Bureaucacy

Office for Estrangres, after hours. 

Last Friday I get my paperwork together and wine to to the immigration office in Nice. The paperwork that the embassy in SF gave me was all the wrong info. Fortunately, I spoke to a very nice woman that told me that I have to come in to the immigration office, wait in line and apply for an upgraded visa. This is something that you have to do...but I had no idea. 

It was a rainy, gloomy day. I found the place easy enough...thank god for small favors. From the parking garage I could see the big crowd of people waiting to get in. I was there when the doors opened. I followed the herd and lined up under the correct sign. There must have been 150 people on front of me. You can't see what goes on at the end of the line, so you just have to wait. I was in line with all kinds of people. Most people were accompanied by some one. There were 2 Russian girls behind me. Next to me was a very pushy peasant type woman and her husband. 

I waited for 3 hours until I finially got to the window....they asked to see my papers, making sure I had all the necessary paperwork. Then, they give you a number. It's like the DMV but about 100 times worse. At least this point you can sit down. You wait for your number to be called and you go to the window it says on the TV screen. 

When my number was called, I went window 8 . The woman seemed Nice...40's, blonde, big heavy glasses, a scarf. When I gave her my papers, she balked and said that I'd did not have them all. I had everything that was asked for on the paperwork from the embassy. I even had extra paperwork...

But, I was missing my birth certificate and a copy of every page of my passport. Also, my pictures were not useable as you have to have your hair off your forehead or Paris will not accept.

I was a little upset. I showed her what I was given as far as instructions ...but, she crossed her arms, pushed back from the desk and turned away from me....no ifs and or buts. It was very very rude. I stumbled out of the room and was a bit shocked. How is it that everyone else was getting it right?

I went out to the front desk where the sweet looking women are ...and tried to speak to a very nice sympathetic woman. She referred me to her boss, who speaks English...

She straightened me out. I had to get new pics taken...there are 3 passport pic machines in the building. I had to go home and get my birth certificate and copy every page of my passport.

The open period ends at 12.... You can go back in from 1-2:30 if you have your number. The woman had taken my number. You have to go back to the same person. The tall boss woman went and got my ticket for me. It was so nice of her.

I rushed home...about 15 miles, in the rain...and copied and got my birth certificate. I ran back to the office ( it's a big place)  with all that I needed...including new pictures after a tussle with the passport photo machine. It seems that a 2 euro piece fits exactly into the rerun button circle....I could not get it out. You have to buy crappy coffee to get change. I had 2 goes with the picture machine...but 5 euro for 6 pictures is pretty good. In the states it was 3 pictures for $20 plus.

I ran back to the office. There were just a few people the at this point.

First I had to but 368 euro work of ticket to pay for my Carte. Then I went to the waiting room. 

I sat, patiently and waited for my woman to come back from lunch. There were 10 windows and only 3 were still open. No line anymore. I waited and waited. Finially I went up to a window with another woman...She said NOOOOOO, no, she would not help me...when I tried to explain that I had a number, she lowered her blinds in her window with a big crash. I was stunned. I staggerred back into the waiting area and fought back the tears. I didn't know what to do.

Luckily, there was a black island like woman who was causing a big commotion at another window. By Island like I mean she was very black and had a very deep and melodic French accent. She was all dressed up in a suit, but she was mighty mad. She could not get her card for some reason and was besides herself, yelling and pacing and not giving up.

My woman's blind opened and she motioned me over. The ranting woman was right next to me, pacing , yelling behind me. I think this is just the ticket to getting your papers signed quickly here. You have a crazy person behind you, you look very sane, the worker wants to get through you paper work and close their blind. That was just what happenned. I put my hard rimmed Gucci glasses on to hide the tears and sat there like quiet as a mouse...Voila! here is your temporary card..The blind went down

and I was thankfully out of there. The woman continued to rant.

Down the hall I saw the gate where the unwanted etrangers are kept. The afternoon is for them. I think their family ques up to get to them, to help them. It almost makes me appreciate my etranger line...almost.

I was nervous about taking pictures so the ones you see here are on the sly. 

Immigration