After meeting with the F.E., I've been trying to figure out all the details for my Swiss visa. Despite how simple it seemed, it has not been the easiest task. Overall, the application is very straight forward, but one form has thrown me through the wringer. The 'Check for Equivalent of Swiss Health Insurance' form has not been the easiest to complete. To give you an idea, this is what I have been running around doing this week.
First of all, I need travel insurance. Sounds simple right? Not so much. In order to get this, I need proof that OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) will still insure me since I will be gone longer than their alotted 212 days. So I had to go to Service Ontario…
Service Ontario required a letter from my employer stating why I will be out of the country and when I will be returning. The F.E very quickly supplied me with the letter, so I went to the offices yesterday. Since the the F.E is in Switzerland, I obviously did not have her signature on the letter. Service Ontario was not impressed. They also had an issue with the letter not being on a letterhead. Seriously?! I'm working for a family, and other than the royal family, who has their own letterhead? After talking them out of needing a letterhead, they requested another letter with an actual signature and the telephone number of the F.E (thankfully it could be a faxed or scanned copy). I quickly shot off an email to her, and within the hour had my new letter. I went back to the Service Ontario office and this time they approved the letter and extended my OHIP. Yay! But that didn't solve all my problems…
OHIP won't sign my visa form. Since they don't cover ambulance costs and a few other costs, they won't sign the form that stipulates they will be covering it. Ugh. They did however, give me a form that states what they do cover. Cross your fingers this will be enough. So I started to contact travel insurance companies to see if they will sign my form. And guess what? They all said no. "We don't sign anything. We only send you a copy of your policy." Great. But thanks to another one of my amazing aunts and her connections, I may have found a company that will sign the form: Manulife Financial. If all my other options fall through, it sounds like I'll be going with them. CAA (aka, Manulife prices on steroids) also said they'd sign if I could prove that the copy of the policy was not enough documentation. This would be all fine and dandy, but my bank account is crying at my quoted prices. So I've found another option: Travel Cuts. With a target audience of mostly students, this company offers RBC insurance at a seriously discounted price. I plan on going to the office at York University tomorrow to see if they will sign my form. Cross your fingers!
After all that, I'm hoping that I'll have all my completed forms in hand along with all the other required documentation (passport photo, CV, request letter to the Swiss Government, copy of passport) and mail it to the F.E on the weekend. I just hope all goes to plan…
In other news, today is my 23rd birthday! I had a wonderful brunch with a few of my friends this morning, and tonight we are hitting the town. It'll be nice to see all my friends, because with school and work, I haven't had much 'friends time'. Hopefully I'll have some pictures to post after tonight.
And thank to my parents, I will be starting manual transmission driving lessons very shortly. Thanks!
Now on to you. Have you had to apply for a visa to move to another country? Have you had to apply for a Swiss visa? What sort of issues (if any) did you have?
Have a great Victoria Day weekend (if you're from a Commonwealth country)!
Maybe all those government employees are hedging their bets that the rapture will mean they don't have to work.
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