Here’s a short story I’ve been meaning to share with you for some months now. A happy story! It’s been pretty heavy going of late and I felt a need to share something a little more positive with you.
I shared a while back about the process and loops a Papua New Guinean needs to go through to get a Passport. How does a Papua New Guinean get a Passport? It’s certainly not a simple task and is inevitably filled with set backs, excuses and confusion dished out by the local Passports office in Port Moresby. There are ways and there are ways to get a Passport in PNG and fortunately we found a “way”.
Back in September I surprised Eli one evening and handed her an unmarked envelope. Needless to say she was over the moon and overjoyed to see what was inside!! Mama Blogan was with us on the evening and when the two (Eli and Mama) realised what was in the envelope – Mama burst out into tears – she thought that the passport meant that Eli was going to leave PNG for good!
It was definitely one of those joy filled and happy moments the three of us shared on that evening back in September.
Eli and Mama just after I gave Eli her new PNG Passport
Eli with her new PNG Passport
Now… for the question family and friends have been asking me recently:
“Will Eli be coming with you on your next trip Downunder?”
The short answer is an unfortunate… No!
Sorry guys…
I’m even sorrier for Eli – we were both looking forward for her to meet the family back in Sydney (and Brisbane) – but it’s not to be on this occasion. This occasion? Yep… I will be coming home for a month or so late February early March. An exact date has not yet been set as we are now waiting for my Australian Passport: 1) To be renewed and 2) To have the PNG Visa extended by 12 months in alignment with the extra 12 months I’m going to be volunteering (via AVI) at the Hospital.
There are three hurdles that we need to jump through to get Eli Downunder:
- Passport (Done).
- Cash (although almost broke – we could manage to scrounge up enough to cover the costs).
- Visa – this is the real hurdle! For a Papua New Guinean to get a Visa to travel to Australia – a plane ticket must be purchased first – then there’s no guarantee that the Visa will be ready on time. As things are going – I will probably only have between one to two weeks notice before I fly out. Two weeks just isn’t enough time to organise a Visa for Eli. Sori tru!!
But this story does have a happy ending…
I’m doing everything within my means to be home for my 50th birthday. Yep… on the 12th of March, 2009 – I turn into an old bastard!!
Daniel Kemph on "
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Hey Rob.. when you say home, what home do you mean ? Sydney or Goroka ?
Bro,
I’m a man of many homes!
or..
I just don’t know where home is anymore!!
(Have I been here for too long?)
R
No, you can never be in PNG too long :).
I’m going to pop open a couple beers for your 50th Rob. Jotted it down in my diary!
Tavurvur
Totally understand the hassles of dealing with Aust high comm in PNG.
Even when you have paid for the ticket and been invited for holidays by Aust citizens(present letter of invetation), they still want your latest BANK STATEMENT to prove that you or those inviting you have enough money to support you. They forgot to state that on the form.
Talk about violation of Privacy…. do they think the ticket was bought with kaukau leaves…
over the holidays vis proccessing went from 5 working days to 15 working days, they just forgot to tell the travelling public, because it dont cost them flight changing fees.
Hi Rob,
Happy belated 50th birthday!
Eli story reminds me of so many Papua New Guineans who are charged ridiculously high fees for passport processing just to get them on time.Or send applications away and wait for eons to get them back.
And visa applications are another circus.
Now I am overseas and can not find a website that has a pdf file of a passport application form for reference.
Not even visa applications posted on png websites!
The Foreign Affairs Department and government generally need to create or update government regulated information sights. This is the age of computers,the internet and information. We need to keep up!
God bless!
Hey Port Vila,
I have uploaded a scanned copy of a standard PNG Passport Application form.
If you go to: http://www.trupela.com/downloads/ you will find it under Miscellaneous.
Good luck!!
R
its so amazing how those scambags sitting in the office lies through their teeth and still have a JOB.
I feel sorry for Eli and you Robert, i have been through this for so long its not a joke anymore.
Some thing has to be done about it, but who do we ask? and who do we trust?
Our country and we should look after it and protect it but how? no wonder people get so angry and start stealing?
anyway enough of that!!!!!!!!!!!
I hope something can be done about it sooner than later.
Good luck!
“Who do we ask and who do we trust…” (especially who do we trust) this is the $64k question!
R
I hope to change all that soon….keeping my fingers crossed….
nana
I’m sure many are eager to hear an update on your efforts soon.
Robert
PNG passport office is run by criminals. Took a local friend of mine more than a year to get one and then only got one because the driver at my work had a wantok in there. They should be shot!
On the other hand, I don’t think the Aus Immmigration required tickets to be purchased in advance anymore. I was sponsored a PNG local to come to Australia and we applied 6 days before the leaving date during the Christmas period.
The trick is to write a very good supporting letter and provide a bank statement showing sufficient funds for support in Australia. The person in Australia should make it clear that they will meet all the costs for the trip and any other expenses in Australia. The letter should also make it clear that the purpose is just tourism (or whatever teh purpose is) and have an exact start and finish date for the trip.
Also, have some supporting documentation showing the the applicant has a strong incentive to return to PNG (eg study enrolment, letter from employer etc).
Fred,
Ah yes! How can I forget… the dreaded passports office. I too am surprised why no one has blown up the place yet. It would once again that in PNG – frustration and delays know no bounds. Hopefully things can only get better.
And thanks for your suggestions on arranging a Visa for a PNG’ean to visit Oz. Much appreciated.
Regards,
Robert
Hi Rob,
I had my share of disappointments there at the immigration office but needless to say we don’t have a choice but to just persist and get what we wanted and I’m afraid thats the reality. Anyway a mate of mine told me that they finally have a website http://www.immigration.gov.pg
Hope it helps …
Cheers
cloudpng
@cloudpng,
Thanks for your comment. Have checked out the website for Immigration” and looks like it could be useful. Cheers,
Robert
ps. I have also added a link to your blog from mine!