VISAS

I have often been asked how to get visas, how to cross borders, how to deal with bureaucracy and officials. Something that journeying in Europe I never had to think of, became suddenly very necessary as I took the direction East.

I am travelling by land, the borders to cross are many and the visas my passport requires are perhaps more than the pages it possesses. I have no idea of the time that the journey takes, my country - Estonia - only lists a handful of foreign embassies, etc...etc. All that said to underline that most visas are and will be done on the road.

When Sue and I set off we did have visas of Belarus, Russia and China in our passports. I also had a six month trainee visa for Japan. We needed many more! For example we knew that we will require a visa for Mongolia at a point, but Estonia did not have Mongolian embassy. Also we did not know when we would enter the country. The latter is very important to plan thoroughly when making a visa, but how can you know anything when you are hitchhiking. We always felt the pressure of having the visas remind us of the time left in one country, of the time given to get into another country and so on.

Making a visa is an experience in itself. Most of the process is unpleasant and time consuming, but the reward is worth the trouble. The door opens or remains closed. The visa to me is a symbol of a key or a ticket to the country I want to go to.

On Monday I went to the US embassy.

Are my ears OK? They said a photo should show my ears and have the size of 5x5 cm. Mine was 4x5 and showed no ears. No-one mentioned anything. The man checked the papers and told me to go down to the second floor.　I stood in line for about half an hour to receive my interview.

-Travelling around the world?
-Yes.
-And how are you financing the trip?
-I do not need that much money. I travel by walking and by hitchhiking.
-It is quite dangerous.
-Anything anywhere is equally safe and dangerous.
-Yes, it is true.

Some additional questions about my past work and my present research, about the American contact person (a researcher at the same Institute whom I called just to fill that blank) followed.
I was honest.

I think the woman interviewing me understood that I do not have money. She said that she wants to see my bank account. I said OK. She started giving me the paper of how to proceed the account details to her.

Then suddenly she said:

-Actually it is not necessary. You will receive your visa in a week.

She tore the paper apart.

I stood still. I went out of the embassy in a vague idea of what just happened.

I had had about 500 dollars on my account. If she had seen this, I would probably never have received my visa.

On Wednesday we had to present our research results. When everything was successfully over, I came down to the front desk.

-we have a letter for you.

My visa was ready!

The feeling accompanied:

My work in the Institute is done, this is the next landmark.

Visas and embassies are a part of my road. And on the road miracles happen. Yes,even if bueraucracy and officials are concerned.