Apply for Visas: Check
10:45 am on Tuesday January 22, 2013: We stepped off the D6 Metrobus and walked through the gate of the French Embassy.
Upon entering the Visa Office, a man behind the glass counter greeted us and asked if we had an appointment. Our appointment was at 11:30 am, but he immediately began asking for our passports. We're going to be out of here even before our appointment was scheduled for, we thought.
This man took our passports, copies of our passports, the Long Term Visitor Visa Application form, copies of our drivers licenses, and our credit card payment. We then moved to the next window where another man proceeded to ask for document after document which we gladly handed over. Then the man asked for a letter from us stating the purpose of our visit. We tried giving him the letter from CNEF (which arrived on Saturday!), and he said, "No, we need a letter written by you. Here's some paper. Write." And so we did. We each stated that we plan to work with Protestant churches to help train new church goers and organize worship services; he was satisfied.
When he seemed satisfied with our documents he told us to wait for the final part in the application process. Twenty-five minutes later a woman called us back to the window. So much for being out of the consulate before 11:30.
As we walked up to the window, the petite woman asked about our current employment status. She was confused when we told her we haven't been employed for the last year, and she thought it was really strange that GEM would send us to another country if we haven't worked for them before. She asked for a letter from them explaining that we are currently volunteers and stating the pay we will receive in US Dollars, as opposed to the letter that GEM had already written stating the amount of Euros we would receive as an income in France. She also wanted the letter to state that Jordan would receive the pay and I (Kate) will be a volunteer. "It's weird that they just give a combined income in Euros," she said of the letter she had in her hand. "No problem," we told her. "We'll call the organization and have them fax it right away."
The woman also requested another letter from our insurance company explicitly stating hospitalization coverage. We were grateful for the advice that we received from our leaders in France: If they ask for other documents, just say, "Sure." And so we did. "No problem. We'll call the insurance company right away," we said again. We were also grateful that we happened to have our marriage certificate with us because they asked for that, too.
GEM and the insurance company faxed letters to the consulate. Unfortunately, when we called to verify that the letters had been received and were satisfactory, the woman on the phone said they don't verify faxes or they'd be doing that all day. Fair enough, but it's certainly anxiety inducing for us!
Now we are in Enon Valley, PA at the Kissling homestead to pack and wait. $380/month will bring us to 100% of our financial support. When we have our visas in hand and all of our support pledged to GEM we will purchase tickets to Europe. We are so excited!
Upon entering the Visa Office, a man behind the glass counter greeted us and asked if we had an appointment. Our appointment was at 11:30 am, but he immediately began asking for our passports. We're going to be out of here even before our appointment was scheduled for, we thought.
This man took our passports, copies of our passports, the Long Term Visitor Visa Application form, copies of our drivers licenses, and our credit card payment. We then moved to the next window where another man proceeded to ask for document after document which we gladly handed over. Then the man asked for a letter from us stating the purpose of our visit. We tried giving him the letter from CNEF (which arrived on Saturday!), and he said, "No, we need a letter written by you. Here's some paper. Write." And so we did. We each stated that we plan to work with Protestant churches to help train new church goers and organize worship services; he was satisfied.
When he seemed satisfied with our documents he told us to wait for the final part in the application process. Twenty-five minutes later a woman called us back to the window. So much for being out of the consulate before 11:30.
As we walked up to the window, the petite woman asked about our current employment status. She was confused when we told her we haven't been employed for the last year, and she thought it was really strange that GEM would send us to another country if we haven't worked for them before. She asked for a letter from them explaining that we are currently volunteers and stating the pay we will receive in US Dollars, as opposed to the letter that GEM had already written stating the amount of Euros we would receive as an income in France. She also wanted the letter to state that Jordan would receive the pay and I (Kate) will be a volunteer. "It's weird that they just give a combined income in Euros," she said of the letter she had in her hand. "No problem," we told her. "We'll call the organization and have them fax it right away."
The woman also requested another letter from our insurance company explicitly stating hospitalization coverage. We were grateful for the advice that we received from our leaders in France: If they ask for other documents, just say, "Sure." And so we did. "No problem. We'll call the insurance company right away," we said again. We were also grateful that we happened to have our marriage certificate with us because they asked for that, too.
GEM and the insurance company faxed letters to the consulate. Unfortunately, when we called to verify that the letters had been received and were satisfactory, the woman on the phone said they don't verify faxes or they'd be doing that all day. Fair enough, but it's certainly anxiety inducing for us!
Now we are in Enon Valley, PA at the Kissling homestead to pack and wait. $380/month will bring us to 100% of our financial support. When we have our visas in hand and all of our support pledged to GEM we will purchase tickets to Europe. We are so excited!
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