I think I could write a book now. It is weird, how much stress administration can cause. So, my marriage was made in Sudan (my wife is from Chad). So, you had several choices to marry: Islamic marriage, Catholic marriage, Orthodox marriage - but: to have a christian marriage you MUST be member of the church. As I worked there just for a year - no way. And due to the steady unrest we just made a Islamic marriage. Now in Islam you are allowed to marry 4 women (at least in Sudan), so the marriage was never recognized by my home country (of course). Despite the lawyer I paid etc. But ok. Means - we have to repeat the marriage. I should have registered it in Sudan - but war broke out and we were evacuated.
Now my wife is currently in Senegal and tries to get a visa. It's all a scam. Normally you go on an embassy website, book your appointment (with or without payment) and show up. If the papers are not correct, you will lose the money. Not so in Dakar. The appointment part (including other administrative issues) was outsourced to a company, which is responsible for visa appointments for Spain, Italy, Belgium and Norway. Their PC program does not work correctly. We tried last month, paid - and got refunded. Now they changed and with the application and online payment a "selfie" is requested (to be made with the PC) and now the program has another flaw - it will not recognize you (they should ask help from China, really). So, we try every day. But to get the visa from my side, I had to spend 200 EUR (money is everything). Here to get a visa you need to get a "tarjeta de invitacion" which will cost you 80 EUR and takes 6 weeks to get. Only with this form you can request a visa abroad (so you have to send it by DHL - another 75 EUR). Of course all other documents must be delivered: flight ticket, insurance, passport, filled form, pictures, money, invitation etc. As they are based in Ziguinchor they have to move to Dakar in any case to get the visa done - which is 10 days and costs easily 600 EUR extra, including a 14 hour bus ride. So, all is done except the fucking. And I do not know, if it will work. If not - the ticket will not be reimbursed (another loss of 900 EUR). And they have to leave the country - these costs I do not even want to think about yet. No visa = no wife coming = no marriage repetition = no right to stay here. Great.
So, on both sides complete depression. I have done what I could - nothing more in my possibilities. I could complain, but to whom? Embassies do not answer. She on the other side is trying every day to get a slot for the embassy to eventually get the visa. This was already clear 2 months ago - and since 2 months we try to get a date at the Embassy, but no chance. Time is now running short. Means - both kids will now from this year on study in France, while I stay in Spain and although I hoped my wife would join me, it seems this will not happen. So, next problem - finances. I can pay two students and still have a decent life with my wife - if she would only be here. But paying for 4 different households is difficult for me (not to say, nearly impossible).
I am not even talking about other costs - visa for my daughter for France, accommodation in France (easy 3 times rent), flight costs (if taken or not), insurance....
So, you can see that administration can really kill you. I did not ask for this stress. In the past it was all so easy - I got a one year visa for her within 2 days, because I was part of the club. Now these times are over. I am majorly pissed off and really depressive and afraid of the future now. I really did not plan to spend the rest of my life in Uganda or Burundi....
Another thing is the retirement payment from my country of origin. I left it 1996 - and accumulated something like 17 years of retirement fund contribution. Now they do not pay. And I have to fight (lawyer, court) to get my rights. I mean, it's a small amount (only 500) - but for the principle I am willing to fight. This has been going on now for 18 months and every day I wait for news. I start to hate all these state related stress machines. Honestly, if it were for me and being alone - I would buy a nice bicycle, keep my small apartment here and I simply would make the tour of the world (or Africa - with my wife). Fuck politics, online applications, forms, payments, fuck borders, fuck the current world situation. Fuck everything that gives me depression, stress and provokes that I am lonely. I hate it.
And now, I go to sleep. I do not want to be awake today. Sorry - needed to let out the stress and frustration a little. Fuck the system we are living in.
Now my wife is currently in Senegal and tries to get a visa. It's all a scam. Normally you go on an embassy website, book your appointment (with or without payment) and show up. If the papers are not correct, you will lose the money. Not so in Dakar. The appointment part (including other administrative issues) was outsourced to a company, which is responsible for visa appointments for Spain, Italy, Belgium and Norway. Their PC program does not work correctly. We tried last month, paid - and got refunded. Now they changed and with the application and online payment a "selfie" is requested (to be made with the PC) and now the program has another flaw - it will not recognize you (they should ask help from China, really). So, we try every day. But to get the visa from my side, I had to spend 200 EUR (money is everything). Here to get a visa you need to get a "tarjeta de invitacion" which will cost you 80 EUR and takes 6 weeks to get. Only with this form you can request a visa abroad (so you have to send it by DHL - another 75 EUR). Of course all other documents must be delivered: flight ticket, insurance, passport, filled form, pictures, money, invitation etc. As they are based in Ziguinchor they have to move to Dakar in any case to get the visa done - which is 10 days and costs easily 600 EUR extra, including a 14 hour bus ride. So, all is done except the fucking. And I do not know, if it will work. If not - the ticket will not be reimbursed (another loss of 900 EUR). And they have to leave the country - these costs I do not even want to think about yet. No visa = no wife coming = no marriage repetition = no right to stay here. Great.
So, on both sides complete depression. I have done what I could - nothing more in my possibilities. I could complain, but to whom? Embassies do not answer. She on the other side is trying every day to get a slot for the embassy to eventually get the visa. This was already clear 2 months ago - and since 2 months we try to get a date at the Embassy, but no chance. Time is now running short. Means - both kids will now from this year on study in France, while I stay in Spain and although I hoped my wife would join me, it seems this will not happen. So, next problem - finances. I can pay two students and still have a decent life with my wife - if she would only be here. But paying for 4 different households is difficult for me (not to say, nearly impossible).
I am not even talking about other costs - visa for my daughter for France, accommodation in France (easy 3 times rent), flight costs (if taken or not), insurance....
So, you can see that administration can really kill you. I did not ask for this stress. In the past it was all so easy - I got a one year visa for her within 2 days, because I was part of the club. Now these times are over. I am majorly pissed off and really depressive and afraid of the future now. I really did not plan to spend the rest of my life in Uganda or Burundi....
Another thing is the retirement payment from my country of origin. I left it 1996 - and accumulated something like 17 years of retirement fund contribution. Now they do not pay. And I have to fight (lawyer, court) to get my rights. I mean, it's a small amount (only 500) - but for the principle I am willing to fight. This has been going on now for 18 months and every day I wait for news. I start to hate all these state related stress machines. Honestly, if it were for me and being alone - I would buy a nice bicycle, keep my small apartment here and I simply would make the tour of the world (or Africa - with my wife). Fuck politics, online applications, forms, payments, fuck borders, fuck the current world situation. Fuck everything that gives me depression, stress and provokes that I am lonely. I hate it.
And now, I go to sleep. I do not want to be awake today. Sorry - needed to let out the stress and frustration a little. Fuck the system we are living in.