Your Visa is Being Processed!

I just received news that my visa is going to be processed on July first. The consulate said that they were making a special arrangement for me... which I was very happy for. It still isn't that convenient, all that means is that I get to go to Chicago on June 30 on an overnight bus, pick up my visa, and then turn around and take another overnight bus back to Minneapolis. I am sure my i-pod and my new Napoleon book will keep me company. I haven't been to Chicago during the summer for a long time, so it should be fun. If I have some free moments (doubtful) I want to go check out millennium park. Like always, I'll keep you updated!

Update on the Visa Process

Well, I am already running up against South American bureaucratic nightmares. I was planning on backpacking in Peru, Bolivia, and the north of Chile. I need a visa to enter Bolivia and, of course, I need my student visa to study in Chile. On the Bolivian Embassy website it said that when they receive your visa application they will issue the visa within twenty four hours. This is much different from the Chilean process. The Chilean Consulate in Chicago makes you come personally and pick up your visa in Chicago. I was getting low on time, so I thought I would start by sending my application, passport, etc. to the Bolivian Embassy in Washington DC. After not hearing from them for two weeks, I called them and they told me that they were out of visa stickers and that it would be two to three weeks before I would get my visa. I was quite upset and knowing that I must get my Chilean visa, I asked them to send my materials back to them. 

Currently, my passport is on its way to the Chilean Consulate in Chicago. I am hoping that everything goes off well and I can go pick it up and still leave on the 4th of July. We will see I guess. My current backup plan is to reschedule my flight for a week later. I hope this doesn't cost to much, but there really isn't much I can do.

I'll keep you updated. It should be fun! Just think how much I am learning about diplomacy and embassy work. :-)

Address in Chile

My address while in Chile will be:

Matthew John Eldred

COPA

Diagonal Paraguay 265

Oficina 1706

Santiago

Chile