Oh Me, Oh My
You guessed it. Grounded again. Here is a portion of the email we received this morning from the Sri Lankan folks at CUSO-VSO:
Dear Wendy
I am writing to give an update on the visa situation here in Sri Lanka. You will be aware that for a long time there has been a complex process for obtaining visas for volunteers and staff. At times, the granting of visas happened very close to planned travel dates of volunteers, which was particularly stressful for the individuals traveling. However, except when trying to fill placements in “high security” areas, we have been successful in getting the visas through on time.
Over the past three months the government has been instituting a new process for visas, which involves obtaining security clearance before the granting of visas. Previously, visas were granted and the clearance applied for after arrival. Unfortunately, this new process is proving to be a lengthy one. There is no way to speed this up, though we had meetings today with relevant government authorities to get the most up to date news and advice.
We currently have 11 people at various stages of the entry visa process. Although your papers are in the process, we have been informed that it is likely to take another 4-5 weeks before security clearance is granted. This means that it will not be possible to keep to the planned entry date of 26 October. Rather than setting another date which might have to change again, we will contact you and your Volunteer Placement Advisor as soon as we have the approved security clearance and are submitting the papers to the visa authorities. This part of the process has not changed and volunteers are usually able to enter the country around two weeks after these papers are lodged.
I realise that this news will be disappointing and very frustrating. Please be assured that we are doing all we can on this end to meet the government requirements and allow you to start the important work of your placements.
***************************************
We both cried. For a long time. We are very disappointed. It feels like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. We want to go to volunteer, but can’t. We want our homes back, but can’t as we have signed lease agreements. We want to secure a temporary home, but in doing so, it means yet another move for us. We could stop the process, but alternatively, we relinquish this opportunity to serve/work/live in another country. In my tears, I realized that I miss my house as it is a place to gather my family and friends, I miss my routines, and I miss my work.
Once we settled, we called our advisor, Nana Osei, in Ottawa. He agreed that, given the evidence of four delayed departures, it was time to seek elsewhere in the world for a suitable placement (one where the need of a country matches our skills and abilities). He is, however, prepared to do this in concert with the continuing hope that, in the meantime, the visas will come through from Sri Lanka. Therefore, we will take the first available placement that can offer us a visa. We have learned that a visa in hand is much better than a visa in the bush. However, it appears highly unlikely that any placement will get us out of country before January or February 2011.
On the bright side of this whole thing, Shirley and Mike Fell kindly loaned us a massive propane heater which blasts heat into the cabin so quickly, it might be possible to stay at our cabin for another month. So far it hasn’t been very uncomfortable, but the snow was on the top of Greenstone Mountain and the Dew Drop Mountains this morning, so morning frost lurks. Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep were grazing in our driveway this morning, making for lovely morning coffee conversations and photography. We see large herds? flocks? groups? of 50 or so sheep each day coming and going to and from the lake. At least a dozen huge rams are rutting and having their way with the ewes in the area. See the short video clip attached of the sheep captured on my video camera this morning.
Dear Wendy
I am writing to give an update on the visa situation here in Sri Lanka. You will be aware that for a long time there has been a complex process for obtaining visas for volunteers and staff. At times, the granting of visas happened very close to planned travel dates of volunteers, which was particularly stressful for the individuals traveling. However, except when trying to fill placements in “high security” areas, we have been successful in getting the visas through on time.
Over the past three months the government has been instituting a new process for visas, which involves obtaining security clearance before the granting of visas. Previously, visas were granted and the clearance applied for after arrival. Unfortunately, this new process is proving to be a lengthy one. There is no way to speed this up, though we had meetings today with relevant government authorities to get the most up to date news and advice.
We currently have 11 people at various stages of the entry visa process. Although your papers are in the process, we have been informed that it is likely to take another 4-5 weeks before security clearance is granted. This means that it will not be possible to keep to the planned entry date of 26 October. Rather than setting another date which might have to change again, we will contact you and your Volunteer Placement Advisor as soon as we have the approved security clearance and are submitting the papers to the visa authorities. This part of the process has not changed and volunteers are usually able to enter the country around two weeks after these papers are lodged.
I realise that this news will be disappointing and very frustrating. Please be assured that we are doing all we can on this end to meet the government requirements and allow you to start the important work of your placements.
***************************************
We both cried. For a long time. We are very disappointed. It feels like being stuck between a rock and a hard place. We want to go to volunteer, but can’t. We want our homes back, but can’t as we have signed lease agreements. We want to secure a temporary home, but in doing so, it means yet another move for us. We could stop the process, but alternatively, we relinquish this opportunity to serve/work/live in another country. In my tears, I realized that I miss my house as it is a place to gather my family and friends, I miss my routines, and I miss my work.
Once we settled, we called our advisor, Nana Osei, in Ottawa. He agreed that, given the evidence of four delayed departures, it was time to seek elsewhere in the world for a suitable placement (one where the need of a country matches our skills and abilities). He is, however, prepared to do this in concert with the continuing hope that, in the meantime, the visas will come through from Sri Lanka. Therefore, we will take the first available placement that can offer us a visa. We have learned that a visa in hand is much better than a visa in the bush. However, it appears highly unlikely that any placement will get us out of country before January or February 2011.
On the bright side of this whole thing, Shirley and Mike Fell kindly loaned us a massive propane heater which blasts heat into the cabin so quickly, it might be possible to stay at our cabin for another month. So far it hasn’t been very uncomfortable, but the snow was on the top of Greenstone Mountain and the Dew Drop Mountains this morning, so morning frost lurks. Rocky Mountain Bighorn sheep were grazing in our driveway this morning, making for lovely morning coffee conversations and photography. We see large herds? flocks? groups? of 50 or so sheep each day coming and going to and from the lake. At least a dozen huge rams are rutting and having their way with the ewes in the area. See the short video clip attached of the sheep captured on my video camera this morning.
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