I’ve been putting off writing this post because it is a post I do not particularly want to write because I keep thinking, maybe tomorrow. Maybe tomorrow we’ll get the long-awaited good news from the Portugal Consulate. But, then I thought, maybe if I write the post it will cause it to happen. Cause and effect.
Weary of Waiting
I am tired of waiting. And I am tired of writing about waiting. And I’m tired of being tired about waiting and writing about being tired. That’s a lot of tired.
Let Us In!
There’s been a glitch. Wouldn’t you know it? Born out of frustration we (and by we I mostly mean me) couldn’t take it anymore so we hopped on the metro, rode it to downtown Washington, DC and buzzed the entrance gate at the Portugal Consulate. An ominous voice asked, “Do you have an appointment?” “No, we do not but we are here about our visas.” That was my polite reply but what I really wanted to say was, “Let us in I can’t take it anymore!”
Cautiously Optimistic
Long story short we were told that it should be any day now, that it’s very busy, only so many office personnel, yada, yada, yada. But, we left cautiously optimistic that by Friday, the 23rd, we’d be good to go. Side Note: When it is 12:00 noon on the east coast of the US, it is 5:00 p.m. in Portugal and the work day is done. Given that the Portugal consulate in Washington, DC opens at 9:00 a.m. there are only three precious nail-biting hours in each day in which we may get word.
By 11:00 a.m. on the Friday after we stormed the castle visited the Portugal consulate, we knew it wasn’t going to happen – again – and that we’d be moving in to week nine. Once again completely frustrated and ready to throw in the towel I called the consulate and managed to get through to Doris (not her real name), and that’s when we learned about the glitch.
The Glitch
The day before – Thursday, the 22nd – the immigration office in Portugal contacted Doris to notify her that our applications were incomplete, that we were missing two documents. Doris, knowing this was not the case, immediately sent the documents again. Crestfallen upon hearing this I asked Doris what this meant; are we back on the bottom of the pile? She said, somewhat halfheartedly, “I don’t think so.” But, she promised to call us as soon as they came in. It should be noted that had I not called, we would not have known about the glitch.
Nine Weeks & Counting
So, here we are, two days shy of nine weeks of waiting. We submitted our applications on April 26 and at that time we were asked to list a departure date from the US. We wrote, June 1, and Doris told us the date should not present a problem. As I write this it is June 26. We have no idea if our applications are back on the bottom of the pile. Or, if they’ve been moved to a whole new pile of “incompleto” applications. Abi has suggested that perhaps last Thursday when our application was picked up for review, it still needed to go through the approval process. Whatever that process is and however long that takes. It could be that we may be in the “incompleto” pile, still waiting to go through the approval process.
Patience is a Virtue
I don’t know what the universe is trying to teach me in all of this. If it’s patience I’m failing miserably. Although this should come as no surprise to anyone who knows me well. What I do realize – even in my worst impatient moments – is that in the big picture, this achingly long wait with little communication from the powers-to-be who hold our applications in their “incompleto” pile, is that I am exceedingly grateful for this life I live. At a time when so many in the world are working their way through the immigration process, I know that I have choices when others desperately in need, do not.
I’ve always believed that everything happens for a reason… maybe tomorrow.
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“Maybe tomorrow” is as good as any other mantra to hang onto while you wait for the paper pushers to move your application (hopefully ALL of it) from pile A to pile B and do whatever magic they’re tasked with that will move you on to your future plans. Frustration and limited patience aside, the wait will soon be over. We’re keeping our fingers (and toes) crossed here in Portugal that you’ll hear some good news SOON.
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This set-back must be especially frustrating with your departure date looming near. It is hard to have patience when someone else is controlling your dreams. Best of luck.
Oh boy, that’s the truth! Especially or those of us who like to be in control! 🙂
Well… lucky that you are determined and persistent, if not patient. Or otherwise you would never have found out about the glitch. Good luck and hope you get good news soon.
Peta
In the meantime, I guess you’re powerless to commit to a living situation here or there. I hope you receive good news very soon.
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Oh how awful! I don’t think I could take the waiting. I’d go insane. There’s nothing worse than bureaucracy and the “unknowns”. Keeping my fingers crossed for you.
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I can feel your pain. I’ll share my own story as a way to cheer you up. June 8, 2016, I applied for my Canadian pension. A month ago I visited a Services Canada centre in person to make enquiries. I was handed a telephone and told to call a long-distance number. A woman answered the phone. She said, “yes, a year does seem like a long time. Hang on (for 20 minutes) while I check into it.” When she came back she said, “Yes, we have your application. We’re waiting to make a decision. Would you like to stay on the line while I send an email to speed the process along?” So, I did. I heard her typing. She told me “they have 10 days to get back to you. Come back to the office and phone again, if you haven’t heard anything.” That was almost a month ago. No word yet and I haven’t gone back. Bureaucrats are the same everywhere. They will do things whenever they feel like it. Evidently, there are no repercussions and you are never given a name to follow-up with. I hope your process moves along a little faster than mine. Sending you good wishes. I look forward to hearing your travel stories!
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It will happen, perhaps manana. I too am terrible at waiting especially for the “powers to be”. Hang in there.
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