Wednesday, January 17, 2007
Visa or no visa
Yesterday Milja and I (and Heikki for some of it) had a fun time running around Cape Town trying to get all the bits sorted for my visa application. We left at 7:30am to get to the Home Affairs Office as soon as possible. Thankfully, there were only two people in the line ahead of us when we arrived so we didn't wait long.
The guy we talked to was much more helpful and actually listened to Heikki as he explained the situation. We were given a list of things to get and copies to make. I had to get a letter from CPUT saying the length of my course, and copies of passports, letters of my financial arrangements etc.
Milja and I darted off to CPUT at about 9ish. Heikki went to work. I have only been to the campus once before, in February, so I had to ask for directions. We found the correct place, the IT Centre, eventually, and it seems to be the nicest/newest building there. We found someone there, a very helpful and enthusiastic man, who told us who to go and see. Getting the letter we needed wasn't too easy - I was talking to the acting Head of Department for a bit about whether or not it was worth going there for only 6 months as I will not come away with any papers or qualifications (They suggested I go to City Varsity in the centre of town, which actually does have some good courses). Anyway I got the letter, but it said December when it should have said June blahdy blah... I had to go back later and change it.
We then went to Heikki's work to get the copies of everything, and a letter that Mum had written and sent to Heikki in the time we were at CPUT about guardianship - I still need one until I am 21. Then we went back to CPUT to change the letter, then off to the Home Affairs Office to hand in everything.
It was packed again, like the day before. Thankfully, the guy had said that we wouldn't have to wait when we returned and so we lingered by him and waited until he was free, skipped the queue, gave him the documents, paid the R425 (about £35) fee and were glad that that part of the ordeal was over. It is now up to me to check up on the status of the visa, and I have to go in next week to give them a letter saying I need it urgently and why. I am going to go early again so to avoid the masses of people.
The guy we talked to was much more helpful and actually listened to Heikki as he explained the situation. We were given a list of things to get and copies to make. I had to get a letter from CPUT saying the length of my course, and copies of passports, letters of my financial arrangements etc.
Milja and I darted off to CPUT at about 9ish. Heikki went to work. I have only been to the campus once before, in February, so I had to ask for directions. We found the correct place, the IT Centre, eventually, and it seems to be the nicest/newest building there. We found someone there, a very helpful and enthusiastic man, who told us who to go and see. Getting the letter we needed wasn't too easy - I was talking to the acting Head of Department for a bit about whether or not it was worth going there for only 6 months as I will not come away with any papers or qualifications (They suggested I go to City Varsity in the centre of town, which actually does have some good courses). Anyway I got the letter, but it said December when it should have said June blahdy blah... I had to go back later and change it.
We then went to Heikki's work to get the copies of everything, and a letter that Mum had written and sent to Heikki in the time we were at CPUT about guardianship - I still need one until I am 21. Then we went back to CPUT to change the letter, then off to the Home Affairs Office to hand in everything.
It was packed again, like the day before. Thankfully, the guy had said that we wouldn't have to wait when we returned and so we lingered by him and waited until he was free, skipped the queue, gave him the documents, paid the R425 (about £35) fee and were glad that that part of the ordeal was over. It is now up to me to check up on the status of the visa, and I have to go in next week to give them a letter saying I need it urgently and why. I am going to go early again so to avoid the masses of people.
Dan | 
11:05 
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Ah yes the joys of having to deal with Home Affairs. It certainly brings back many memories of trips to Paarl Home Affairs to get extensions for tourist visa's.
I think I had to goto their on 5 separate occasions when 2 would have done the job fine. It's all part of the South African experience though!
Oh yes indeed. Not much fun, but a good experience anyway
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