May14 Written by:Kayle
5/14/2008 3:56 AM
When Mat and I were in the US waiting to come to Zimbabwe, the main thing holding us up was getting our work permits. We had applied and 3.5 months later we found out we were rejected so we applied again and 3.5 months later we found out we were accepted. The total process was 7 months of waiting! Our TEP (Temporary Work Permit) was for 2 years and it expires in Oct. 2008. So now we need to renew our work permits to stay in Zim for hopefully another 3 years.
The process of getting a TEP is tricky. We were hoping to wait until after elections to apply (as foreigners were being kicked out of the country so they wouldn't see how elections were run), but since the election process is up in the air we're not sure how soon to apply. Also, tonight our American friends told us that they just received a rejection on their application for a work permit simply on the basis that they were Americans. (Probably because western powers have been speaking out against Zimbabwe). To apply for the renewal, it will cost around $1200 ($500 for Mat, $500 for me and $200 for Calvin)!!! If we are just going to get rejected, then why waste $1200 for immigration just to say no! However, you need the work permit to stay here and work. So, we're not sure how to move forward and when....
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