You have my sympathy Tiger, they do seem to have a knack of over complicating even the simplest of things when it comes to paperwork. I dread going to the Philippine Embassy in London - where it's just the same and absolutely infuriating!

I can understand some of it is because most people don't have bank accounts and everything is in cash, but they don't provide much help - particularly when they tell you you need numerous photocopies, pictures etc, and only tell you at the last minute.

Whereas, here in the UK, you can enjoy doing everything on the phone with a bank card and get frustrated with the call centres, menu systems and having to wait for hours on the phone!