton & into Illovo (nearly an hour drive from the Pretoria office I'd just left). I was making good time: 1:15pm. Well--rushed time--but good time. I took my passport pics, printed the invitation letter & other needed documents, rushed to the embassy (I even left my car parked at the plaza & ran down the street to avoid going all the way to the parking booth in order to save "precious minutes"), got there at 1:30 only to find that "we have closed for the day! Office hours are between 10am & 1:00pm."
I'm like: uhhhh...oK..."well, can I at least have the forms & come back Thurday w/ them?"..
"There are no forms! You can only get them online!"
Woooowwww...so I had nearly wasted my whole day...but what can I say...This Is Africa..
I'm repeating said process tomorrow..please pray I have the right info/documentation in hand & that all goes well..
Tx soooooooooooo much!
1 comment:
ha, ha, good old days spent wasting time at Home Affairs, I remember those all too well. After two months of waiting and a week of trying to get it rushed through, they lost all my paperwork and denied my visa, which didn't work out too badly for me since I was leaving anyway.
I assume all this has something to do with why you are in Zambia and not Nigeria. Oh well, it's all part of living abroad I say. I'll pray you get everything sorted out, and can get to Nigeria soon
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