Visa Misadventures

[aggienaut]

   Ghana and Guinea both require visas. I forget, I mentioned here right I'm going to Ghana and Guinea? The visas require one to have flights booked before one applies, which held up applying until the relatively last minute because figuring out flights was a bit of a Thing, one of the organizations even cancelled the project and then I booked flights and convinced them to uncancel it. Anyway by then it was getting on to less than three weeks to the trip so I didn't want to send my passport to DC for visa stamps. Guinea has a visa on arrival (but you need an "eVisa" approval first which I applied for). Our man in Ghana felt he could arrange a visa on arrival even though it looked like Americans weren't eligible, but you know, this is Africa, rules are flexible.

   And then last Friday, a week before the trip, we had an emergency "zoom meeting" (actually Team Viewer for whatever reason), he didn't think he'd be able to get the visas. So we discussed both the possibility that I could rush to Sydney for an emergency visa at the consulate and/or significantly shortening the projet to account for the potential 15 day processing time if I couldn't get an emergency visa appointment.
   I also left the consulate a voicemail and email immediately after our meeting, though I didn't expect to hear back from them until Monday.

   Monday our man in Ghana is now very confident he can get us visas on arrival. Crisis averted. The consulate emailed me back, saying they could fit me in whenever, but I didn't even respond because I'm sure they're busy they don't need my "nevermind" message.

   Then on Wednesday the consulate called me because they hadn't heard from me. I said oh yeah sorry mate I have a visa arranged for arrival. They said "but they won't let you on the plane without a visa!!" and they were very sure of that.
   At thihs point it was the middle of the night in Ghana / Germany, where the rest of the team are located. I saw there were affordable flights ($350, whereupon last month booking well in advance I think Steph and I had gotten tickets to Melbourne for less than half of that) at that point for the one remaining day (Thursday, yesterday), and I was unsure they'd still be available (from my experience when you find a good flight ticket if you don't immediatelybuy it you never again find one nearly as good). So I took a leap and bought the ticket -- if the rest of the team approved it I'd get reimbursed but if they were like nah we have this sorted I'd presumably just have to eat that cost so it was a financial leap. ...Fortunately when I was finally able to talk to the others they approved the decision.

   So the very next day, Thursday, I was flying to Sydney again. Flight at 6am, so had to be at the airport at 5am, so had to leave my house at 4am, so had to set my alarm for 3am.

   Got there without incident. I'e barely spent any time in Sydney at all. The conference last month I didn't really see any of the city other than the public transit between the airport and the venue. I've been in Sydney for two brief 24 hour or so stints about ten years ago and that's it. So walking around downtown Sydney was a pretty new experience to me and... frankly it seems nicer than Melbourne ::hides from angry Melbournites::. It had broad pedestrian only thoroughfares (Melbourne has maybe one?), grand old buildings, and most of all wasn't freezing.

   Easily found the consulate, which turned out to be a law firm on the 7th floor of a downtown building, with a Ghanaian flag in their lobby. Had been expecting at least the consul-general to be Ghanaian, if not the rest of the staff, but they all looked thoroughly European-Australian. ::shrug:: They were very nice though. Got my visa.

   Then strolled around a bit, took a nap in the botanial gardens. Even though I knew the appointment would only take half an hour, these last minute flights I was able to get had only allowed for arriving first thing in the morning and departing at 5:40pm so I had all day. Flew home without incident.

   This morning double checking my ticket for the airport shuttle I realized I'd accidentally booked it for yesterday! That was frustrating though the least-bad such mistake I could have made. Booked a new airport shuttle ticket since it was too early in the morning to call them and didn't want it to be sold out if I waited. As it happens when I finally arrived at hte airport shuttle place and explained the situation they actually refunded me the cost of the extra ticket which I really hadn't expected, so that was nice.

   Leaving my car at work for the 40 days I'm gone, and a coworker, Thomas, drove me to the shuttle bus stop. Again appreciative of the great support from my boss and coworkers.

   And now I'm sitting at the airport gate, flight boards in ten minutes!

UPDATE: Now in the Dubai Airport and just got the email with the pdf of my visa on arrival. Ahaha last minute much?

Comments

[engarian.livejournal.com]

You probably won't have a chance to read this, but I hope you have an excellent trip and hope to hear lots of stories when you return.

- Erulisse (one L)

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Thanks! :D

[mollywheezy.livejournal.com]

Wow! What a lot of drama! So glad it all worked out. Hope you have a safe trip and the project goes smoothly. :)

[pondhopper.livejournal.com]

That's quite the odyssey! Glad it all worked out and hoping all goes well during your stays!

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Me too! (:

[lookfar.livejournal.com]

You seem very relaxed, all things considered!

[wpadmirer.livejournal.com]

I'm glad your visa was easy to get and that it seems like your travel is going well!

[emo-snal.livejournal.com]

Fortunately it all worked out!