Residents

One of the more arduous and frustrating tasks of life in South Sudan is keeping track of and renewing our visas, work permits, police registration, and alien registration. We are reminded often that we need the approval of various departments of the government in order to live and work here. Last week was another cultural lesson and test as we navigated renewing our visas.

Bob went to immigration on Friday to request one-year visas, expecting it to take one or two hours. We have renewed visas many times, so we thought we knew what was required. But when he arrived they gave him a long list of required documents that would be needed. As they discussed what was needed, Bob became frustrated by the sense that they were trying to convolute the process in order to get a bribe. But he decided he would bring the documents if that is what was required. A young man who had jumped in to help Bob through the process pulled him aside and agreed that the staff were not going to be satisfied with the added documents. The young man communicated with someone in leadership in immigration, and took Bob to him. David* assessed the situation, and then told Bob that instead of one-year visas, he could help us get two-year resident permits for the same price. Bob accepted this new path forward. They just needed a letter from our church partner requesting the permits and some copies of other documents.

Saturday morning, our colleague Rev. Philip wrote the letter from the church and we took it to immigration along with the other documents. We asked David at the office how long it might take – one hour? “More than an hour,” he said, “I’ll call you.” There was no phone call on Saturday, so Monday morning we call to check in. “Come around noon,” he says. Both of us put our plans on hold for Monday and head over to the immigration office at noon. When we arrive, we learn that he is at another office, and should be back in an hour. We go to a restaurant nearby and have lunch to pass the time. We call David and he tells us it will be another hour. We pass the time, starting to have doubts about this process. At 2:00 we call again and David does not answer his phone. We return to the immigration office and sit at a tea stall in the street, seriously doubting whether David is actually working on these permits and realizing that we have no documentation for the money that has been paid. Finally, around 3pm, an immigration officer comes out and recognizes Bob from his visit on Friday. Thomas* reassures Bob that David is at the head office and is working on our permits. Thomas is sympathetic concerning our doubts, and it feels like he is an angel sent to reassure us. Thomas shows us pictures of his family and his farm in the village as we pass the time. Thomas helps us finally get in touch by phone with David around 4pm, and we meet with David just as the offices are closing and arrange to meet at 10am on Tuesday.

Tuesday, 10am sharp, we show up and meet David on the street outside the immigration office. He explains that a director in immigration had a family funeral on Monday which all the staff attended, which caused his delay. He explains the various approvals and signatures that remain outstanding for our residence permits. We learn that David is also a pastor and he encourages us as a brother in Christ. He tells us that they will call us in the afternoon for fingerprints. We leave for some mid-day meetings and return in the afternoon. It is close to 100 degrees in Juba during the day, so we are sweating as we walk the dusty roads and taking the bus across town to and from immigration. Finally, after waiting a few more hours in the afternoon, we are called in for fingerprints at around 3:30. The office staff, helpful now that everything has been facilitated by David and they have seen us around for four days, inform us that all the signatures have been done and all documents are ready except for the ‘smart card’. We are told to come back in the morning to pick up everything.

Wednesday morning, Bob gets a call from Thomas to confirm that the smart cards are being printed and that everything should be completed soon. We go by Rickshaw to the immigration office, hoping and praying for a good conclusion to this process. Bob goes into the small room where our passports and documents are held and receives our passports with the new residence permits, smart cards, and receipts. He shares his appreciation and a parting word with the staff, using a Dinka phrase that he learned. Finally, the process is complete, and just a few hours before we are to board a plane for Nairobi!

Us with our new 'smart cards' that show residence status

(pic taken in Nairobi - notice our sweatshirts!)

We are grateful for many answered prayers and the people God sent to help in that unexpected process. Now we are officially residents…but still aliens. We were reminded of the value of seeking out our colleagues for help with these government requirements, something we failed to do this time. We were also reminded that we should always ‘expect the unexpected’ and be prepared to be patient. And mostly, we are reminded of our dependence on God to work out all these details and that the privilege of living in South Sudan alongside our colleagues is not to be taken for granted.

*Pseudonyms.