PREPARING FOR ANOTHER TRIP
Barberscat and Driver are preparing for a trip to a Toastmasters Convention in Washington DC. We had already paid our air fares for "around the world", and also the registrations for the Convention. Just "by the way" the travel consultant said "You won't need a visa for USA" - Visa! Hell! I hadn't thought of visas. We are friends of the USA - we do as they say! Why would they want a visa from an Aussie. She continued: "You only need a visa if you are a journalist, or have been in jail, or have been arrested or charged with an offence ........ ". Driver went very quiet and his colour drained from his face. "Back in 1994 I was driving a coach that collided with the back of a semi trailer that was parked partially on the carriageway with no lights." He knew little about the charges, except he was fined (everyone who runs into the back of a vehicle is fined in New South Wales). Travel Consultant said we should find out the details, but should get a visa just in case! We went to the local cop shop, and they had no details of any black mark against Driver's name. We went to Queensland Transport and they knew nothing. We phoned Narrabri where the accident happened - they turned up the papers but had transferred it all to Moree. Phoned Moree - whoopee! They had the details. Conviction of some sort of ?? driving and a fine of $250. Back to Travel Consultant - "Get a visa".
Now, it turns out, the only way to get a visa to USA is to travel to Sydney and undergo an interview!! Barberscat and Driver stay away from cities, and we had decided that if we had to go to Sydney, we'd cancel Washington and that would be another city we could dodge! After my phoning all around the country, I finally got a phone number that did not refer me to the website with the unclear instructions - it allowed me to talk to a real person in the office of the Consulate in Sydney. You can imagine our relief when she said if it didn't involve a jail term, we didn't have to get a visa!! Phew!
That took a week to find out and put my plans well behind. But we are happy we don't have to fly to Sydney just to ask one question. When we arrive at USA customs, we will both have our hearts in our mouths waiting for there to be a policy change, and to be put back on the plane for OZ. Wouldn't that be a bugger!