I have recently changed my nationality to Chinese and have a HKSAR passport now. This makes most of my traveling visa/hassle-free. But I need a permit to enter China or Taiwan for the first time. Last week I had the priviledge to visit Chung Hwa services’ office in Hong Kong to apply for a permit for Taiwan.
I had all the necessary documents, photos etc. with me. And I was told if I can submit my application before 1030, I could be interviewed at 1130. You cannot download the application form; you can only collect it at the office. So I reached the visa office at 0945 to be safe. Out of the five counters, only two were operational. One to collect your visa, the other for collecting and submitting forms. There were about 15 people in the queue, and I had no idea I’d be doing four rounds in the same queue:
Round 1: The lady reviewed all my documents and issued a form. I quickly filled up the forms, leaving my ‘name in Chinese’ blank. I also saw a section where you had to paste the front and back copies of your ID card into the exact boxes. In the absence of any scissors or glue, I just clipped my ID copies with the form and queued up again – in the same queue with almost the same 15 people.
Round 2: The lady showed me a corner where a pair of scissors was chained to the wall with a pot of glue and brush (see photo). I came out of the queue and joined the small queue next to the scissor/glue station. I neatly cut up and pasted my ID card copies in position and went back in the queue.
Round 3: The lady pointed at the blank space next to my Chinese name. I showed her my Chinese name on the ID and asked if she would be kind enough to help fill that in, as I can’t write in Chinese. She refused and said I should ask someone else. And she gave me another small form which was all in Chinese and asked me to fill in my name, ID number and home address in Chinese too. I got out of the queue, went back to the scissor/glue station and asked one of the ladies if I could help cut and paste her ID while she could write my name and address in Chinese on my form. That worked well and I went back in the queue.
Round 4: The lady smiled and showed me the clock. It was 1040, which meant I’d have to come back in the afternoon for an interview. I requested and begged her to make a small exception, considering that I had done four rounds in the queue since 0945. “No”. She gave me an appointment slip for 1630 in the afternoon.
I went back at 1630 and was asked to wait until my name was called. Waiting was easy; I watched people doing the same rounds near the counter and the scissor/glue station. I even took the photo. The interview happened at 1650; just some simple and basic questions. And I was given a receipt to collect the permit after a week!
An excellent training in following instructions, patience, anger-management and dealing with ‘situations’ in life! No complaints. I am also practicing how to write my name in Chinese!
Tags: Services, SHIT!, taiwan visa
February 9, 2010 at 3:08 am |
OMG! Cannot imagine that applying Taiwan Visa is that troublesome and complicated for someone who doesn’t understand Chinese. Obviously the attitude of the staff there is not friendly.