Bureaucracy

The definition of bureaucracy according to wikipedia:

1. a well-defined division of administrative labour among persons and offices,
2. a personnel system with consistent patterns of recruitment and stable linear careers,
3. a hierarchy among offices, such that the authority and status are differentially distributed among actors, and
4. formal and informal networks that connect organizational actors to one another through flows of information and patterns of cooperat

The whole process began almost a year ago. And here I am, finally on my way to the American Embassy in Stockholm to apply for my J1 (Student) Visa. I have endured countless hours of bureaucracy and here I sit with a red folder clutched in the firm grip of my hands (list of contents at the below). Looking at it makes me want to laugh and cry at the same time. It feels like I never put so much effort into anything before (although I probably have). 






List of contents of my "Embassy Folder"


(NOTE: Bureaucracy factor measures from 1-10, 10 meaning the worst possible case)


1. DS-2019 form printed and signed by the The City College of New York (CCNY)
Bureaucracy factor: 8
Motivation: To get this I needed to fill in the DS-2019 form and send it to CCNY. About two months later they were ready to send the "Certificate of Eligibility for Exchange Visitor Status" back to me. During these two months I had to provide countless supplement documents proving such things as funding (documents showing that I will have at least 340 USD/week for the entire time I am applying for a visa for).... Whilst waiting I could not do anything else since all other bureaucracy lovers wanted this certificate. Thank you very much.


2.Confirmation page from DS-160 form
Bureaucracy factor: 6

Motivation: This took approximately 10 hours to fill out. Passport details, addresses for the college in Sweden and New York, Details for Contact persons at both places, Complete details to previous employers and about 300 yes/no-questions like "have you ever participated in torture?" or "Are you a terrorist?". The reason it took so long is not only that there was so much to fill out, but first and foremost because the session kept clocking out, meaning, please start over again because you did not save your file in time (and also you couldn't have even if you wanted to since you weren't through filling the current page out...).

3. Extract of the Population Register from the Swedish Tax Agency

Bureaucracy factor: 2

Motivation: Not that troublesome, except for the long queue in the Tax Agency Office (Can hardly blame my sworn enemy bureaucracy for that though. I must say I did laugh when the poor woman providing me with my papers spent about 10 minutes stamping and autographing each page. She laughed as well, whilst sharing anecdotes from when someone she knew was going through the same thing as me.

4. SEVIS fee confirmation page + receipt proving payment

Bureaucracy factor: 2

Motivation: Not very hard. It reaches a factor of 2 because the information that I need to bring the receipt (which they are to send me by post) to the meeting at the Embassy reached me first after I paid the fee. Therefore, the receipt will not reach me in time and I needed to go to the bank (again) to get a certified receipt of the transaction from my account.

5. Bank Statement showing 4000 USD

Bureaucracy factor: 3

Motivation: Me and my mum's own bureaucracy. She has some money that kind of belong to me which she did not have at the time meaning problem. As icing on the cake the bank printed a statement with the wrong name the first time. Also, we needed to create a witnessed contract confirming that the money is for me. I just realized we created a bureaucracy of our own actually. The enemy has infiltrated us. On the bright side: Keep your friends close but keep your enemies closer (Cruel Intentions).

6. Letter regarding State study support (csn)

Bureaucracy factor: 10

Motivation: Since I still (after trying my very hardest) do not have a decision or paper from this committee I will grade it a factor 10. I get angry and tired just thinking about this so I will not even go any further motivating this. I would like to stay in a good mood since I am now on the train to see my best friends in Stockholm. Csn is not worth anything to me, least of all any of my happy energy!

7. Envelope pre-addressed to myself with stamps worth 70 SEK

Bureaucracy factor: 4

Motivation: The actual envelope is not a problem of course, but the fact that they have to send my passport back to my national registration address which is in Stockholm, meaning I have to travel again just to be able to get the passport which will be sent with registered mail.

8. A photograph of me, 5x5 cm in colour

Bureaucracy factor: 1

Motivation: No bureaucracy at all. Very expensive though.

9. Original receipt from the bank office showing payment of the Visa fee

Bureaucracy factor: 3

Motivation: The actual definition of bureaucracy takes place in a bank and I got a close look at this when queuing for one hour to pay this fee. Bureaucracy everywhere in front of me. When it is my turn I happily pay 65 SEK for them to press the "pay-button" for me, print and stamp and sig, several times on my demand, just to be sure.

10. Passport

Bureaucracy factor: 1

Motivation: Obviously the only thing in the folder not causing problems (since the photo page is properly attached with no cracks or any other suspicious markings)

For once, I feel like I did not have to exaggerate to make the story sound sufficiently troublesome.

Tell me, did anyone ever participate in a student exchange program between Sweden and USA before me? Because it certainly does not feel that way. I have been buried in bureaucracy up until now, please note that the above list only covers what the Embassy demands, we shall not forget what both Colleges demands, especially CCNY. I am not going in to more details but I can't help but wonder (as Carrie would have said) Why do I need to track down my Immunization Records from the City Archive and have them send certified copies of these records when they still want a titre of my blood to be analyzed to prove what the documents say? I mean, is it not enough with me proving that I have the right antibodies in my blood? Why do I (or, well in this case actually my mum who helped me (THANKS MUM!!)) have to spend six hours acting the part of Sherlock Holmes to get my records?

Ok, I am calm now. Just needed to complain and be sarcastic for a bit. Truth is I can't wait to leave for New York, and I am positive that once I am on that plane, every single hour I spent organizing and getting ready will feel like a well spent one! Although I will miss my friends, family and especially Peter, the most wonderful boyfriend ever!

I just had an idea; I should start a website where swedish students can get help to overview this king of bureaucracy that is USA. Perhaps I should do that actually?

///Yan (hopefully soon) in the Apple 

New York New York

(Just need to squeeze in a big fuck you to the administrative authority of CSN for exceeding their guarantee of a maximum time limit to handle new applications with ten days so far, and still going strong!)