I must say that over the past eight years I have been dealing with US immigration procedures my experience has been nothing but harmless. I was going to say a pleasure, but that would have been pushing it. Immigration and visa's is never a pleasure,in fact it can be a pain in the ass. I guess what I am saying is that it has never been really painful for me and to be perfectly honest at times it has been close to pleasurable.
Take last Friday. We arrived at the INS office in Charlotte at 12:20 for my appointment at 1. We were greeted with a smile and a cheery 'hello, how can I help you'. After filling out a brief form on which I recorded my eye and hair color, weight (165) height (6 foot), I was promptly called for my fingerprints and photograph at 1pm on the dot. Let that sink in for a minute. I had an appointment with Immigration at 1 in the afternoon and I was called up at 1 in the afternoon. I was astounded. Admittedly my fingerprints were taken by a man who hardly spoke a word of English and yes I had to correct him on a couple of things he filled in wrong, but he was very nice and once he was done, his entries were double checked by his supervisor, who happened to be a warm elderly African American lady who, when I grimaced for my photo, teasingly said, "Ah yes, we have that effect on people here. Don't you want to show some teeth honey?" I now have a picture on my work authorization card that makes me look like I just won the lottery.
And yes, that is what it feels like. Like winning the lottery. Yesterday, just four working days after my fingerprints, my work authorization card came. I almost threw the letter out thinking it was a credit card offer. After, waiting four months (my last authorization expired May), I have it again and this time with no restrictions. For the first time in eight years,I can work anywhere and do anything. It feels amazing. With the speed and efficiency of the work authorization I may even get my green card before May and then it's off across the pond to see my nieces, brother and sister in law and perhaps even back to the homeland if we can afford it. Wow!
Now it's time to strategize. Part time somewhere till I find the job I really want, or keep counting our pennies till someone says 'you're hired'? I think an all out attack is called for, take no prisoners, full time, part time, just show me the money.
Ben
5 comments:
WELL DONE BEN
hope you find lots of great jobs to choose from.
lots of love from all of us
(6 foot?)
saw this and thought of you: http://illustrator.jobs.jobsearchsite.com/jobsearch.asp?cat=886
delete if you want to ... :)
You're the best! I love Boston, it's a beautiful city, though I think our plan is to have a city experience again once we have some more cash and less debt :) Till then it's sunny North Carolina for us. If only they were offering that position down here!
I applied for a part time job at an art gallery today and am going to apply for a web intern position next week. Busy, busy.
Yes, 6 foot, minus 4 inches.
Ben
Ben, I am so happy and so proud of you! Best of luck in the job hunt. My attitude with employers is, "What's not to like?" Go get 'em
yes, I hope to use my accent (or what's left of it to full effect). Strange how I can sound like such a foreigner when something useful is on the line. Look forward to seeing you soon.
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