davetapson Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 (edited) Visa woes - as in 'whoas' not 'voos'. Although woes as well.My folks have been having a bit of a tough time of it in Grahamstown so decided to haul them out here for a bit of R&R. They applied for visas through vfs early Dec, sent in passports, got them back etc. Mean time I'd booked flights for 25 Jan. 23 Jan they get a email from INZ "We need more docs." (Including my birth cert. Which they have, we've just emigrated?!)Change flights to 16 Feb. Three weeks, how long can it take? INZ: "Oh, and this is the Beijing office of INZ and it's Chinese New Year so we'll be closed for a week and then I'm taking leave so I'll only be back on 7 Feb but send the forms by the due date (generally all responses to INZ have to be done within a week) or else." Then Corona virus. Office closed. Phone INZ "What's up?" "Office closed until Feb 17 - are picking up family and medical emergency visa's and processing them elsewhere." Me: "Office unlikely to be open 17 Feb. What then? " INZ: "Dunno, haven't been told."Time to change flights again. Changes are probably going to cost half again what the flights cost.Lesson learned: Get visa, book flights. Edited February 10, 2020 by davetapson
Dubber Posted February 10, 2020 Posted February 10, 2020 Visa woes - as in 'whoas' not 'voos'. Although woes as well. My folks have been having a bit of a tough time of it in Grahamstown so decided to haul them out here for a bit of R&R. They applied for visas through vfs early Dec, sent in passports, got them back etc. Mean time I'd booked flights for 25 Jan. 23 Jan they get a email from INZ "We need more docs." (Including my birth cert. Which they have, we've just emigrated?!) Change flights to 16 Feb. Three weeks, how long can it take? INZ: "Oh, and this is the Beijing office of INZ and it's Chinese New Year so we'll be closed for a week and then I'm taking leave so I'll only be back on 7 Feb but send the forms by the due date (generally all responses to INZ have to be done within a week) or else." Then Corona virus. Office closed. Phone INZ "What's up?" "Office closed until Feb 17 - are picking up family and medical emergency visa's and processing them elsewhere." Me: "Office unlikely to be open 17 Feb. What then? " INZ: "Dunno, haven't been told." Time to change flights again. Changes are probably going to cost half again what the flights cost. Lesson learned: Get visa, book flights. That is a real bummer. Will be worth it when the folks eventually make it out. Might not seem like it at the moment though.
WrightJnr Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 Visa woes - as in 'whoas' not 'voos'. Although woes as well. My folks have been having a bit of a tough time of it in Grahamstown so decided to haul them out here for a bit of R&R. They applied for visas through vfs early Dec, sent in passports, got them back etc. Mean time I'd booked flights for 25 Jan. 23 Jan they get a email from INZ "We need more docs." (Including my birth cert. Which they have, we've just emigrated?!) Change flights to 16 Feb. Three weeks, how long can it take? INZ: "Oh, and this is the Beijing office of INZ and it's Chinese New Year so we'll be closed for a week and then I'm taking leave so I'll only be back on 7 Feb but send the forms by the due date (generally all responses to INZ have to be done within a week) or else." Then Corona virus. Office closed. Phone INZ "What's up?" "Office closed until Feb 17 - are picking up family and medical emergency visa's and processing them elsewhere." Me: "Office unlikely to be open 17 Feb. What then? " INZ: "Dunno, haven't been told." Time to change flights again. Changes are probably going to cost half again what the flights cost. Lesson learned: Get visa, book flights. Frustrating for sure. However I’m not sure you can get a Visa without flights booked. Think it’s a requirement in the Visa application. Also, for future, when booking tickets check which class of economy. It’s those cheap and nasty ones that don’t allow changes. Sometimes for a few bob more you can book a better economy class ticket that will allow changes for free or minimal fee. Anyways, hope this story has a happy ending for you and the folks. Cheers.
patches Posted February 11, 2020 Posted February 11, 2020 Visa woes - as in 'whoas' not 'voos'. Although woes as well. My folks have been having a bit of a tough time of it in Grahamstown so decided to haul them out here for a bit of R&R. They applied for visas through vfs early Dec, sent in passports, got them back etc. Mean time I'd booked flights for 25 Jan. 23 Jan they get a email from INZ "We need more docs." (Including my birth cert. Which they have, we've just emigrated?!) Change flights to 16 Feb. Three weeks, how long can it take? INZ: "Oh, and this is the Beijing office of INZ and it's Chinese New Year so we'll be closed for a week and then I'm taking leave so I'll only be back on 7 Feb but send the forms by the due date (generally all responses to INZ have to be done within a week) or else." Then Corona virus. Office closed. Phone INZ "What's up?" "Office closed until Feb 17 - are picking up family and medical emergency visa's and processing them elsewhere." Me: "Office unlikely to be open 17 Feb. What then? " INZ: "Dunno, haven't been told." Time to change flights again. Changes are probably going to cost half again what the flights cost. Lesson learned: Get visa, book flights. Sorry man, that is Kay-aye-kay! I expected more from INZ! What sort of visa have you applied for? The Parental Visitors Visa (which allows stays of 6 months/year and is valid for 3yrs), or juts a regular visitors visa? If it's the parental one, perhaps that's why the process is so arduous. Would it then be possible to apply for a normal visitors visa and if your parents plan on staying for more than 3 months, then hopefully the parental one will come through during that time?!
