Sudan : visa (need help)

[lapinou]

At last I got my visa for Sudan (after paying 53 euros, 4 weeks of patience and several calls and visits to the consulate here in Brussels - people very friendly) BUT here is the info written on my passeport : date of issue 3 june 2002, VALIDITY 30 days, period of stay 30 days. I guess that - like in other countries - it means that I must be in the country before the 3 july and can stay up to 30 days? The problem is that, travelling overland from Istanbul, I'll be there ONLY at the end of july. I'm afraid they will tell me that my visa is not valid anymore at the Wadi Halfa border though they said here in Brussels : "no problem, you'll see". I'm not sure at all actually. Any experience, advice, suggestion ??? I don't want to get my access denied when I'll be there. Thanks a lot in advance, lapinou.

[GWJ]

I can not give you any firm facts or great comfort. I think you will be allowed to enter up to 30 days from the issue, I think you can then stay for your 30 days. So that should not be a problem then, but I am not sure. If you can contact the embassy (preferably by fax to get a written confirmation to take with you) then this may help.

A lot will depend on the officials that you deal with at the border, both going in and coming out. For example; I was detained at Khartoum airport last time I left Sudan. I had a 3 month mutiple entry, with 30 days maximum stay. I went for a couple of weeks at the beginning of the 3 months and for 1 week at the end. They said I was in breach of the conditions because it was more that 30 days since my 1st entry! Come on guys, on a 3 month multi visa? Arrrgh!* :-)

I also had colleagues deported on arrival for visa inconsistencies, despite being completely valid. We were working for the government, the best possible scenario.

*All these little incidents were amusing and made it possible to have a great journey, albeit within a business environment. But maybe it would not be so amusing hwen it is your own time and money at risk.

Hope this helps,

Ian

[GWJ]

Sorry, I mis-read your dates. You definitely need to get some official confirmation that you will be able to enter 2 months after issue.

My Sudan visas issued in London have a 'Valid Until' date on them. This seems fairly clear, I take it that your visa does not have this information.

I seem to remember the main reason for us buying the multiple entry visas was for the 3 month 'valid until' date and that the single entry visas were only valid for 1 month from issue, but I can't be sure, as I didn't have one, rules change & this may vary by country of issue.

Ian

[andrasz]

If the embassy in London will not help, you should definitely sort the matter out at the Embassy in Cairo. I've heared they are quite helpful. You should definitely have some official document extending the validity, preferably stamped in your passport. Try getting a letter from the London embassy asking the Cairo embassy to do this when you're there.

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Happy Travels,
Andras

FJ Expeditions

[andrasz]

sorry, of course I meant the Brussels embassy, not London

[lapinou]

thanks a lot for your help, lapinou