Can You Speak Over the Telephone. Как вести беседу по телефону - [15]

Mr Horn: Five days ago I sent you my passport to obtain a visa for a business trip to the Soviet Union.

Secretary: Wait a minute, Mr Horn. I’ll make some inquiries. (After two minutes’ interval.) Yes, Mr Horn, we have your completed application form and your passport. But you did not send us three passport-size photographs.

Mr Horn: I’m afraid I didn’t. The thing is, I don’t have them.

Secretary: Then go to the local photographer and have the pictures taken.

Mr Horn: Thank you. If I send the photographs tomorrow, when can I have my passport back?

Secretary: We need at least seven clear days to issue a visa. In your case we’ll do it in three days.

Mr Horn: You are very kind, thank you. Good-bye.

Secretary: Good-bye, Mr Horn.

Dialogue 2

Tourist Visa

Miss Dodge: Good afternoon. Could I speak to somebody from the Soviet Consular Department, please?

Secretary: Good afternoon. Secretary’s speaking.

Miss Dodge: My name is Dodge. I am going to visit the Soviet Union as a tourist.

Secretary: You are welcome, Miss Dodge.

Miss Dodge: Should I apply for a visa personally or by post?

Secretary: Any way you wish.

Miss Dodge: What documents should I submit to the Consular Department, pдease?

Secretary: A completed application form, your passport, three recent passport-size photographs, and a letter from your travel agent.

Miss Dodge: Do I have to get in touch with a travel agency?

Secretary: Yes, Miss Dodge. All individual tourist trips to the Soviet Union are arranged through the “Intourist” Travel agency.

Miss Dodge: Can’t I arrange it through the Consular Department?

Secretary: I’m afraid, Miss Dodge, you cannot. It is done for your convenience. The “Intourist” will take care of the tickets and your hotel accommodation in the USSR.

Miss Dodge: Thank you very much. When you are open?

Secretary: Monday through Friday. Our Consular office is closed on Saturdays and Sundays and on all legal holidays.

Miss Dodge: Thank you again, Miss Secretary.

Secretary: You are welcome. Good-bye.

Miss Dodge: Good-bye.

Dialogue 3

An Applicant’s Passport is not Available

Mr Stock: Hello, is this the Soviet Consular Department, please?

Secretary: Yes, it is.

Mr Stock: This is Stock speaking. I would like to make some inquiries about the Soviet visa.

Secretary: Have you sent the documents to the Consular Department, Mr Stock?

Mr Stock: Not yet. The matter is, I don’t have the passport at present. It is with the Foreign Office.

Secretary: Then I connect you with our Vice-Consul, Mr Stock.

Vice-Consul (after a minute): Speaking.

Mr Stock explains his situation.

Vice-Consul: As a rule, Mr Stock, the Consulate does not issue visas without the applicant’s passport.

Mr Stock: This is an urgent business trip to Leningrad, Mr Vice-Consul, and the passport will be available from the Foreign Office within three days, I am sure.

Vice-Consul: In exceptional cases like yours we can issue a visa providing you send us all the necessary documents now, and the passport will be presented later.

Mr Stock: Thank you very much, sir. What documents do I have to supply now, except the passport?

Vice-Consul: A completed application form, three recent passport-size photographs, and a letter from your firm confirming your business trip to the USSR.

Mr Stock: I’ll deliver the documents to your Office tomorrow afternoon.

Vice-Consul: And the passport, of course, as soon as you get it from the Foreign Office.

Mr Stock: Sure thing, Mr Vice-Consul. Thank you very much.

Vice-Consul: Good-bye.

Mr Stock: Good-bye.

WORDS AND EXPRESSIONS YOU MAY NEED

1. to obtain visa получать визу

a completed application form анкета, заполненная подателем

clear days рабочие дни; непраздничные дни

2. to apply for a visa personally лично обращаться за визой

to submit a document предъявлять документ

a recent passport-size photograph последняя фотография паспортного размера

for somebody’s convenience для чьего-либо удобства

legal holidays официальные праздники

3. to explain a situation объяснять ситуацию

an urgent trip безотлагательная поездка

in exceptional cases в исключительных случаях

providingadv при условии, если

to supply documents представлять документы

confirmv подтверждать

to deliver documents доставлять документы; официально вручать документы

personifyv воплощать(ся), имитировать

EXERCISES

I. Learn the dialogues.

II. Say what documents you have to submit to the Consular Department to obtain:

— a business visa;

— a tourist visa;

— a visa when your passport is not available.

III. Make up small dialogues of your own personifying an applicant for visa and Vice-Consul.

IV. Phone the Consular Department inquiring about the delay in issuing visas for a group of Polish students.

E. CONGRATULATIONS

1. Congratulations on a Promotion

Mr James: Two-four-five; seven-double three-six.

Mr Serov: Good morning. Could I have a word with Mr James, please?

Mr James: Speaking.

Mr Serov: Boris Serov here, Arthur.

Mr James: Oh, hello, Boris.

Mr Serov: I’m calling to offer you my heartiest congratulations on your promotion.

Mr James: Thank you ever so much.

Mr Serov: I guess you have other fish to fry