A: I have heard that you are going to Singapore for an international educational conference next month, is it true?

　　我听说你下一个月要去新加坡参加一次国际教育会议，这是真的吗？

　　B: Yes, if eveything goes smoothly.

　　是的，假如一切都很顺利的话。

　　A: Wonderful. It is really a valuable chance to get to know some knowledge frontier as well as the latest teaching skills. Isn't it marvelous? Congratulations!

　　那真是太好了。这绝对是一次了解学术前沿知识和最先进的教学方法的大好机会。这是太棒了。祝贺你啊！

　　B: Thank you. But the procedures to go to another country is very complicated, it's a big headache. I really do not know how to make it. I have heard that the procedures to apply for a business visa are not that easy.

　　谢谢你。但是出国的手续很复杂啊，这是目前我最头疼的一件事了。我都不知道该怎么办。听说商务签证的程序还不简单呢。

　　A: Don't worry so much. I went to attend an international meeting last year, and I know there are some requirements to be satisfied if you are applying for a business visa, but it is not that difficult as you have imagined. Firstly you need to have an invitation letter, which is a necessity, because the officer in the visa office will need this to confirm that there are really some proper business reasons for you to go to another country and without any ill intention.

　　你不用太过担心这个问题。我去年去参加过一个国际会议，我知道要申请商务签证的话是有一些要求应该满足，但并不是像你想象的那么复杂。首先你需要的是一封邀请函，这是必须的东西，因为签证办公室要用你的邀请函来确认你确实有真实的商务原因要进入他国而没有任何的不良意图。

　　B: OK, I see. That means the invitation letter is the basic document I need to have. Then I will e-mail the organizer of this conference to provide me with an invitation letter.

　　我明白了，也就是说我首先需要的是最基本的文件就是一封邀请函。那么我会给这次会议的主办方发一封电子邮件，要求他们给我发一封邀请函。

　　A: And the immigration Bureau will ask you to be physically healthy, no criminal record, and no threat to the national security. That means you have to ask the personal department of our school to provide a certificate to confirm that you do not have any of the problems.

　　并且移民局会要求商务考察者身体健康，无刑事犯罪记录，对某国的国家安全不会构成威胁。所以你要到我们学校的人事部门让他们给你出具一份证明来证实你没有以上问题。 B: OK, this is not difficult. 好的，这个并不难。

　　A: So, we are almost there. It is not that complicated as you imagined, huh?

　　基本上就是这些了。没有你想象的那么复杂，是不是？

　　B: Yes, you are right. Thank you so much. You are really helpful. I am really honored to have a friend like you.

　　是啊，你说得对。真是非常感谢你。你对我帮助很大，我很荣幸能有你这样的朋友。

　　“We are almost there”意为“差不多或者几乎做完了某事”，这是口语当中经常会听到的表达方式。还可以说“We are almost done.”这两种表达方式的意思基本是一样的。例如：We are almost done today, please have a good rest and come back to work with all your energy tomorrow. 今天我们的任务差不多结束了，今天回去好好休息，明天精神百倍地回来工作。