Stewart 5

We stay in South Africa on a visitor’s visa as volunteers. Each year, we turn in a renewal application and they give us a one-year extension. Each time, these expire on April 30th.

In mid-April, we turned in our renewal forms. They said, “check back in 30 days.” Fine. So, when we came back at the end of May, they told us, “not done. We’re working on the applications from FEBRUARY right now.” Problem. We are leaving the country June 8. Melissa tells them this. So, they say, come back on June 1 and bring a copy of your tickets, maybe we can speed up the process.

Arthur goes in June 1 – not ready. So, I mention about how we are leaving, I have our tickets, etc. and they give me a referral to go




upstairs and see one of the supervisors. This is good. I put my name on the list upstairs, a couple of minutes later I see the supervisor and explain the situation. He writes down my name, the fact that we are leaving on the 8th, and says, “come back Friday.” Good sign!

I come in Friday – June 2. Note, we are leaving the country in 6 days! Go upstairs. LONG list. It’s 8am and I am number 11 on the list. But the guy was cool the other day, should be no problem. WRONG. First, the guy doesn’t come in until 9am. Second, he then has a meeting until 10:30. At 11:00, he calls in person number 1 from the list.

At 2:45pm (yes, I have been there for 6.75 hours – missing the entire last day of the road trip we are hosting, no less), I am called in. Is my paperwork ready? No. Has he even looked at it? No. Has anyone? No. At least he had our paperwork in a pile on his floor. “When are you leaving?” Next Thursday. “OK. Come back Tuesday.”

Tuesday is tomorrow. We leave the country on Thursday. Will it be ready? Will anyone have even looked at our applications, much less made a decision? Let’s hope so.