I got my Visa!

As I have said, getting a passport is never an easy thing, especially when you are trying to get a visa from the often neurotic Chinese government.

A few days ago I was notified that the Chinese government had delayed the processing of Visas. The process was so delayed that I wouldn't have received it until the 17th, I leave on the 16th. So, I had to take some drastic actions.

The Washington Passport & Visa Agency that I had been going through sent me back my visa on Thursday. That night I left for south station. My bus from South Station to NYC left at 1am, and I arrived in NYC at 5:30. At 5:30 in the morning I stumbled down 8th Ave and found one of the 20 or so Starbucks in NYC. I got a medium black coffee with a shot of espresso, hunkered down in one of the seats infront of the window, and waited for the sun to come out.

Around 7:00 am I left my safe haven, my home base, my salvation, my Starbucks and began walking. I set out with the intention of finding the consulate, just to see how long it would take, so I could better plan my day. Well, I went the wrong way... twice. And only after I head been walking for about an hour did I realize I mistakenly switched the starting and ending points when I typed the directions into Mapquest the night before. Simply put, I was walking away from my destination. Gotta love it.

I arrived at the consulate at 8:45, fifteen minutes early. The line wasn't too bad, and I took my place with only ten or so people in front of me.

The first time I went to the window the woman told me that I needed to list the specific provinces that I would be visiting in Sichuan and Yannan. Well, I knew I was going to Litang in Sichuan, but I was clueless as to my destination in Yannan. So, I wrote down Litang, and got back in line, hoping another one of the clerks wouldn't mind. She did.

Normally I would just call Rick Montgomery, the executive director, the man with whom I have been conversing, planning, etc. However, he is currently in China, and my cell phone can't make long distant calls... So, I called my mom, who called Rick, who told her a province that I could write down. Munking.

I went to the window again (the line was more or less gone) and... They accepted it! She slid me a slip of paper that said I could pick it up at 2:00 that day. If there had not been a window in between us, I would have hugged her!

I went back to Starbucks, bought another coffee with espresso to celebrate and read. I walked around for bit, searched desperately for a book store and failed miserably. At 2, I went back, got my visa, and speed-walked to the bus station. We hit traffic, and i didn't get home until midnight.

I got my Visa!