I have to reapply for my visa soon and I’m not looking forward to it. The good news is that this time I’m eligible for a permanent residence visa which means I won’t ever have to do this stupid bureaucratic errand ever again. I realize that in comparison to what immigrants in the United States have to go through, this is small peanuts, but it’s not “fun”.
Chile’s flag (my adopted home), which looks surprisingly like the Texas-state flag, so much so that I thought I was looking at a Texas apron/magnet/kitchen set the other day. It was a Twilight Zone moment.
Last year, I completed my visa during the worst part of my all-day-sickness. I still looked emaciated from non-stop vomiting and not at all pregnant, so I had to wait in all the long lines, while watching enviously as the women with legit babies wrapped tight like little mummies got bumped to the front of the line. The hormones didn’t help when at one point, the government worker couldn’t understand my address and made me write it out for her while insisting that she didn’t speak French. Great–last time I checked, I didn’t either.
I’ve been dragging my feet because I know it means I’ll have to haul Squeaker (who is incredibly fortunate to already be a dual citizen, although she doesn’t know it yet), and her mountains of crap to different offices around the city in the blazing, ozone-less sun. Except, maybe I’ll get the same line-jump treatment like those women last year. Would it be presumptuous to assume so? In that case, bring it on! Sort of…
These errands (well, and the cat calls that are strangely silent since I’ve been carrying Squeaker everywhere) are my least favorite part about living abroad.
I’m writing this to hold myself accountable and actually get it done. Wish me luck. I’m going to try and have a positive attitude. Really.
Ugh, visa stuff is the absolute worst! Good luck! Hopefully Squeaker can get you some amazing line skipping treatment!
I feel like it makes me a bad mother to want to use to her to achieve that end, but…ugh…I do.
Definitely not peanuts. It was five million times easier getting my husband’s US visa than my Chilean one. That being said… it was pretty expensive!
When we looked at everything it seemed hard, long, and expensive to get him a visa to the US. This is just stupid paperwork. Oh and waiting in line.
Yes–so expensive!
I was about to make a joke about it being a Lone Star flag when I read the caption
At the time of the miners’ rescue, which was televised, a friend of a friend said how proud he was that Texas was there to save the day when he was actually was looking at Chilean flags. My friend, who is English, promptly de-friended that idiot from Facebook. Sometimes I despair of humankind 
That is sadly hilarious.
I’m crossing my fingers that during my next visa renewal I’ll get a permanent visa, I think they’re issued after 10 yrs. I completely understand the hassle and costs of multiple renewals!
Danica
I believe this is actually free. Well, I pay some nominal fees later on, but not much. It’s just time-consuming. Good luck with your visa, too!
Good luck, doesn’t sound like fun at all. I am working on a visa for Australia, also a long, complicated and expensive proces.
Cool. Good luck with your visa!
This is for your “cedula de identidad extranjeros” too I am guessing. It is a hassle but once you have your carnet, renewing it isn’t such a big deal. Just don’t forget to visit the international police first, (I always forget that step in renewing my carnet).
Maybe because it is summer everyone will be on vacation and the lines won’t be so bad. Good luck.