I’m writing this from my home in Macon, GA. No big deal right? Except I’m supposed to be 8385 miles away in Johannesburg, South Africa. I was going to work with an IMB media team on some web development projects (like our most recent AfricaStories.org).
While boarding my flight from Atlanta to Jo’burg, I was told I couldn’t make the trip because I didn’t have a blank visa page in my passport. This was meant to be my last trip before renewing my passport and I had 5 visa stamp spots left. However, they are all on different pages – that is a deal breaker for South Africa. They want to stamp/sticker at complete page and will deny you entry to their country if you don’t have one.
Luckily, I’m able to reschedule my flights at not charge so I’ll be headed back there next Spring. I’m a veteran traveler (25 years of international travel) and have never had a disaster like this. Nonetheless, the most important lesson I’ve learned is to ALWAYS research the visa guidelines for the country you are traveling to. Even if you don’t think you need a visa, check anyway.
In the meantime, I’m spending my new found 2 weeks of “free time” to work on some video, photo, and web projects I’ve had on the back burner.
Johannesburg is actually where we may be going to help Door of Hope. I can’t believe that happened to you.
It was scary when we had to mail our passports to Guinea to get our visa’s approved for our trip. I was not sure we would get them back!
Sorry to hear about the delay, but trusting that God is in control… cannot wait to see what He brings about on your trip over next spring!