NO VISA FOR YOU! (or anyone else)

So today I was supposed to obtain a Chinese Visa. That did not happen.

As of yesterday, to obtain a Chinese Visa, all one needed was a standard Chinese Visa form with a picture attached. Through out the week I had prepared that document, and because some classmates told me to, I also brought along a confirmation of my hotel reservation and my airline tickets itinerary.

So we arrived at open time (10am) and I get a number. # one-hundred and seventy-four. Yeah, you read correctly, I was some how given #174. Guess what number was being called next.... #2. Just lovely.

After 2 hours of waiting, they were on #30. Alright, just about 15 people seen in an hour. They were making the DMV look good. About this time, I saw the first dreaded "checklist". That's right, people were being turned away left and right and given a checklist of what they should have brought to the consulate.

I'm pretty sure the checklist was created that morning, as classmates of mine that had gone previously saw no such document and had no problems with their visa attempt. Apparently, the Chinese NOW require a bank statement and a letter from your employer or school stating that work/school will be closed during the time when you will be in China. Who made China everyones' mother?

I actually left at this point to print a bank statement. I didn't believe the doctor's note theory, so I thought I would wait that one out.

Alright, so at about 3pm, we reach #87. Carey, my classmate who is with me (along with Paul and Danijela) got the call up (some dude who left early, gave her his ticket). After a 2 minute conversation, Carey is informed that she needs the aforementioned letter from the school and would not be processed without it. CRAP!! Plus, she was also instructed to get pages appended to her Passport, as they will not stamp past page 21. Both her and I do not have 2 full unstamped pages before 21 and thus, must get some more.

Once our hearts were pulled out Indian Jones style, and held in front of our faces, we decided to leave the consulate. We all screamed a few fowl words, and went to get some grub.

After food we were hoping to get on our 4:30 bus back to Philly. Raise your hands if you think everything else went according to plan. If you raised your hand,
1) you should feel slightly embarrassed because you are too engrossed in my words and
2) you are wrong, as the original bus door broke and hence I am sitting on the 5:30 bus that actually left at 6pm.

To read more about this delightful day from a different perspective, read Paul's rant.

Pictures to come later.