Leigh in Azerbaijan

Today was the big day of fronting up to get my Residence Visa at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which also covers refugees, illegal immigrants and those being expelled.

Canan and I were driven by an ‘office boy’ (a grown man) into the city, who then waited the hours some blocks away until we were finished. (There seem to be quite a number of office boys who chauffeur people to necessary official places)

After the not unusual security screening and showing of passport we got into the compound and then went up to the next level via a dingy stairwell and into a smallish long room with lots of waiting people in a smallish long corridoor. I was encouraged as Canan was greeted warmly by a number of people who were obviously interested in her large pregnant swelling. On walking behind a counter and entering an official’s room the waiting began. There was much talking and catching up (I’m reading body language here) and much comings and goings of officials and citizens coming cap in hand to have friends or employees witnessed as existing. In Turkey they have to see you to be convinced you exist. Eventually we went to another room where I signed another document and the magical Residence Visa was pulled out of a cabinet. Fortunately one of the office boys  had taken in my application previously and had done the necessary waiting to submit it. Every time there’s a visa to be obtained the same process has to be endured. Canan said that today was quite straight forward compared to some days.

We left school at 9am, missing various lessons, and arrived back at 12.30pm. It was an education but I’d rather be in the classroom.

The next step is to get the Work Visa from Ankara but thankfully I won’t need to go. Another school admin officer will need to however. Ankara is something up to four hours away.