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Friday May 26, 2006

red tape - part two, or, BUT I DID WHAT THEY SAID!

Ok, so they'd let me back into the country for six months, but I was intending to volunteer for twelve. The kind immigration officer (wow - rarely hear that phrase, do you?) told me to wait until July (would be have been July 2004) and then apply for the extension.

Having dutifully marked my calendar, mid-July came and I rang the number he gave me and was promptly informed that it could take up to three months (I only had two months left on my visa) and would cost hundreds of pounds! I was a volunteer - I didn't have that kind of money. I was stunned and faced facts - I was leaving in September instead of the following March. I rang my supervisor and explained all (fighting tears the whole time) and said I was going to have to leave. Wonderful woman that she is, however, she told me not to worry and hung up. She soon had things all sorted out. (Yet another reason I considered my project & local council fantastic!) All I had to do was make the appointment with the immigration office in Glasgow.

Three weeks later I found myself in a taxi headed to some far-flung (and not very pretty) corner of Glasgow to have my interview for my extension application. Stressed and very  nervous, I waited and waited and waited. I knew I met all the conditions, but had been told that the officer could refuse on any grounds.

Heading back home on the train, I sent a text to a friend summoning her to the pub so we could celebrate my six-month reprieve.

The whole experience left me very wary of trusting any organisation. For your own peace of mind, I'd highly recommend checking everything out for yourself (unless of course you enjoy the stress roller-coaster of governmental red-tape!)

Posted by Dana ( 3:45 PM )
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