Could have been true love but it wasn't it should all add up but it doesn't...
OK, so I just got back from Canberra. That's right. To make sure I had all my bases covered and was doing everything I possibly could to make this happen, I drove down to Canberra with my Dad to have words with the British High Commission.
I wish I could say it went well. I wish this was one of those films or television shows where the main character makes such a compelling case that the person in charge breaks all the rules at the risk of losing their job for a stranger. Alas, no. I am sitting here without my UK Visa and without my passport for several reasons:
- Despite my parents offering their chauffer services on Friday (because they're going down to Canberra anyway), I can't pick it up then because it can only be picked up directly if it's been handed in five working days beforehand. This was not made clear when I phoned last week. And apparently the last two times my application has been in HC (High Commission) custody counts for jackshit because they weren't entered into the system, merely stamped and sent back
- They do not offer a same-day service (despite how badly they may have fucked up)
- They advise not to book flights before obtaining a Visa (no sooner were those words out of her mouth, she asked if I had my flight itinerary...go figure)
While I'm sure it's their job not admit anything for fear of liability, it wore a little thin. No matter how much I argued, no matter how much I pushed the case, no matter what I said or all the evidence that was in my favour, rules are rules, regulations are regulations, there was no apology and there's no guarantee I'll have my passport by the time my flight leaves on Sunday morning.
On the upside, she went through all my paperwork and took the payment from me on the spot. Meaning there are now only two hurdles - my getting approved and my passport reaching me in time. Unofficially, she did tell me that she'd be very surprised if it didn't reach me by Friday, but on the record, they can't be held responsible if it doesn't.
And on a bright note to end my shitty posts of late, I got to spend some quality time with my Dad. He was the one that suggested doing it in the first place and I have no doubt that I would be proper fucked if he hadn't. He's just that sort of person - to offer things you normally wouldn't even dream of asking for and I can't even put into words how much I appreciated it.
We never get to spend one-on-one time together and I absolutely loved it. We took turns driving back and we each played our own music and had some great sing-a-longs to the Dixie Chicks (his) and Crowded House (mine) - which we've never done before. Got to have a big breakfast at a gorgeous little town centre in Dickson and share stories that we normally wouldn't have. If it's the only good thing I can take from this, I can at least be grateful for that.
I wish I could say it went well. I wish this was one of those films or television shows where the main character makes such a compelling case that the person in charge breaks all the rules at the risk of losing their job for a stranger. Alas, no. I am sitting here without my UK Visa and without my passport for several reasons:
- Despite my parents offering their chauffer services on Friday (because they're going down to Canberra anyway), I can't pick it up then because it can only be picked up directly if it's been handed in five working days beforehand. This was not made clear when I phoned last week. And apparently the last two times my application has been in HC (High Commission) custody counts for jackshit because they weren't entered into the system, merely stamped and sent back
- They do not offer a same-day service (despite how badly they may have fucked up)
- They advise not to book flights before obtaining a Visa (no sooner were those words out of her mouth, she asked if I had my flight itinerary...go figure)
While I'm sure it's their job not admit anything for fear of liability, it wore a little thin. No matter how much I argued, no matter how much I pushed the case, no matter what I said or all the evidence that was in my favour, rules are rules, regulations are regulations, there was no apology and there's no guarantee I'll have my passport by the time my flight leaves on Sunday morning.
On the upside, she went through all my paperwork and took the payment from me on the spot. Meaning there are now only two hurdles - my getting approved and my passport reaching me in time. Unofficially, she did tell me that she'd be very surprised if it didn't reach me by Friday, but on the record, they can't be held responsible if it doesn't.
And on a bright note to end my shitty posts of late, I got to spend some quality time with my Dad. He was the one that suggested doing it in the first place and I have no doubt that I would be proper fucked if he hadn't. He's just that sort of person - to offer things you normally wouldn't even dream of asking for and I can't even put into words how much I appreciated it.
We never get to spend one-on-one time together and I absolutely loved it. We took turns driving back and we each played our own music and had some great sing-a-longs to the Dixie Chicks (his) and Crowded House (mine) - which we've never done before. Got to have a big breakfast at a gorgeous little town centre in Dickson and share stories that we normally wouldn't have. If it's the only good thing I can take from this, I can at least be grateful for that.