Visa Adventures, Part I

So before we left the states, we put lots of time into gathering the necessary paperwork for our visas. We needed our marriage certificate translated, notarized, authorized by the US State Department, and stamped by the Bolivian consulate in LA. We needed forms filled out, vaccinations taken, fees paid, the list goes on. We thought we had everything. But you know how it goes, there's always something...


On Friday, the day after we arrived, we went straight to the cancilleria office in Santa Cruz, which officiates over the officiating of official paperwork. We waited in line, presented our documents, and were told the terrible news—something was missing. The translated marriage certificate wasn't stamped or authenticated. Doh! The clerk told us the only option was to visit the US consulate in town and have them stamp it (total misinformation, more on that later). So we headed off in a taxi, hoping things would work out. Our plane to Tarija was leaving Sunday, so we only had Friday to get things in order before leaving the capital.


The US embassy in Santa Cruz is in a nice neighborhood, surrounded by high walls, and guarded by the Bolivian military police. In other words, completely inaccessible. We were told we couldn't go in unless we had an appointment, which could only be made online—and for Monday, the day after we were supposed to leave. We pleaded our case to the guards, but to no avail. They wouldn't budge. What's the point of having an embassy if they aren't going to help American citizens? 


We decided to cut our losses and call off the visa work for the day. We'd figure that out later. It was only 11am so we decided to head across town and visit the Bolivia branch of Jehovah's Witnesses to meet with our friend Robert Golden. Unfortunately we didn't make it in time to have lunch there, but in the early afternoon they met with us and gave us some great information. We had picked a good place, they said. Tarija was a great town and several of the local congregations were in need of assistance. They gave us some helpful pointers and suggestions, and we left with a promise of visiting again next time we're in Santa Cruz.

Bolivia branch of Jehovah's Witnesses, reception building