What a terrible week of running back and forth to the embassy.  It just should not be this difficult.

Now, it started out being my own fault.  I read what all I needed to have with me, and it included the certificate issued from my recent medical exam.  I knew I’d need the report when I got back to Shanghai, so I left it there.  Wrong move.  Even with my certificate, the embassy in Singapore wanted to see the original report.  OK.  Call FedEx.  It was on the way, and…. got stuck at customs in Guangzhou.  Ugh.

That meant a day of rushing here and there, getting the report the minute it got off the plane (and thankfully FedEx was incredibly helpful with this).  I had to get everything to the embassy before it closed for applications at 11:30 am.  Yes, that’s right — the ridiculously early hour of 11:30.  Well, when I got there, I found that this sort of application is not open for the rush service that the normal visa is.  And, with my air tickets already bought for a return to Shanghai over the weekend, I couldn’t wait the extra time demanded without the rush service.  Ugh again.  But… at least the lady serving me in the queue at the embassy was very kind-hearted, and she pulled some strings to get that rush service made available to me.

And so, after 3 trips to the embassy, countless phone calls, trips to the FedEx office at the airport, and loads of help from lots of nice people…. it is done.

I just hope nothing holds the rest of the process up when I get back to Shanghai.