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[nomadic_meow]

I spent all of the past week attempting to get a work visa for China here in Astana. I went on all three dropoff days -- Monday, Wednesday, Friday including far before the start of business on Friday -- and encountered a crowd with appointed strongmen holding unofficial, handwritten lists for entry that it later transpired were created some time in the evening among people in the parking lot (nothing to do with consular hours of business at all).

Was told the embassy in Astana is closed and all those applicants have come here instead, though I have not confirmed this.

It took me three visits just to get inside, and then there were further errors that threaten to delay me further. All in all, it is just short of impossible to do this in a timely manner, at least if you are here on a short-term visa. And then there is a question of whether the frustration and intimidation is worth going through it.

Long story posted here.

[Javelin of Radiance]

Did you try having a local agent get the visa for you? I've run into similar circumstances elsewhere and if you wanted a visa you had to pay a hefty fee to some local visa agent. In some areas these @$$holes have colluded with equally A$$holish consular officials so as to make it impossible for independent travelers to get their own visas. You can try to get your own visa, stand in line, go nowhere, and repeat. So you cave in and pay the agent. Resistance is futile.

[Markness]

Sorry to hear about that man. I hope things get sorted out for you. What are you doing in Kazakhstan? Sorry its a little off-topic

[beckyshaile]

I seriously doubt you're going to find anyone around here that can do anything for you. You are in a rather odd location.

Consequences of living in a foreign land.