When RR had her masters converted into a PhD, she had to get her visa extended. The formal way to do this is to go to your college, who then take away your passport, arrange all the papers, send off your passport, and about 4 months later you get your passport back with the extended visa. So what happens if you can't be without your passport for 4 months because your are going home in two months, and your visa expires in 5?
Well, the alternative option is to go to an immigration centre. The closest one to us was at Liverpool. You are given an appointment time, however there is a surcharge for going in person. Upon arrival you will be hearded like cattle into a waiting room far too small. Then they will process the application without hardly a word. It's as if applying for the VISA is designed to put you off ever wanting to get one in the first place.
When I was interviewed for my post for Singapore it was late October. They said they would apply for my work permit in December, to which I raised my eyebrows. I thought - that's not enough time. Turns out my employer was correct. It took all of one day for my employment pass to be granted in principle. Today, I turned up at the E-pass centre, was greated by a person who checked me in, and then showed me to a waiting area that would put most hotels to shame. A few minutes later my fingerprints were taken, my photo scanned, and I was on my way again. Easy as could be!
You're in Singapore now. You should have expected as much! ;-)
ReplyDeleteAndrew - the whole point is that I didn't know what to expect!
ReplyDelete