Visa - round 1

Hey ppl, well I have to say that I'm not entirely surprised that the "simple" last part of the drama that is my imminent employment in Beijing has turned out to be a nightmare :-)

It all started one fine winter's morn in beautifuh and cosmopolitan Sydney. The birds were out trying to catch worms in the dewy grass and there was almost no-one on the road as my sister and I headed into her workplace. There were runners jogging about and people were driving with courtesy and generally there was a feeling of optimism lingering in the air. We needed to print out the scans of my work permit documents that are required in support of my visa application and that was fine, nice and easy.

Once we had the print outs, we headed to the Chinese consul-general and grabbed a coffee as we were early. When I went to make the application I was rudely informed that I required yet another passport photo for yet another form but luckily there just happened to be a photo place on the opposite side of the road that did 1 minute prints especially for ppl like me. So that was done and I made my way back to the applications counter.

There, I was informed that the printouts were not in fact originals. Knowingly, I said to the clerk that I was aware of this and that they would indeed be enough to be able to support my visa - my company were very specific about this point. They then, equally knowingly and a little non-chalantly, informed ME that they would not accept them and that I would need to be sent the originals of the documents supporting my visa application. I said "Shit, I fly out Saturday!" and they said to get the company in Beijing to use DHL or something then, and that was that.

Then, I rang (not using a calling card) the HR dude in Beijing and he could not believe that my documents were not enough and he said he'd get the admin girl call me when she made it to the office (in 1.5 hours). So, my sister and I had to wait for an hour and a half for the admin girl to get into the office.

We made it back tot he consulate and by this time I knew that I would not convince her that my documentation was lacking. So, I just handed her to the consular officer and they spoke in their native tongue for a couple minutes. When I was handed back the phone she was completely irate and fuming but had to concede that I was indeed 'in the shit' by now.

Now, they can't guarantee that the documents will make it to my sister by 9am Friday morning and are trying to organise from Beijing to have a courier meet my sister in person at the Chinese consulate at 9am Friday to hand her the documents. DHL refuse to guarantee delivery prior to midday Friday (which is really a good effort if you ask me) which complicates things and Sarah needs to know when to be away from work, as it's a normal working day for her. I'm to be in Tasmania as I have to settle some things like my car's sale and saying goodbye to ppl so I cannot be here in Sydney indefinitely "until it's done".

So, what has been a battle every step of the way thus far continues to be so now and I'm beginning to seriously consider just not going. I think that even though I've resigned, sold up shop, said goodbye to ppl and am ready to leave the country, maybe it'd just be easier to get a job in Sydney :-)

Farken.