There’s this funny, funny thing that you need to get to stay in some countries. This thing is a piece of paper, apparently something very official … it’s called a MasterCard … or is that a Visa?
You get visas though the country’s embassy situated in your own home country. There’s not one in Canada for Suriname, though, just one in Washington. After finding the Consulate’s phone number (yay, Internet!) and speaking to a very helpful gentleman, I found out I can get the visa application form and information of the embassy’s official site (surinameembassy.org). Simple. Easy. A little expensive (175$ for a mult-entry visa). But simple.
NOW I have to answer questions such as, “Where are you staying in Suriname?”, and give them an address and a phone number. That’s a problem: I’m only staying in a guest house one night! And what kind of visa do I need, tourist or transit? I’m inclined to pick “transit” … this is when I contact Jackie (my host in French Guiana) or the International Pioneering Comittee and see what gives.
Plus I need to send in a copy of my return ticked (I think now would be a good time to buy a plane ticket!!), my original passport and enough money for them to post it back.
Eek.
Stay tuned. The Visa experience may be long and complicated.
