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Must know: Visa renewal at the Mugamaara

A Step by step guide, for a visa renewal in mugamaa

**A helpful guide a sister forwarded from her husband. It was compiled by one of the brothers in Egypt after his personal experience) I also thought I'd share it in hope that it will help someone inshallah🌸
Additional humors provided by yours truly 💋

What to Bring:
1. Yourself.
2. Your Passport.
3. A photocopy of your passport photo page.
4. A photocopy of your passport visa page–if it's not your first renewal, bring copies of your initial visa page and your most recent renewal.
5. A passport-sized photo of yourself.
6. A pen.
7. Lots of patience.

Get the photocopies and passport photo done before you go there, but if you forget, you can get them done when you get to the Mogamma. A photo and copy center is located to the right of the entrance, past the ridiculously crowded staircase (I can't remember the exact price). You will likely need to use your elbows to maintain your place in line.

What to Do:
1. Arrive at Mogamma, the earlier the better. The building located in Tahrir Square opens at 8AM. I highly recommend making sure there's nothing major happening in Tahrir before you go.

2. Go through security. If you're carrying a camera, they'll ask you to check it at the entrance.

3. If you didn't get your photocopies and passport photo in advance, do so now.

4. Go up the massive, crowded staircase on your right.

5. Go down the linoleum lined hallway found on the right at the top of the stairs.

6. Look for the window for visa renewals (window 12)–it's near the end of the hallway. They will ask you to fill in the paperwork first and point you to one of the few tables in the hallway.

7. Find the table and get your paperwork, an A3-sized paper, blank and ready to fill in.

8. Go back to window 12 and hand everything in. They will write some things on the paperwork and in your passport. You will get a paper that states how much you need to pay.

9. Find window (6). It is not the one that is across from window 12, but instead go back down the hallway and take the first hallway to the left. The first window 6 that you will encounter is not the one you need... be not surprised by how confusing this sound... it is painfully accurate and maybe worse. So anyhow, you need to be at the second window labeled 6... a blue number 6, if that helps.

10. Hand in the paper you received at window 12. He will will then take the payment and stamp your paper

11. Give your completed paperwork, passport photo and visa photocopies to the first window(12) where you got your paperwork from initially ... do remember to keep your passport! They will ask you to come back the next day at 9AM (or any other day that you wish to collect your visa, as long as it's at 9AM).

12. Get out of the building injury free.

13. Return to the Mogamma the next day and again back through security. Go back up the stairs and down the hall, but now look for window 38. Hand in your passport and they will tell you to come back the same day at 1PM.... having fun yet?... perhaps pack lunch.

14. Get out of the building again 

15. Return to the Mogamma at 1PM and join the massive throng of people waiting for their visas at window 38 once more.

16. When the people behind the counter hold up your paperwork with your photo attached, restrain yourself from running out of excitement, you may hurt someone... but be filled with joy because your visa is finally ready.

Lastly, but not leastly... elbow your way to the window to pick up your passport and do note that this can take up to or an excess of 2 hours!

On your marks! Get ready! Set! GO!!

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