Email from the Embassy

I received an email from the embassy this morning: “Your visas and passports are ready for collection.  You can collect your visa/passport during Consular Hours from 09h00-12h00 from Monday-Friday.” 

It’s been less than a week since gave them my application. So is this a good sign? Or a bad one? If there was something wrong with my application they’d tell me, right? Give me some indication at least… Now I don’t know whether I should redo the documentation just in case or whether that snake at the embassy was unbearably mean to me with no real reason…

Another Visit to the Embassy

I fixed all the things they told me to last week. I took out South African Medical Aid with Momentum for the six months I’ll be in Pretoria. And I went by the bank and they very kindly stamped and signed every single page of my bank statements.

After yet another 1.5 hour drive to the embassy in the Hague, I tried to give them all my documents. Someone else “helped” me this time… Apparently he’s been working at the embassy since my parents’ moved here. Which means he’s probably worked at the embassy for 20+ years. That’s probably why he’s as mean as a snake and looks like it too…

He immediately started nit-picking about my acceptance letters. Apparently he couldn’t tell whether I wanted a study vis, a research visa or an exchange visa. He said that the word ‘research’ was confusing in the acceptance letters and that the explicit word ‘intern’ wasn’t in it. He told me all this in an extremely agitated and mean-spirited manner that really didn’t help me with understanding what the real problem was.

I went to a nearby internet shop (The Printer, 975 Frederikstraat) and corrected the letter (which I thankfully had in word format) and immediately informed my contact at Pretoria. Usually I would have had them change the letter but time was of the essence. After I changed it, I went back to the Embassy and he found more to be mean about. I went back to the internet shop and changed the letter yet again.

By that time it was 11:30 o’clock and they would be closing in half an hour. I gave them the newest letter and he still thought that there were a multitude of things wrong with it. After he’d told me, he gave my letter to his colleague and started ranting about how awful it was. While I stood watching…

The guy made it excessively clear that he thought my application would be denied. Overall the whole experience had me close to tears. Last week they tell me there are a few things aren’t quite right and that I’m very early with my application. This week they berate everything I’ve done and make me feel small and stupid. Oh, the joys of visiting the embassy…

Tsunacon 2015

Erasmus Expo- en Congrescentrum (M-gebouw), Burgemeester Oudlaan 50, 3062 PA Rotterdam

After the nice time I had at MGC Experience I’ve decided I really like these “cons”. I bought a ticket for Tsunacon for €20,- (You can buy more expensive tickets and have some privileges). I think Tsuna is about three or four times the size of MGC. They had three floors and different rooms, sizing from huge to classroom sizes. They had two restaurant, a maid café, an activities room and a gaming room. The “dealer” room is where different shops could sell they’re stuff.

I really do think that these kinds of cons are the most fun if you’re dressed up. And not half-assed with just a Link hat or wearing jeans when you should be in full-body. I spent most of my day with a Deadpool and a Psycho (Borderlands) and people kept asking them whether they could take picture of/with them. People go all out! There was someone dressed as Radagast (The Hobbit), complete with bulbous nose and three layers of clothes (even though it was boiling hot in the building).

Had a wonderful day but I’m also a bit sad about not seeing my friends again for six months. At least I’ll have warm weather, good food and lots of family to cheer me up :)

Tips for Visa

I went to the embassy today and a few things weren’t quite right with my application. Luckily they said that I was early and it was their slow season so I have enough time to dot my i’s and cross my t’s.

Firstly, I’d scanned my bank statements going three months back and blacked out the individual purchases. They don’t have to know I bought a sandwich at the train station and some such. This was all fine but the copies also have to be stamped and signed by the bank. It’s also very important that the last bank statement is very recent: absolutely no more than three days prior to applying for the visa. If it’s too old they don’t even consider your visa! Also, if you aren’t sure whether you have enough money in your bank account to qualify for ‘sufficient funds’, you can also add a parent’s bank statement. Parents are usually willing to help you out of a tight spot, I’ve found.

Secondly, you have to have South African medical cover for the period that you’re there. Even if you have excellent Dutch medical aid that covers you while in South Africa, you still need the South African medical aid. ‘Momentum Health’ has a cheap option for students, approximately €27,- per month.

If you’re not sure how much leeway you have with buying your flight tickets, it’s two or three days. It’s very important that the flight dates and the dates on your acceptance letter from whatever university or company you’re going to work for correspond with each other.

On a completely other note, I found a cute little lunchroom just two streets from the embassy. It’s called Paluco. They had adorable little cakes and a tasty-looking hamburger (maybe I’ll try it next time!). The ones topped with raspberries are filled with cream and are nice and sweet. The ones to the directly to the right of those are tart and a little lemon meringue-y. Both very nice and more to try next time.

Police Clearance & More

So a few months ago I went to the South African Embassy for a police clearance form. Besides this form I also needed to fill in the usual form that can be found on their site. I took both forms to the local town hall. It cost me €30,05 and takes two to three weeks for them to send the Police Clearance to your house.

I also had to have my health certified by an independent doctor. I’d hoped to walk into the doctor’s office, get a signature on my document and then walk out. No deal. I had to give a detailed history, have my weight, eye-sight, ears and blood pressure checked. Had to pee in a cup and give them a blood sample. I had my lungs listened to, palpated and scanned by a radiologist. After paying €76,50 I was told that (even though I could have told you this long beforehand for free) I did not have pulmonary tuberculosis, kidney problems of any kind or even an STD. It was pretty nice though, I heard the doctor’s  assistant saying that I should pay €100-something but the doctor told her to bill me the cheaper option.

Now I finally have all my signatures, next step – buying the tickets!