Blurry cameraphone pictures ahoy!
Here's how I got a Chinese visa:
I spent two full Saturdays trying to understand the several official websites with their broken links, contradictory information, and bizarre file formats (.mht? Really?), gathering documentation, booking accommodation, looking up train numbers and filling in forms. I listed all of the countries I'd visited recently, gave them my health insurance number, a list of "major family members", details of my previous visit to China, the countries I'd been to in the last year. I asserted that I didn't have infectious pulmonary tuberculosis or a major mental disorder.
I spent a couple of hours fighting the application form, which is an editable pdf file that can't be saved along the way. It's not ok to complete this form in pen; you have to type the answers, and the fields are so small that it's like twitter: you have to carefully choose words to make the information fit. Because the Chinese embassy in New York is famously chaotic and persnickety, I used an agent that gives a company discount. I brought the whole packet (in duplicate; 34 pages total!) to an office on 42nd Street and gave it to an employee there.
Effort: Two and a half days, without ever going near the embassy.
Cost: $204
Here's how I got a Mongolian visa.
I searched for the embassy's website and found clear directions about what I needed to do, as well as useful information about Mongolian currency, electrical current and climate. ("It is advised that you bring a warm sweater and a raincoat along with a sun glasses and hat.", they note.) I filled out the one page form in pen, put it in an envelope with a passport photograph, and dropped it off at the Permanent Mission of Mongolia to the United Nations at 77th Street. I rang the doorbell and stood in a cool lobby while a man in business casual skimmed through my form. "Come back on Tuesday", he said. When I did, he greeted me at the door by name. He didn't quite invite me in for a glass of
airag and a chat about the deficit, but it was close. We had a pleasant conversation. Did I know Mongolia was going to be cold in October? Yes, after the last week I was quite looking forward to it. He had added a few days on either side of my dates just in case my plans changed. I said that was very kind. He wished me a pleasant trip. He asked if I'd paid when I dropped off the forms, and I said no and gave him $30.
Effort: Two hours, counting the bike round trips and stopping off at the post office for a money order.
Cost: $30
It's only fair to note that US citizens don't need a visa to visit Mongolia, so the embassy doesn't see a lot of traffic. Still, score one for Mongolian diplomacy.
Russia next. Any bets on how it'll compare?
36 days. No word on my green card.
