Turning a blind eye to visas

Published May 23, 2011

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It could have been such fun, sneaking into a country between the legs of bellowing cattle. In South America, I found myself in a tricky situation crossing from Ecuador to Peru. My intention was to apply for a visa at the border, but the relevant official was away for several days. Having chosen a really remote crossing, it meant there was no one else to do the honours.

Eventually the border guards – tired of me arriving every day, enquiring whether the man with the all-important stamp had returned yet – suggested that I cross in one of the cattle trucks which plied that route. They would turn a blind eye, they said, and I could then apply for a visa once I was inside Peru.

Fortunately the honorary consul returned in time to save me from such a stupid move. Had I followed the advice of the officials at this remote crossing point, I might have been thrown into jail in Peru for an illegal crossing.

At another crossing, on the other side of the world, I found it paid to have a suspicious nature.

I had applied for a Vietnamese visa in Singapore. The clerk at the consulate assured me it was indeed a double-entry visa which he had placed in my passport. Not convinced, I checked with a Vietnamese man standing in the queue outside.

Luckily he also spoke impeccable English. “This is definitely only for a single entry into Vietnam,” he said. On the warpath, I hastened back to challenge the clerk, dragging my expert on visas along with me. The two men argued a bit, then the official studied my passport rather sulkily. This formidable Western woman, so rudely towering outside his counter window, was perhaps best placated.

He had misunderstood my request, he bleated, but would ensure I got the right visa, at no extra charge.

Had I not checked, I could have landed in the same situation as a British traveller at the airport in Cambodia. Having crossed into Cambodia from Vietnam on holiday, he was now trying to fly back to Ho Chi Min City, but could not board because he had the dreaded single-entry visa. All his pleas fell on deaf ears, and the hapless man had to wait three days in Cambodia (without money) as it was the start of a three-day public holiday, before having the error corrected.

Careful what you wish for. He told me on his way to the airport he had thought how wonderful it would be if he could stay for longer in Cambodia – with money of course. - Sunday Tribune

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