In Visa-ville, it's all about who you know

My husband was in Singapore for a two-week project, so I planned to take my daughter to join him during her spring break. I went about and got all the necessary things, including flight tickets.

Everything was going smoothly until the moment I applied for visa at the Singapore Embassy one Tuesday morning.

The nice guy at the window checked all of my documents and said: "All of your materials are perfect... except that your passport expires in less than six months. So we cannot issue you a visa." I was frozen and a swear word slipped from my mouth. The picture of my beautiful vacation was shattered before my eyes. He suggested I go to the Chinese passport office to get an extension.

Visiting the passport office is not renowned as a pleasant experience. Imagine my surprise when I saw the rearranged layout and the new information desk manned by several clerks. The service was much better than before, but I was still yet to hear the bad news.

Not only had the service of passport extensions been canceled, but they no longer offered expedited renewals. It would take five working days, non-negotiable.

Based on my previous experience, I had no hope of getting a new passport in time. But I decided to try my luck. I went to the counter labeled "Manager on Duty".

The lady lifted her eyelids behind her glasses after she finished a chat with her colleague and asked "what's up" with her facial expression rather than words. I explained my situation.

"It's impossible, unless you are going to attend a funeral or visit patients in a medical emergency."

I knew pleading with a cold female officer in the passport office would get me nowhere.

I gave up. But I filled in an application form anyway, since, no matter what, I had to get a new passport. Then I went to another counter to try one last time.

"No, it's impossible. Last week two National People's Congress delegates tried to get passports for an important meeting, and they, too, had to wait five working days."

OK, since even NPC deputies couldn't get special treatment, I decided it was better not to argue any more. I handed in the form and gave up on the trip.

Later that afternoon, a friend called. I told her my story.

"Why didn't you call me? I know somebody there. Give me the number on your receipt, and you don't need to worry about it. You'll get your new passport on Thursday morning," she said, mildly grumbling about my lack of foresight.

Indeed, I got my new passport on Thursday morning, one and half working days later.

Believe it or not, I got better treatment than those NPC deputies. Remember the slogan when China applied for the 2008 Olympics? "Give me a chance, I'll give back a miracle." That is exactly the Chinese spirit.

The week in Singapore was like a dream. As a beneficiary of this system, should I keep complaining or should I just keep my mouth shut?

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(China Daily 04/10/2007 page20)