Hong Kong Visa trip

I am going to post this trip in pieces. I want to separate the bad from the good.

Part 1

The Bad.

You are going to need to refer to this map throughout the "bad" part of the experience. Note the Airport, the Central/Hong Kong stops and the Wan Chai stop.  They are all on the lower half of the map. Also, note where the large Buddha is in the bottom left corner, that was our Friday.

To ride the Airport line all the way into Hong Kong is 28 minutes, just for time reference.

Now begins our journey.
Join me along the long path that is the trip for our Visa Z (Residency Visa).


The journey began months ago when we were asked to move to China. We then had to gather a number of documents. I put together copies of our birth certificates, marriage license, and college diplomas. When we went to China in March we did part 2, we'll call it. The health exam. We got that back. Here is what it looks like:

There are three pages each plus an 8 page booklet.

We passed this test. We have no contagious diseases.

We entered China on travel visas the past two times. You can only stay for 30 days at at time on this visa. So we needed to leave the country before May 15 and re-enter with a new visa. So we traveled down to Hong Kong.

To get a visa from the Chinese Government, as an American (we are special like that), we had to get it from a Chinese Consulate outside of Mainland China. We should have done this while in the US, but the time got short. Just another lesson learned.

We knew where the building was. It was just off the Wan Chai (see above) stop on the blue line. We had hoped to get to the Consulate before 9:30. We woke up at 8:45 and had to get ready. When we got down to the lobby we bought the tickets to Hong Kong Disneyland, as we were hoping to be there by about noon, maybe a little later.

We got out of the hotel at about 10. Okay, we can work with this. Daniel, where is the paperwork? Dangit. Back in, get it.

On our way. (We stayed in the Marriott Sky Harbor, by the airport.)

We got on the train and realized we were out of money on our octopus card (a RFID chipped card used for the metro and in many restaurants.) So we had to add cash. The trip to Hong Kong station was HK$95. Expensive. We walked underground for like half a mile, I swear, and got on the blue line to Wan Chai, two stops.

(Now 11:20)

When we got off we had to figure out which exit to take. There isn't just one for each side of the street. There are like 15. We followed the map and ended up on a raised walkway that got us right there. Sort of. We ended up walking a figure 8 around the exact building we needed, because the signs were confusing. We got down to ground level and had to go around the corner. Through security (toss the crackers - can't take food in.)

Level 7 and it looks like a more functional version of the DMV. Get a number. But before you can get a number you have to fill out this application, both sides. We thought that was already done. Okay.

Dangit. Who is our inviter? We call Daniel's assistant. She tells us to put Paul Tsao. We get his address and phone number. Get the address of the factory. Get our number and sit down. It's 253.

 They are on 197. Great.  That's gonna take forever. Not really. In about 15 minutes they are at 230. Let's check our paperwork. What happened to our pictures? Oh my gosh Daniel, where are the pictures we just had? Gone. Nowhere to be found. Not in any garbage, on any counter, not handed in. Lovely. Dangit. It's our turn. Where can we get our picture taken? There's a photo booth that does sets of six photos for HK$40 (US$5). Great. Do it. It won't take the money. 10 times. Then it does. Done.

Gorgeous, I know.
Awesome. The lady cuts them for us. Now, get another number. What? It's time for lunch?(Lunch is from 12-2) Please, let me get a number? Here - have the last one. Thank you!!! It's 281. Great. Sit down.

Daniel: "I hope I don't need my old passport with the active visa in it."
Ashley: "Don't say that. As soon as you asked about the photos, we lost them. Don't say anything about the passport, or we'll need it. It's back at the hotel and that would make me cry."

#281:
Desk 5: "Where are your photo copies?"
Daniel: "What photo copies?"
Desk 5: "The ones of your medical records. You need to give us the photo copy."
Daniel: "Where can we do that."
Desk 5: "By the photo booth. Where is your passport with the visa?"
Ashley: "d*%$^*t!"
Daniel: "I don't have it."
Desk 5: "You can come back after lunch. You don't have to queue, just come up to desk 5."
Commence Ashley's tears. It's now 12:30. We have to take the 45 minute ride back to the hotel to bring them the last piece of paper. I started tearing up as we waited for the elevator. This was supposed to take half an hour, not half a day. I need food.

There is a McDonald's on the way back to the station. Finally, food. I never thought I would turn to McDonald's first. But they are good here. And when you are upset, familiar food is the best thing to do quickly. Plus, we didn't eat breakfast and we were getting weak kneed.

Back to the Hotel. Ashley's done walking. I'll wait here while Daniel runs in. Awesome. 19 minutes later we get on the next train leaving. Sit down and the doors shut. Perfect timing. And we're back.

We still have to make 6 copies of our health document. We were not prepared for this because the Chinese Consulate in San Francisco wanted originals. These guys want photo copies. Grr. There is a line for the copier. You can only make one copy per transaction. One coin, one copy. It only takes HK$1 coins. Cashier to exchange HK$2 into 1's. We finally get them done.

By now it's 3:30. Yes. 3:30. Today sucks. My feet hurt. We walk in and Desk 5 has the curtain down. We march up there anyway and knock on her window. Up it comes. In go the papers. Rush. Pick up Tomorrow about 3.

AND WE'RE DONE!!!! Finally.

Let's go to Disneyland. Yay. Back out on the orange line to the Pink. And to Disneyland we go.
Tomorrow's post.