It continues - Update 1

Previous post http://ruthico.blogspot.com.au/2013/06/it-begins.html

Step number 1 on our very long list of requirements is that I need to have a current passport. I actually do have a current passport but it's in my old name.

When I changed my name I actually put in an application to change to my new name, and there was some problems with that. Problems possibly caused by me writing the passport office a letter telling them that they're antiquated and sexist. Regardless, 18 months later I need a current passport in my current name to bring Americo to Australia.

I jumped onto the passport application site and followed the instructions to the letter. It was one of those interactive forms, type in your name here, press next, type in your date of birth, press next. There was little pop up instruction boxes for if you don't know how to fill in your name, etc. Webforms for dummies type stuff.

Being an ICT professional I was careful to read all instructions and follow them to the letter. I know full well how particular the government is and I didn't want to give them any reason to delay things.

Do everything I'm told, take it to the interview at Australia Post, and get turned away because my form was printed on double sided paper. Now, website said nothing, it said ready to print, press ok, it printed. No pop-up, no make sure it prints single sided, no nothing, but the idiot asshole in the post office refused to accept it printed double sided. And was rude about it as well.

And then the kicker, he gives me a hard copy form to complete. A double sided hard copy form. DOUBLE SIDED hard copy form. Tells me to make an appointment in two weeks and they'll reconsider.

Of course I lost my shit. Maybe I said he looked messy and unprofessional and should learn some manners. Maybe I overreacted a tiny smidge. MAYBE.

I did lodge a complaint, I did get an interview for today at a different post office with nice people.

I did read every single line of every single instruction on the damn form. So did one of my staff who was acting as guarantor that I'm not a bad person. We still managed to miss him completing his date of birth, but thankfully the rest of the form was complete and correct.

I lodged it today. I hope to have it in two weeks.

Next step: Money. Always money.

Money for the doctor. Money for the application. $2684 for the application alone. Non-refundable.

And not just the money, but the timing for the money. The medical only lasts for 12 months, and sometimes it takes more than 12 months to process a visa, so you want to wait til the last minute to do the medical. But you need to pay for the application to be lodged around the same time. And then you need to send all the paperwork within 7 days of paying for the application.

I hope to have the money for everything by the start of August when I get my tax return back. The plan is to have all the forms completed and evidence gathered by the end of July, by which point I will have passport and money.

And then the long wait begins.