Archive for April, 2002

We triumphed

// April 16th, 2002 // No Comments » // tagged: >

I'm pretty much dead on my feet. But we are GOING to England tomorrow! Woohoo! We drove to Memphis last night -- and then got up this morning at 5:00 to get to the INS office and get in line. We were at the office for about 4hours total -- 1 1/2 hours before it opened - - and then about 2 1/2 hours when we finally got in and talked with them. I'm too pooped to explain the whole day -- but basically they decided to be "nice" and actually do what they're paid to do .. LOL So Steve and I drove back to Nashville and have been in a busied rush trying to get everything ready to leave tomorrow. We still can't believe we're actually getting to go ... we hugged the INS officer when she said they approved his forms. Unbelievable. Argh. What a huge relief though -- so glad that is over with. Well before I fall asleep at the keyboard - I'm signing off. Thanks to all of you who sent us well-wishes :)

$#%&!* INS

// April 15th, 2002 // No Comments » // tagged:

Well it looks like we'll be driving to Memphis tonight and getting in the INS line early tomorrow morning. We're hoping to get to talk with a nice person at INS and show them all our documents and cashed checks and such. I've had both my state senators on the phone with them today -- but I don't know if they've really made any headway. It seems like the INS pretty much runs outside of normal government channels -- they aren't held accountable by anybody?! They don't have public phone numbers?! They don't have to stick to what they say on their official website. They get paid to NOT do their job. $#&%!* In the meantime I am still trying to get all my work caught up so that IF we are actually able to GO to England -- I won't have to worry about clients going into a panic while I'm gone. I can totally handle work -- but having to deal with these INS people all day long and still trying to get some work done is driving me insane. I hope I don't go POSTAL on those INS people tomorrow when we get in ... haha. I'm surpised more people don't go insane while going through the greencard process though -- INS and this country treats immigrants like a piece of crap stuck to the bottom of their shoe. Um hello -- yes that's right -- my husband is from the country that stepped up to help you fight the war against terrorism. ENGLAND. Treat him with a little bit of respect! $#%&!*

Arlington? Memphis? England?

// April 15th, 2002 // No Comments » // tagged: >

ARGHHH. SO FRUSTRATED. I am really beginning to wonder why ANYONE would want to immigrate to America. I've been up since 7 AM this morning trying to get through to an INS office. Of course they don't have phone numbers listed -- so you have to search and see if maybe someone posted a number on a website somewhere. Officially, INS offices don't have public phone numbers. HOW IS THAT LEGAL? They are a government agency?! WHY can I not speak to the person who is screwing with my life?!?!? ARGH. Finally just called the 1-800 National Customer Service Center number and they suggested that Steve and I go to Arlington and speak to them in person. They said the Arlington office had no excuse for not approving Steve's paperwork -- especially since they've had the stuff for almost 70 days now. Argh. AGAIN -- why are we having to ASK them to do their JOB?!?! I think talking about this just makes me more upset. We bought our niece Charlotte (who lives in England) a little necklace yesterday. I guess we were feeling optimistic that we might actually be able to give it to her in person. Anyway -- the necklace is so cute! We got it at a little kiosk in the mall -- a guy wrote her name on a piece of RICE. Then they put the rice inside this tiny glass globe and it's attached to a necklace. Anyway -- you can actually see her name on the rice and it's just unusual. I think she'll like it -- when I was 9 years old I always loved unusual things with my name on them. We hope she likes it AND of course that we are able to give it to her IN PERSON.

Hard Phone Call

// April 14th, 2002 // No Comments » // tagged: > >

Just got off the phone with Steve's sister in England. Had to tell her that we MIGHT not be coming over. Hard phone call. We haven't seen them in a year and a half (since our wedding). So depressing. Argh. I hate the INS.

We might not get to go

// April 13th, 2002 // No Comments » // tagged: > >

I haven't written in ages because basically our life has been a nightmare for the past couple of days. Our trip to Europe is hanging perilously in the balance because of the huge incompetent & beligerient government agency known as INS. My husband is originally from England -- we are in the process of getting his greencard. During that period, he has to receive advance "parole" to be able to leave the country & return. We applied for this document MONTHS ago -- paid the $110 fee. My husband's lawyer, who is handling the greencard processing has been on the phone with the INS office -- and basically they are CHOOSING to be a pain in the A$$ about this. So basically -- our year of planning our trip to Europe is about to go up in flames. We can cancel the hotels and rental cars. But between the Eurostar tickets and the plane tickets -- we are going to lose way over $1000 dollars because INS has decided to just not do their job. I called the office of one of my senators yesterday afternoon. They were so nice -- but basically said that the INS office we are having to work with -- Arlington -- are very hard to deal with. They said they would try and make some phone calls -- but not to get our hopes up. This is my major gripe in the world right now. INS employees are PAID to do a job. We PAID them to do a job. WHY are we having to ASK them to DO their JOB?! It's ridiculous. It's frustrating. It's just plain wrong. My sweet husband is so frustrated too -- even though we both know it isn't our fault. We've done everything right. It's just unbelieveable that we are going to have to cancel our trip if this little piece of paper isn't approved before Wednesday. UNBELIEVEABLE. ARgh.