Paper Chase Pt. 1

I thought a lot about what I would like my very first blog post to be.  I thought about it as a TV pilot where I should introduce myself in a way that is fun, exciting, and will keep you coming back for more.

Then I figured, we’ll have plenty of time to get to know one another as I chronicle my adventures interning abroad over the next few months.  I’ll just jump right in: paperwork.  What is more exciting then a blog about paperwork?

The number one rule of filling out paperwork is organization.

This is so that when you get a letter like this:

Followed by this:

You don’t freak out.

Filling out forms for foreigners (the alliteration is happy coincidence) is like trying a new recipe.  Follow directions.  Read through the entire letter first.  It will give you an idea of how to go about filling out each form.  For example, if you are supposed to email the forms, print them out, or mail each form to a different department.  Personally, I print out the letter or email that has the directions listed.  I use the hard copy as a check list, in addition to several check lists I’ve made for filling out the paperwork. The people of post-its love me.

Because the forms you fill out will be mailed abroad, your goal should be to get it right the first time.  Missing or incomplete forms will take weeks to remedy because of the time it takes for the foreign office to receive your form.  Also, it will cost you a pretty penny in postage. You should do what works for you.  Just remember to check and double check before mailing off any paperwork.

About Yen

Hello! I am a third year law student. This summer I am interning at International Bridges to Justice, a legal non-profit in Geneva. In the Fall, I will be interning for Judge Pocar at the ICTY in The Hague.

, ,

128 Responses to Paper Chase Pt. 1