Immigrations...

My visit to Immigrations last week did not go well. Originally when I came to Honduras, I planned to leave the country when my 90-day visa was up and go to Guatemala for three days. The laws here have changed and I can't visit any of the other C4 countries (Honduras, Guatemala, El Salvador, & Nicaragua) and have it count as actually leaving Honduras. So we started looking for other options. A friend from Siguatepeque (and also our coffee connection for the BEST coffee available) told us about going through IHNFA. Luis has helped several people get extensions of their visa through IHNFA. IHNFA is kind of like Social Services/Child Welfare.

As it happened, the woman from IHNFA was here at Enlaces a few days later, getting some supplies. We asked her about writing a letter for me and she said, "Yes." Within a week, I had my letter from IHNFA and also a letter from Enlaces asking for the extension of my visa. So last week we took Sandi, Eli & Elisa to the airport, then Hector and I went over to Immigrations. I was armed with my passport, both letters and cash -- to pay for the extension.

The line was not too long, and soon it was our turn. Hector told the woman what we needed, and without even looking at my letters, the woman told us that an extension of more than the normal 30-day extension was not possible. While Hector and I were talking about it, I saw another woman that, based on Luis' description, had to be Patti -- the one Luis thought we should talk to. So we got back in line, but in such a way that the first woman wasn't able to pay much attention to us. (It is very disrespectful to doubt the word of one official and then go ask another.) We talked to Patti. She at least looked at my letters before saying that things have changed and I can't get an extension. But she told us to go upstairs and talk to Eric. So we did that. Eric didn't really have any better news for us. He recommended that I apply for a one year residency. That costs $100, plus attorney's fees and usually doesn't arrive anywhere near on time, so then you are stuck with paying a fine for being on an illegal visa. But Eric told us to go back downstairs and talk to Patti again.

When we talked to Patti again, her best advice, very unofficially, was just for me not to do anything, and then when I left the country to pay the fine. She said the fine is L1149 (about $61). Talking to Scott and Cindy this week, they said the fine is more like L5000 ( about $265).

So that leaves me back to leaving the country for three days. My options are Mexico, Belize and Costa Rica (or the US, of course). I looked at Taca and can get a plane ticket to San Jose, CR for $440. It's only about $20 more for a ticket to Miami. I'm starting to check on bus tickets. It looks like I can go from Tegucigalpa to San Jose (with an overnight stay in Managua, Nicaragua) for $70RT. I've found what looks like a very nice hostel in San Jose. It's $10/night if I do the dorm room or $18 for a single. I'd opt for the single. And then I'll just have to find something for the night in Managua.

Some people have told me they don't think it's a good idea to travel all that way by bus. I've talked to Hermes and he doesn't think it's a problem at all, especially on Tica Bus. Plus, I need to make certain I will be able to travel freely through Nicaragua without any visa issues. There's always flying, but if I were going to fly, I'd just as soon go to Miami (but I know I can't get a hotel for $18/night). Oh, what to do, what to do?

This is definitely an opportunity for prayer.

Then, as if all of this weren't enough, the other night Scott mentioned that another teacher at his school got a letter from the government. It seems that Honduras is about to put some restrictions on people that are here teaching in bi-lingual schools. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot! They may make it tougher on the very people that are here to help. But since I'm not here as a teacher, that doesn't effect me.

All of this is just part of everyday life here.