Still Standing Still
It turns out that I will not be talking at Imperial College on Jan 7 after all, because unknown representatives of the UK government are holding my passport while my visa application is being processed. I was informed that the application had been deemed non standard (I cannot imagine how, having answered all the questions and, as far as I can tell, obtained the maximum possible score on the points system) which sounds ominously like 'you'll be waiting a while to hear from us'.
posted by Kea | 10:25 AM
9 Comments:
Oh dear. It would be better if they let you fly over and just kept you in jail for a while like they did Louise. I'm sure they'll straighten it out eventually.
I could wish very bad things for the UK, but they are doing a good job on themselves. All this silliness over visas did not stop July 7 or July 21. I have a good idea: keep the terrorists out and stop harassing innocents.
Gee thanks, guys. These reminders of Louise's problems will really help my case, heh? Lol. On the bright side, it's the busy season here for restaurants and I'm sure to find some work soon.
I went to China for the 8/1/08 solar eclipse, & there was all sorts of bureacratic nonsense..several week delay thru standard application (because of increased security at time of Olympics). People all over the world traveling to China were affected. My travel agency in Koreatown (with connections to Chinese Embassy here in Los Angeles) said "we'll take care of it". I dropped off my passport, & I had my VISA within 1 week.
Lesson learned: Find an insider contact to take care of it.
This is awful! Darn. Let's hope things are straightened out asap.
I think it is so nonsensical that it can't last for long.
Kea, in any case I know these things are quite frequent, so don't feel a special target of the insolence of office. I had several friends experiencing the same kind of problems - delays, mostly. Up to a month of harassment. It sucks, but there is not much to do...
Cheers,
T.
And, Bob - these things can usually be taken care of as you say, but it requires throwing money at the problem. Not everybody can afford that kind of solution...
Cheers,
T.
P.S. Carl, my experience wasn't that bad. A private room with bath (and no bars in the window) is better than people suffered at the Terminal 5 opening.
Hi Kea,
So much for the New Zealand association with the Commonwealth of Nations.
You may want to consider keeping a diary of these events to develop a screenplay or book. Tom Hanks starred [as Victor Navorksi] in 'The Terminal', 2004, with a US box office total $77,872,883. I do not know how much the original author was paid.
This is all the more bonkers given that you are from New Zealand, which most people believe is still a part of the British Empire. I hope you get it resolved soon. Happy New Year, in any case.
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