The Highest Levels
Wherein our narrator gets a spot of news, and
learns nothing of any value.
I've just heard from Peter Giles, my sponsor at
AFTRS. Here's what he had to
say:
Mark,
had
an update from Canberra Immigration. They say it's highly irregular for
this
process to take so long - also
asked why we didn't do an online application
as
they are generally faster (from my
recollection, because I was sponsoring
you
this wasn't an option for
us).
Anyway, they are chasing it
up with Washington - I've forwarded copies of
all
the documents to them. I'll let you
know as soon as I hear any
more.
Peter
So
there it is. I've firing off shots into the dark of the Australian Embassy in
Washington DC, and Peter is being told that this never should have taken as long
as it has. I presume inquiries are being made. Constantly. But I have no
proof of it. And its interesting to note that Canberra said we could have
handled this all on-line. Because we couldn't. This isn't a tourist visa, this
is a long-stay business visa, and has to be approved by the Australian Embassy.
Or so we have been led to believe.
I
have this weird, nagging suspicion that the Australian Embassy actually sent
everything back via USPS and it's sitting on a table in my home, waiting for me
to open it up. If that happens, I'll be very chagrined - because who knows how
long it's been there. Of course, this could only be true if the Embassy ignored
the FedEx packaging I conveniently sent along for the return of my visa &
passport. And since the tracking number hasn't been activated, I really don't
know what to say. Perhaps the Embassy doesn't use FedEx, and doesn't know how
to send a FedEx package? That seems incredibly unlikely - particularly since
they probably do lots of business in America - but it is
possible.
I don't know. I could run
this scenario any of a thousand different ways, and always come up with
confusing answers. I don't know that there are any answers, or that any will
ever be offered to my satisfaction. Only that everyone is confused - including
myself.
And what else is there to say?
Right now, nothing.
Posted: Mon - October 6, 2003 at 07:19 PM