Americans often complain about red tape and their frustrations dealing with government bureaucracy. I have to confess, that except for the time we got audited by the IRS, we haven’t had too much trouble (aside from a few long waits at the DMV).
We had some hints that we might be in for some rougher times when we started getting conflicting information even before we left the US. Some said we should wait until we arrived in Hungary to apply for our visa; others advised us to get the process started prior to our departure.
So we had to provide a copy of the Fulbright Grant (proof that we would be gainfully employed and would not become a burden on the Hungarian state), proof of health insurance coverage (separate affidavits from our respective insurance companies), our marriage certificate (I still don’t understand why they needed that one), copies of our airline tickets, our passports and two passport photos. It got a bit hairy since we hadn’t yet found our apartment–we ultimately used the university address on the application). We submitted everything to the Hungarian Consulate in New York. After a few emails back and forth, a fax of a different form, “Application for Visa for Other Purposes,” we finally received our visas a few days prior to our departure. We were instructed to report to the immigration office in our district within 30 days of our arrival in the country. There was quite a discussion with the Vice-Consul from the American embassy in Budapest during our Fulbright Orientation…Yikes!
Today is the day. Erica Kiss has arranged for a colleague named Ferenc to pick us up and drive us to this government office. If I don’t return, call the consulate and remind my kids to be good to one another.
………..
My colleague met us at the front of the university building and, together with a young Korean woman from Seoul who is studying Hungarian and her student advisor, drove us to the outskirts of town where the new immigration office is located. It is surrounded by an electric fence that slid quietly open as we approached. We had to ring the bell and wait for someone to open the door and escort us to the appropriate office. I thought that Bernard would win this bet for sure…it was quite intimidating, so say the least.
To my surprise, the office area was open and airy with many large windows. The building had been freshly painted inside and out, and the employees had potted plants on the desks, on the windowsills, and scattered around the waiting area. These plants were well-tended and healthy, not the desiccated and sickened bits of green you would expect. The young man who greeted us spoke impecable English and was extremely courteous…turns out his father was a Hungarian Fulbrighter who had taught at UMass-Amherst. He collected all our documents, examined our passports and visas, asked us to sign the registration cards, and asked us to wait about 20 minutes while the permit was processed. The whole procedure was painless! As we left, the iron gate slid noiselessly closed behind us.
As we drove back to the city, Bernard asked our driver about a squat building located just to the side of the immigration office. Turns out it was a police building and holding area for people suspected of crimes who have not yet appeared in court. A block later, Ferenc pointed to some low-slung buildings where illegal aliens are detained…apparently they mistakenly thought that with the freedom of movement within the EU, they could come to Hungary and work without a permit. NOT!
I must say, I am glad to be “legal.” And….I won the bet!
Thanks for tuning in and best regards,
Marcsi
PS: There’s no picture because I was afraid to take it!
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