As I mentioned in my last post, logistics work consumed most of my time in South Africa. One of my tasks was to work on securing visas for our next month in Mozambique. The information I got from the office back at World Race HQ told me that there was a Mozambique Consulate in downtown Cape Town and that it would be a good place to pick up our visas. At this point I was only in charge of taking care of 12 visas. The following is an actual script, as best as I can remember, of the events that happened on Nov. 14th as Amanda and I take our visa adventure.
Our scene opens with Chris and Amanda standing in the office of the Mozambique Consulate. Chris and Amanda are both wearing their heavy packs since they plan on spending a few days in Cape Town for a little getaway.
Mario: Hello, may I help you?
Chris: Yes, I'd like to apply for 12 visas.
Mario: It's too late, we only process visa applications in the morning. You'll have to come back another time.
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Chris: Can't I just fill out the paperwork and leave the passports with you and then come back and get them the next day?
Mario: I guess so.
[Mario gets all the appropriate paperwork, 2 forms for each visa application].
Mario: Here you go, you can take this and have everyone fill them out then bring the forms back.
Chris: Can't I just fill the forms out for them right now?
Mario: Hmmmm, I don't see why not.
[Mario ushers Chris and Amanda into a completely empty office minus a few chairs. Chris and Amanda use the window sill as a desk and proceed to fill
out the visa forms that ask three times the nationality of the applicant. In order to save time Chris and Amanda only fill out select portions of the form hoping Mario will let it slide. 30 minutes later…]
Chris: Here you go.
[Chris hands over all 12 passports and forms. Mario reviews the applications.]
Mario: I see you left your entry border blank, where will you be entering the country.
Chris: I have no idea.
Mario: How long will be staying, this is also blank?
Chris: Ummm…30 days.
Mario: Where will you be staying, you also didn't fill this out?
Chris: Mario, I honestly don't know. You see we are a missions organization and people will be all over the country.
[Mario studies Chris. Chris flashes him his debonair smile and puts Mario at ease.]
Mario: Do you have two pictures of each applicant?
Chris: Two pictures?! Shoot I thought we only needed one.
Mario: Nope, two. I'll go ahead and process the applications and you can bring the pictures in when you pick up the passports and visas.
Chris: Great, thanks! How much will all of this cost?
Mario: 75 Rand per passport.
Chris: So I'll owe 900 Rand total? Can I pay by credit card?
Mario: Yes, 900 Rand. No, in order to pay you have to take the cash to a FNB bank and deposit the cash into our account. Then come back and show me the receipt. The nearest bank is 8 blocks from here.
[Mario hands Chris the slip of paper with the account information. Chris and Amanda walk to the bank, make the deposit, and then return to the Mozambique Consulate.]
Chris: Here you go.
[Chris hands over the receipt. Mario studies it and then laughs.]
Mario: How much did you pay?
Chris: A total of 900 Rand.
Mario [still laughing]: No, no, no. The total is 750 Rand per passport, making your total 9,000 Rand (1,164 USD).
Chris: But you said…nevermind. Ok we'll go pay the balance and then come back.
[Chris and Amanda leave the office still shouldering their packs, and head back to the bank. Chris and Amanda withdraw 6,000 before the World Race credit card get declined. Hoping this was just a problem with the FNB ATM our two heros try several other ATMs within a few square blocks, no luck. Chris and Amanda make the deposit and return to the Consulate, two hours have passed].
Chris: Alright, Mario, I was only able to deposit 6,000 more into the account. Can I come back tomorrow and pay the rest?
Mario: That will be fine. See you tomorrow.
[Chris and Amanda leave, find a hostel and settle in. The next morning they go out for breakfast then hit up the ATM. Success! They head back to their room where they hide the World Race cash and then head out for a wine tour. Upon returning from the wine tour Chris checks his stash of cash to realize that 1,000 of it has been stolen. The next day Chris and Amanda, get more money from the ATM, deposit it and then return to the Consulate].
Chris: Is Mario here?
Receptionist: Just a minute.
[Mario enters]
Chris: Mario, good to see you.
Mario: I was wondering what happened to you.
Chris: Yeah sorry about that, long story, but I have the rest of the money.
Mario: Do you have the pictures?
Chris: No not yet, that will take me a little longer to get since half of these applicants are an hour away from where I am staying. Can you hold on to the passports for another week or so?
Mario: Sure no problem.
[Two weeks later, after Chris has worked out the details of acquiring additional passport photos, he returned to the consulate and successfully retrieved the visas.]
