Tim and I went to the Home Affairs Office for our fourth and final time this morning. We left earlier than ever and arrived at the office before even the outside gates were open. There were still about 20 people in line ahead of us.
After about 10 minutes the outside gates were open and we moved inside through the large complex to the area which we needed. After another 15 minutes outside of this office we were allowed inside. There we took seats in the waiting room. A bit later a woman collected the receipts of people like ourselves who were waiting to pick up the visa results already applied for at an earlier date.
In less that an hour our names were called and with very little extra paperwork our visa extension papers were affixed into our passports. So we received the additional time which we had requested. We can now stay in South Africa until November, 2012. Our wait for service this morning was less than one hour at the Home Affairs office. That is a record for us and wonderfully amazing.
Tim and I celebrated the achievement by driving through a park we had been passing on our trips to and from the Home Affairs office. It is a large park called President Park. It is mostly a grassy area with some trees. There was a small area that had some farm animals and a few ostriches. There were signs warning of a snake infestation. So we stayed in the car and just drove slowly around.
So now our plans are to return to the United States on November 18, 2012. We have not discussed our travels then except that we need to be in Washington, D.C. from January 4 - January 20 for the Franciscan Mission Service re-entry program.
We wish you well, good health and happiness.
Cecilia
Tuesday, May 29, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Visa Application - Step 3
Tim and I returned to the Home Affairs office yesterday to submit our visa application. This was our second time of coming to the Home Affairs location in Springs, so the travel was easier although we still needed the map. The main "limited access" road between the St. Francis Care Center and Springs is under construction. So getting on to the road required a detour which we were now familiar with from our trip of two weeks ago. And the exit before the one we wanted did not confuse us this time even though it was labeled with the road name that we wanted. Two weeks ago we learned that there are two exits in sequence with the same road name. So that saved us exiting too early and needing to rejoin the limited access road to continue to Springs. And then driving through the town of Springs we knew where to turn, where the building that we wanted was located, and where there was parking. There were no road signs giving this information. We arrived at the proper door at exactly 8 AM when the office opened.
About 20 people were in line ahead of us when we arrived. When the first person was leaving after being served, I asked her what time she had arrived to stand in line. She said at 6 AM. So she had waited two hours for her service. We gradually advanced in the line, with the convenience of being inside and being in seats without many people jumping ahead of those waiting longer, because the line was in view of those waiting as well as those in the office. This alone was a big improvement over the first location of the Home Affairs office where we had gone to on our first attempt at getting a visa.
We waited about 2 hours for our turn to get near. Then the only man working behind the desk at that time said that if anyone was over 60 he would take them next. Tim and I took advantage of that offer. When our documents were examined, we were found to have all that we needed. Even though we had brought with us copies of everything needed, it still took quite awhile for all the process of rubber stamping, photo copying some other papers, paying and getting a hand written receipt, watching while the man typed with one finger, and hand wrote other information. It definitely looked like there was a need for more office help. We were told we would be telephoned when our visa was ready. I asked when it might be, and the man said "about 3 weeks". When we got home I examined a paper we had been given, and the paper said that it was our responsibility to check on the visa within one month, but there was not phone number provided.
As we were leaving we noted that the line for the visa office was much longer and was out the door and people needed to stand. There were so many people in the line it seemed doubtful that they could all be served on that day.
On our return trip to the St. Francis Care Center, we were again glad that we knew the way. The entrance to the limited access road was not marked, perhaps because construction is underway. And the exits were not marked where we needed to get off. We recognized the scenery, so we did not drive out of our way.
So perhaps in a few weeks we will know about Step 4 when we will need to return to the Home Affairs office in Spring to receive our visa.
Cecilia
About 20 people were in line ahead of us when we arrived. When the first person was leaving after being served, I asked her what time she had arrived to stand in line. She said at 6 AM. So she had waited two hours for her service. We gradually advanced in the line, with the convenience of being inside and being in seats without many people jumping ahead of those waiting longer, because the line was in view of those waiting as well as those in the office. This alone was a big improvement over the first location of the Home Affairs office where we had gone to on our first attempt at getting a visa.
We waited about 2 hours for our turn to get near. Then the only man working behind the desk at that time said that if anyone was over 60 he would take them next. Tim and I took advantage of that offer. When our documents were examined, we were found to have all that we needed. Even though we had brought with us copies of everything needed, it still took quite awhile for all the process of rubber stamping, photo copying some other papers, paying and getting a hand written receipt, watching while the man typed with one finger, and hand wrote other information. It definitely looked like there was a need for more office help. We were told we would be telephoned when our visa was ready. I asked when it might be, and the man said "about 3 weeks". When we got home I examined a paper we had been given, and the paper said that it was our responsibility to check on the visa within one month, but there was not phone number provided.
As we were leaving we noted that the line for the visa office was much longer and was out the door and people needed to stand. There were so many people in the line it seemed doubtful that they could all be served on that day.
On our return trip to the St. Francis Care Center, we were again glad that we knew the way. The entrance to the limited access road was not marked, perhaps because construction is underway. And the exits were not marked where we needed to get off. We recognized the scenery, so we did not drive out of our way.
So perhaps in a few weeks we will know about Step 4 when we will need to return to the Home Affairs office in Spring to receive our visa.
Cecilia
Monday, May 7, 2012
A Holiday on Tuesday, May 1, 2012
In South Africa May 1st is celebrated as a National Holiday, Workers Day. So the Home Affairs Offices were not open. Tim and I took the opportunity to spend a couple of very pleasant hours in a park. Tim had discovered this park on one of his long walks, 25 miles on that occasion.
On last Tuesday we borrowed a car and drove to the park which is nick-named "bunny park". There are hundreds and hundreds of rabbits loose in the park who enjoy being fed carrots by visitors of any age. The park is quite large although probably a neighborhood park. It has a stream running through it which has small foot bridges in many places along the curving paths to cross the stream. And scattered in the park are large enclosures for many types of farm animals and a few other types of non-threatening animals. There were also some rock art structures which the children climb on as well as three circus types of mechanical rides for children and a pony to pull a children's cart.
It was pleasant to see the families enjoying the park on the Holiday. We most enjoyed watching the children interacting with the animals. When we left in the late morning, there were families starting to grill food, which is a very popular family activity here.
Tomorrow is again Tuesday, and we plan to return to the Home Affairs office with our previous documents supplemented with the additional papers we need so that hopefully our applications for Visa renewal will be accepted.
Cecilia
On last Tuesday we borrowed a car and drove to the park which is nick-named "bunny park". There are hundreds and hundreds of rabbits loose in the park who enjoy being fed carrots by visitors of any age. The park is quite large although probably a neighborhood park. It has a stream running through it which has small foot bridges in many places along the curving paths to cross the stream. And scattered in the park are large enclosures for many types of farm animals and a few other types of non-threatening animals. There were also some rock art structures which the children climb on as well as three circus types of mechanical rides for children and a pony to pull a children's cart.
It was pleasant to see the families enjoying the park on the Holiday. We most enjoyed watching the children interacting with the animals. When we left in the late morning, there were families starting to grill food, which is a very popular family activity here.
Tomorrow is again Tuesday, and we plan to return to the Home Affairs office with our previous documents supplemented with the additional papers we need so that hopefully our applications for Visa renewal will be accepted.
Cecilia
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