Waiting at government agencies

Fat Bob · Post by **Fat Bob** » 16th Feb, '08, 13:25

Some of them are just so inefficient.

Got a new passport, needed ICA to update my stamp. 1.5 hours, of which the "25 min estimated wait" was more like 45mins.

Needed to update driving licence. Go forward, hand over stuff, get to sit back down. Go forward again, hand over photos, get to go. Why couldn't the first bloke just take everything?

And god knows why I need to do both electronic fingerprint and inked fingerprint. And they make you take a photo....and then take a photo of it! Don't even scan it in, they've actually got a moving camera above a board and they move the photo around on the board until it's in focus and centred....

Anyhow, I know it's the same in most places: High Commission, to hand over the forms takes a 5 mins to get into the embassy, a fecking age waiting for the people in front, and then another 5-10 mins so you can pay (the exhorbitant amount) for new passport. And they refuse to accept personal cheques. GRRRRR!!!

So glad I have to deal with the government very rarely.

Scrummy Mummy · Post by **Scrummy Mummy** » 17th Feb, '08, 19:51

I turned up at High Comm with all the documents (in triplicate) to apply for mini-Scummy's UK citizenship. Took a LONG time to explain to the lady on reception that it was one child rather than 2 and he has two birth certifcates and passports because his name changed on adoption ("But it looks 2 different children". "Well he was 3 days old on the first photo and 7 months on the second, they change a bit"), THEN found there was another document they forgot to tell me about! So I need to go back ........

kittykat · Post by **kittykat** » 18th Feb, '08, 08:59

SM sounds like my nightmare to get baby KK's citizenship/passport. 4 freaking trips up to the Australian High Comm last Wednesday. I picked up his citizenship certificate on Wed morning and had all but filled out his application form for his passport. Trotted upstairs and asked them to check that everything was in order before I had my friend sign as guarantor at lunch that day. Guess what? Another form I had to fill out for some stupid reason. Also, photo not right - head too small so had to get him out of kindy then took him to the photoshop to get the photo retaken. Had 3 lots taken as backups. So did the form and got the signature from my friend as well as the 2 photos. So 2nd trip up with forms and photos. She told me that the photo signature didn't perfectly match the form signature. OK my friend signed a passport photo at a sushi bar and the form as well and she writes lefthanded / backhanded.

So called my mate and she came in her car and we resigned the photo! The woman at Oz High Comm said it didn't match perfectly so back to my friend - new form / new signature and I had to fill out everything again.

Ohhh this is after they stuffed up the citizenship certificate - due on 12th Dec and I got it on the 13th Feb as they put the wrong name on it and had to send it back to be fixed! No apology - NOTHING!!

World's biggest job creation scheme I say!

baloo · Post by **baloo** » 18th Feb, '08, 09:06

I need to chime in here and say that when we got BBIII's citizenship and passport done, it was pretty straight forward. Delivered on time or before time.

The photos were something we were warned about so we went to the photoshop at Tanglin Mall and asked for Australian Passport size. They made them perfectly.

BoD · Post by **BoD** » 18th Feb, '08, 09:26

I've always been pretty impressed with the service a government departments here. OK, getting though to someone on the phone can be a bit of a chore, but seems pretty good in the offices

As for the British High Comm. When I last went to collect my new passport, there was a queue verging on the more than significant - all sorts of people applying for visas etc. So, imagine my delight when I saw a sign that basically said "British people can jump the queue" The first time in my life that my passport has actually been useful

Scrummy Mummy · Post by **Scrummy Mummy** » 18th Feb, '08, 14:37

When we last visited the Uk, we took mini-Scummy with us in the EU queue, the guy looked at him and us and said "Is this your son?". We said yes, and he said "Good enough for me."

If only the citizenship process was that straightforward...

Jedi · Post by **Jedi** » 18th Feb, '08, 14:56

4 months wait list to sit for Basic Theory to convert driving licence... 4 MONTHS... WTF??

baloo · Post by **baloo** » 18th Feb, '08, 15:00

Jedi wrote:4 months wait list to sit for Basic Theory to convert driving licence... 4 MONTHS... WTF??

What car did you buy ?

Jedi · Post by **Jedi** » 18th Feb, '08, 16:13

I didn't. I just need to convert.

Sandwich of Cheese · Post by **Sandwich of Cheese** » 18th Feb, '08, 16:34

To buddhism?

sluggo · Post by **sluggo** » 18th Feb, '08, 16:36

Now this a a sandwich of cheese

baloo · Post by **baloo** » 18th Feb, '08, 16:38

That's more like cheese toast

sluggo · Post by **sluggo** » 18th Feb, '08, 16:41

Its a grilled cheese sandwich. What SoC is using as an avatar is a Sandwich of a lot of things, meat, lettuce, tomato and some cheese

Sandwich of Cheese · Post by **Sandwich of Cheese** » 18th Feb, '08, 16:41

The sandwich of cheese does not preclude the inclusion of non-turoic ingredients

slinky · Post by **slinky** » 18th Feb, '08, 16:55

Sandwich of Cheese wrote:The sandwich of cheese does not preclude the inclusion of non-turoic ingredients

And here I am thinking a 'cheese sandwich' would be cheese and bread. Yours looks like a ham and cheese sandwich or maybe a turkey and cheese sandwich

baloo · Post by **baloo** » 18th Feb, '08, 16:57

There is obviously more to SoC than meets the eye

slinky · Post by **slinky** » 18th Feb, '08, 17:00

I'm just waiting for him to confuse his multitude of identites and post wrong

canuck · Post by **canuck** » 18th Feb, '08, 17:06

The cheese sandwich would not be complete without all the ham

Queenie · Post by **Queenie** » 18th Feb, '08, 17:44

Now he has become a croque monsieur

canuck · Post by **canuck** » 18th Feb, '08, 18:00

[img]http://singapore-forum&#46com/forum/download/file.php?id=15[/img]

azzam · Post by **azzam** » 18th Feb, '08, 18:24

Slinky's gone all sex kitten

canuck · Post by **canuck** » 18th Feb, '08, 18:53

I think she's into something

slinky · Post by **slinky** » 18th Feb, '08, 19:09

azzam wrote:Slinky's gone all sex kitten

What have I missed? How is a rainbow colored slinky 'all sex kitten'?

Edit: Alright, nevermind. I like the gold one better anyway

daffodil · Post by **daffodil** » 19th Feb, '08, 07:10

Oooh, I thought it was just a bit tarnished. Unlike it's owner, of course....

slinky · Post by **slinky** » 19th Feb, '08, 07:19

You just wanted to use that smiley, Daff, c'mon, admit it!

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