I hopped on a train to Berne this morning. One hour of my life, and CHF 31.00 wasted.
From the train station, catch a bus. Another 15 minutes and CHF 2.00 wasted.
I get to the US Embassy.
Sheesh. Talk about paranoid. The entire city block is barricaded and guarded by heavily armed police. I walk down the street to the Embassy gate. "Wait here."
After a few more minutes, before you are let near the building, you have to surrender ALL electronic devices - phone, pager, MP3 player and car keys. Then you wait a few more minutes to be let into the lobby - one person at a time. There you go through a more comprehensive search than any airport - empty your pockets, walk through the metal detector twice, then get checked with the portable detector (because my evil jacket had metal buttons).
The go wait inside until your number is called.
Me: "Hi. I need an affidavit. I want to get married in Europe."
Woman behind the bullet-proof glass: "Were you married before?"
Me: "Yes."
Woman: "We need a copy of your divorce decree."
Me: "Oh. It would have been nice if you would have maybe made a note on your website or in the response to the e-mail I sent a few days ago about what documents I should bring."
Woman: {shrugs shoulders}
Needless to say, I'm NOT amused. All in all, I wasted about $30 and 4 hours of my life (and overtime hours), so that I can repeat the whole eff'ing process again tomorrow.
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