Well, maybe it wasn't a total nightmare because at the end of the day I got it taken care of like I wanted but I had a really terrible day yesterday trying to get my application in for my visa.
Things weren't so bad when I was the first to hear back from Campus France about my confirmation. Everyone was worried we wouldn't hear back at all because we heard they were so backed up. New York takes appointments online but I found out that NYC would not have any available appointments until days after our flight to Lyon. Just my luck. I had no choice but to make the trip to Boston and they only take walk-ins.
So, Visa Day finally comes and I'm in Boston... where it's snowing. I'm trying to make it there before 9 am because a friend of a friend had gone two days earlier and said it was packed even though she got there early. My friend offered to drive me but the traffic was so bad I couldn't get on the highway so I had to take the T. It's about 9:30 when I get there and it's snowing hard and I can barely look up to see which building is 31 Saint James Ave. After trudging around back and forth on the street I finally find it. I had no umbrella and lost my scarf the day before so there is snow falling into my jacket and down my shirt. Too much information, I know. Not to mention, one of the bags I'm carrying is bleeding green onto my new white jacket.
I enter the French Consulate and to my surprise there is no one there except one person at the counter. Wow, I thought the snow was finally not so bad because I guess everyone else was trying to get there and having trouble too. I took a number... 9 and waited for the person before me to finish. I get to the window and the woman asks me for my Campus France confirmation. Crap. Mistake #1: Forgot to print the e-mail. I did have the first e-mail with my ID and she said that was okay at first. I pass her other things like my application and acceptance letters. Then, Mistake #2: she asks for a photocopy of my passport. The checklist on the website asks for your passport only. I look up at the wall and it says the office does NOT make photocopies... as if they don't have one. The woman tells me that I will have to go out to make a copy and come back. Oh, and I might as well try to get that e-mail for her too. Keep in mind, it's still snowing like a mother outside...
I tell the security man by the door that I'll be back and call my boyfriend immediately to start venting and complaining that I don't want to go outside in the snow and walk a few blocks. I really wouldn't have minded if it wasn't snowing and I wasn't carrying all my stuff that I brought up to Boston. I suck it up and go outside to find the FedEx that the concierge says is on Boylston. (You can make copies in the building but to print things from online has to be somewhere with a computer kiosk.) The Boylston location doesn't have the computer kiosks apparently, The Dartmouth St. one by the Fairmont does. Gr. I get there, print my e-mail, copy my passport and I'm on my way.
When I return to the Consulate, it's packed now. I took a second number and I try to wait patiently. I realize that this is taking much longer than I thought because everyone seems to not have everything they need and they try to argue their way out of having to come back and bring it in. We're all on the same boat. Tough. The person who was there before me returned and went straight to the window. So, I did the same since my papers were already reviewed. I pass in all my documents and pay the woman. Then she says, did you give me your passport before... Wait, what? I had the photocopy but now where was my passport? Oh em effin gee, Mistake #3: I realize I had left it in the copy machine at FedEx. Could I be more retarded? Of all things I had to lose, it had to be my passport. She tells me to call them immediately and run to go find it. Again, in the snow... I call and after getting the wrong place at first and hearing they can't find it... phew, they have it.
Another little problem. It is about 12:10 when I leave the office and I had to get back before 12:30 or the office would be closed until 2 pm. I was trying to catch a bus back to NY! I did not want to wait a few more hours doing nothing. After running my cold little butt off and sliding all over the place, I did make it back in time. The boyfriend freaks out when I call him about my 'lost' passport and tells me that people like to sell them for lots of money and that I should be really thankful that I was able to get it. I wasn't really in the mood to be thankful after all this trouble. Word of advice: try not to do that.
Hopefully, other people don't have stories like mine... but good luck. You can only prepare yourself so much and the rest is out of your control.
Things to know about getting your visa:
- The Boston office is open 9-12:30 and 2-5 but I don't know if they accept applications between 2-5.
- They will not make photocopies of anything for you but there is a machine downstairs in the building. Makes copies of everything 10 times before you get there... just in case.
- Try not to lose your passport in the process.
- Pick a day when it's not snowing marbles.
Things you really need:
- 2 application forms
- 3 photos (the passport kind)
- photocopies of your acceptance letters from the US and French University (they don't need the actual but bring those too... luckily I had made photocopies of these beforehand and had them with me)
- a photocopy of your passport AND your passport
- a notarized letter from your financial guarantor and their bank statement OR your own bank statement and it's supposed to have sufficient funds of at least $600 per month that you are going to be there
My friend who went to Australia did hers online. You can't imagine how jealous I was when I heard that. I don't want to do that whole visa thing again but I'm sure this isn't the last time. At least now I know... and yeah, that's just for a temporary long stay student visa... whatever that means...
[edit]: boo, the stains won't come out of my jacket. grr.
With less than 11 days to pack... I finally have something to definitely bring with me to France. My new France 2008 Guidebook by Fodor's. On a trip to Barnes & Noble with my little brother to find an SAT prep book, I found myself right next to the travel section. I remember our advisor telling us to pick one up but I totally neglected to put it on my list of things to get for the trip.