Yue’s Yappings

My ticket to Seoul was delivered early, at 9:30am. Then it was back to the US Embassy, for the 5th time. By now the guards know me on a first name basis and let me in quickly. After I showed my airline ticket, miracle of all miracles, I was issued a temporary passport in less than 1 hour. Leaving, I showed my passport to the guards who all wished me luck.

After leaving embassy, I headed straight to China Exit/Entry Bureau. I went up to the Visa section for foreigners. Then I waited, and waited, and waited. Two hours later it was finally my turn. I handed over all the documents and explained what happened and that I needed a visa to leave China to Seoul in a few days. The girl helping me replied that she could only issue me a tourist visa and not a business Visa. That means that I could leave to Seoul, but would not be able to come back to China. Which of course doesn’t work, because my return trip to the US leaves from Shangahi.

I explained this to her, but she told me that it was standard policy. The best I could do was go to the Chinese Embassy in Seoul and try to get an entry visa back to China. I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. The China Exit/Entry Bureau wasn’t going to issue me a visa that allowed me back to China.

As usual, in my time of need, Jane showed up. She was going to have nothing to do with the bureaucratic run around and immediately asked to speak to the chief of the China Exit/Entry Bureau. And succeeded.

So now we explained the entire situation to him. Luckily, he was very nice and sympathetic. He retrieved my application and changed my tourist visa to a single entry business visa, so I can come back to China from Seoul. Just one hitch, it will take 3 days for to get my visa which means I have to change my ticket to leave to Seoul from next Monday to Tuesday.

Hooray! After 3 days of hard work and so much help from all my friends, I finally have a passport and almost have my visa replaced. I am so thankful to my friends China, without them I fear I would have been stuck in Shanghai forever!

So from a seasoned travel veteran, here’s my advice to US travelers in foreign countries:

1. Keep a photo copy of your passport, leave it home or take it with you when travel
2. When traveling, leave your passport at hotel, don’t take it with you
3. When your wallet or passport is stolen, file a police report immediately, you will need it at the embassy

Better yet, don’t lose your passport.