davetapson Posted February 12, 2020 Posted February 12, 2020 (edited) What sort of visa have you applied for? The Parental Visitors Visa (which allows stays of 6 months/year and is valid for 3yrs), or juts a regular visitors visa? If it's the parental one, perhaps that's why the process is so arduous. Would it then be possible to apply for a normal visitors visa and if your parents plan on staying for more than 3 months, then hopefully the parental one will come through during that time?! Just normal visitors visa - just wanted a quick trip where they could fly out, sit for 6 weeks drinking tea on the deck and then back. They were kind of stressed and tired so I thought that doing all the Parental visa stuff (medicals etc) would be too much and the visitor visa would be fine. Getting a mail from INZ on 23 Jan when they were expecting to be getting on a plane on the 25th really knocked the stuffing out of them. They seem to have got over it tho, now it's just a waiting game... Edit: I'm going to suggest to them that they start the Parental Visa thing when they get back so that any time they feel like getting on a plane in the next three years they can. Depends on how they cope with this trip - my father is in his mid-80's. Edited February 12, 2020 by davetapson
davetapson Posted February 13, 2020 Posted February 13, 2020 One of my buddies is trying to entice me to do this - given that 'Wh' is pronounced 'F' I'm wondering about the name... https://www.whaka100.co.nz/index.html 100km (that doesn't worry me), 3200m ascent (given what I've seen of NZ, that worries me...)
Wayne Potgieter Posted February 13, 2020 Author Posted February 13, 2020 One of my buddies is trying to entice me to do this - given that 'Wh' is pronounced 'F' I'm wondering about the name... https://www.whaka100.co.nz/index.html 100km (that doesn't worry me), 3200m ascent (given what I've seen of NZ, that worries me...) Do it. Do it for fun - dont race it just complete it and have a laugh. Or do the 50km now and the 100 next year.
Saag Posted February 13, 2020 Posted February 13, 2020 One of my buddies is trying to entice me to do this - given that 'Wh' is pronounced 'F' I'm wondering about the name... https://www.whaka100.co.nz/index.html 100km (that doesn't worry me), 3200m ascent (given what I've seen of NZ, that worries me...)I have done all the ultra marathon stuff back in SA, and I am really scared of this thing[emoji3064]. Do it and let us know if you survived [emoji16]. I look at it every year, and then my courage runs out....
canfan Posted February 13, 2020 Posted February 13, 2020 I have done all the ultra marathon stuff back in SA, and I am really scared of this thing[emoji3064]. Do it and let us know if you survived [emoji16]. I look at it every year, and then my courage runs out....Same here. This thing is a beast. I know a couple of really strong riders that have ended up taking 7-9 hours to complete the Whaka 100. The 50 definitely seems more like it could be fun but still challenging. Saag 1
davetapson Posted February 13, 2020 Posted February 13, 2020 (edited) Do it. Do it for fun - dont race it just complete it and have a laugh. Or do the 50km now and the 100 next year. I have done all the ultra marathon stuff back in SA, and I am really scared of this thing[emoji3064]. Do it and let us know if you survived [emoji16]. I look at it every year, and then my courage runs out.... Same here. This thing is a beast. I know a couple of really strong riders that have ended up taking 7-9 hours to complete the Whaka 100. The 50 definitely seems more like it could be fun but still challenging. Deal. Let's do it then... Edited February 13, 2020 by davetapson Saag and Wayne Potgieter 2
mazambaan Posted February 13, 2020 Posted February 13, 2020 Who is up for the NZ "Epic". Not me but my Sani partner's son has done it a few times and reckons it to be tough; technical and chilly. Saag 1
Saag Posted February 13, 2020 Posted February 13, 2020 Who is up for the NZ "Epic". Not me but my Sani partner's son has done it a few times and reckons it to be tough; technical and chilly.Must be the Pioneer (NZ). Looks amazing and relatively affordable. RossW 1
Saag Posted February 13, 2020 Posted February 13, 2020 Deal. Let's do it then... Haha, nice try....you first. davetapson 1
canfan Posted February 13, 2020 Posted February 13, 2020 Must be the Pioneer (NZ). Looks amazing and relatively affordable.The Epic is this one: https://www.lakehaweaepic.co.nz/ I have heard it's also super tough. Saag 1
davetapson Posted February 13, 2020 Posted February 13, 2020 (edited) Who is up for the NZ "Epic". Not me but my Sani partner's son has done it a few times and reckons it to be tough; technical and chilly. That's what my buddy was first trying to get me to do - maybe the Whaka is the easy way out... But this is on the bucket list... As well as Lake Hawea - another buddy did it last year and said it was awesome. Edited February 13, 2020 by davetapson Saag 1
Saag Posted February 13, 2020 Posted February 13, 2020 The Epic is this one: https://www.lakehaweaepic.co.nz/ I have heard it's also super tough.I recall this one now. Remember looking at the 160km version, also on the bucket list.
Recommended Posts
Create an account or sign in to comment
You need to be a member in order to leave a comment
Create an account
Sign up for a new account. It's easy!
Register a new accountSign in
Already have an account? Sign in here.
Sign In Now