Michael’s RP Process

Kerry hasn’t got around to posting about her RP process (but will eventually), but mine has been very long and drawn out. The whole thing has been thrown into chaos due to the influx of Games workers (or at least this is what we have been told). Added to this is the fact the system and locations are being updated, for example where the fingerprinting used to be done (and where Kerry had hers done) has now changed to a brand new building with new equipment (no more ink), which is located across the road from the compound. They are slowly moving the medicals from one location to several centres throughout Doha, but this has yet to take effect.

So after the initial blood typing which was done so long ago I have had to wait for Kerry to get her RP as the primary sponsored worker, as have all dependents whether they are working for AJA or not. This means I couldn’t get in for the medicals until 2 weeks ago and have only just come back from my second attempt at getting the fingerprinting done.

The medicals process consisted of heading off to the Medical Commission that is located very close to AJA with a number of other AJA-related people including Kerry and Ashur. Kerry needed to get some form filled in and that was the process completed for Ashur… no medicals or fingerprinting needed for child dependents under 15.

While that was taken care of I had to head off the “men’s section” to wait in a room with many others. We sat in rows of chairs waiting for our turn at the windows… every time someone went to a window you were gestured to move along a chair. This meant we slowly snaked our way up and down about 6 or 7 rows of chairs… sit down, stand up, shuffle along, sit down, stand up, shuffle forward a row, sit down… you get the idea! The mysterious windows consisted of handing over some money, getting a digital photo taken while you are standing there waiting, and being given some form.

Next you head off to the next room… the process is actually numbered and graphically represented on the wall… 1. money, 2. medicals, 3. blood, 4. x-ray…

When I walked towards the desk located in the middle of everything else, a man pointed next door to number 4 – x-ray. Always the sceptic I was a little worried about this as I know everything needs to follow the correct procedure around here otherwise you run the risk of having to start all over again! Anyway not one to go against the grain I headed towards door number 4 and then into a little room where I found about 10 Indians standing around with their shirts off talking and laughing. Once joined by other AJA people, as well as various other men from one country or another the whole thing possessed some weird locker room imagery with a few men and teens of Arabic and sub-continent decent giggling and not wanting to take shirts off until the last minute and so on… no nipple-cripples or wedgies that I saw, but I was just trying to ignore it all! Anyway the x-ray was quick and painless, as most x-rays are… no one grabbed me shouting “oh my god” so I am guessing everything was where it should be and looked as it should look.

Next I had to head back to the counter where I was given a red stamp on my form and a small test tube. After joining yet another que (as you do), I walked into a little room, sat down while a very polite man jabbed me in the arm while I looked the other way… that was it… hhmmmmm! It would seem I got the good one, as many people made statements regarding pain, large bruises, or lumps coming up on their arms. I have seen it… I heard pain… saw blood… as I said; I think I got the good one!

…and that was it. I never got to see what was behind door number 2… the medicals room. I am guessing that this part of the process may be for those that enter the country without a valid medical certificate, something we had to get in Australia before leaving.

After a wait of a few days, my name appeared on the “fingerprinting list”. As the new fingerprinting place (CID) had just opened I don’t think Gulam was up to speed on the ins and outs of the new system… This resulted in the first time I went being shuffled around through a few waiting areas and one of the policemen getting rather annoyed with Gulam for not doing this or that; too many people from AJA at once, or not submitting the correct form first, or something else. Anyway it all ended with us being shuffled out of the VIP section, then them accepting 5 people to process… After waiting to see if anything changed for a while I just headed home.

The next fingerprinting list was for this morning, so once again a group of us headed off to the CID building with Gulam. Same policeman… and still not happy with Gulam for something said harshly in Arabic several times. Anyway with only three “men” we were allowed into the VIP section, given our forms and number to wait… then shuffled over to another building where some very polite men proceeded to do our fingerprinting very quickly. The system is now computerised and users hybrid photocopiers rather than the old ink and paper method that was used up until a few weeks ago. No pain, no mess, no fuss… just seems that getting in the door has a particular protocol that needs to be followed.

So after signing a yet another form and handing back my passport to Gulam, then giving him and his offsider (no idea who he is but was carrying Gulam’s bag for him) a lift back to AJA, I’m done. It has taken 3 months, but I was assured I would have my RP, Passport and ID Card by the end of the week. Just as well as my temporary drivers license expires in a few days and I need all my papers back to get a permanent one. Hopefully that wont turn into yet another adventure, but in the back of my mind I am thinking it wont be as easy as it should be…

...we shall wait and see!