<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(ginapeterb @ Apr 9 2006, 10:05 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'>
For some of you, you have not had to do this.. Rob will tell you, as I would also, that this is not a tea party that you want to attend !, its hot, sweaty, and downright boring, in my own case, I waited from 9am through to 4.30pm in the afternoon, in blistering heat, and to be treated like a dog, at my own embassy, so dont worry too much if it takes a bit longer, every case is different, Im sure in due course the passport and visa will be fine and be returned to you.
And best wishes with it.
Pete
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Some of you have heard this already, but I'll drone on to put the newbies to sleep [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/Wave.gif[/img]
For my wifes first tourist visa application we were advised by a friend to get to the embassy the night before, to ensure a place somewhere near the front of the queue!!!!!! This was back in 2000 I think.
We got their at 11pm, after an evening out at Hard Rock Cafe, and there were already fifteen people queueing up. After a few quiet and discreet words with the security guard we agreed on 1000 pesos for him to save us a space until morning. We went back at 7am and sure enough, there on the ground was a row of stones, each one with a piece of paper under it with a name on. A dozen or so people had done what we had.
We obviously got in right at the head of the queue, but still sat around inside for a couple of hours before we could make the application. Visa was granted after a few minutes chat with the nice English lady at the counter.
Two years later we did the same for the settlelement visa. This time we were told that no spaces could be saved, you had to physically show your face to be in the queue. So, at 3am my wife made the trek across the road from the hotel (100 yards, by hotel taxi, for safety) to blag a space in the queue. Being a gentleman I stayed in bed looking after our nine month old daughter, but we went down at 7 am to join in the fun. It was already halfway down the street, dozens and dozens of people queuing up!!
Then the fun started, as some clown came out and started making us all queue up in different queues, seamen, maids, tourists,etc, places were lost, people pushed in, arguments ensued, fisticuffs was discussed! I made for the front door and demanded to be let in. A prat of a guard told me I had to wait in the queue with all the others, but I pointed out I was a Brit, so was my daughter, and we demand to be let into OUR embassy, NOW.
Another, friendlier, guard stepped in at that point and said my daughter and I could go in. Then he asked where my wife was. I told him she was outside queueing up in the sun. So he made the ar$ehole guard go outside and get her, and then let us in together, front of the queue, first up to the embassy that day!
One thing I was a bit surprised at (or maybe not surprised really) was that there were Filipinos in the embassy filling in application forms while they waited, and asking me and my wife questions on how to make the application. Talk about lack of planning and forethought!!!???
