Visa update

So, a week after having gone to Chicago to get my visa processed (the processing time for visas is 3 weeks), I received a notice in our mailbox that because no one was home, the mail carrier could not deliver an Express mail parcel addressed to me. At 8am.

First, what mail carrier delivers mail at 8am? Answer: Ours. Apparently.

Second, people were home. I was gone running at the Y at that point, though, but it seems that our deliverer did not want to give my visa Deliverance. Well, maybe just deliverance. But perhaps no one was awake? I do not know.

Third, I'm not sure now if he will try to deliver it again, or if I have to go downtown to pick it up from the main post office branch. I wish I knew! I'll keep you updated.

Fourth, did you catch that? One week--and the processing time is three weeks. I really hope nothing went wrong!

EDIT: For those of you that don't know what the difference between a passport and a visa is, I'll explain. A passport is a document you get from your country of origin (for me, the US) that allows you entrance back into the country after you have left it. In some instances, it also allows you access to friendly countries (i.e. Canada and Mexico before the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004--which really didn't take effect until 2009 anyway).

A visa, on the other hand, allows entrance to the country you will be visiting. For short visits--less than 90 days for France--one does not need a visa. For anything longer than that, it's probably a good idea to get a visa because most countries these days aren't too happy to have squatters on their territory.

There are a few different types of visas for France. The type of visa I will be getting is a long-stay visa; I will be there for somewhere around 10 months, although I think it will actually be closer to 11. For any normal, non-millionaire, this is a long period of time. Naturally, it makes sense that my visa is the long-stay kind.

Any questions?