friggin beraucracy!!
last friday....i was treated to the wonderful experience of trying to attain my US visa...
the trip started out well...my plane to Calgary was delayed by about an hour, there was no coffee and the stewardess wwas strung-out on too much caffeine and no sleep....but i got there in the end....
after a not so good nights sleep i arose at the crack of dawn and walked about 5 blocks in -7 snow/sleet to the consulate...which i had trouble finding given there was NO marking on the building...i then lined up with all the other hopeful applicants before going through the insane-tighter-than-airport security.....at each step presenting my documentation and all important application fee.....at each stop informed that the bright pink paper i had printed my application on "wouldnt be acceptable"....but i was prepared to stick to my guns as there had been no stipulation in the application list that white paper was necessary....
however after being grilled on why my application was bright pink, why my employer petition was bright green, and why for that matter was i planning to work on a ski hill in LA...*he didnt know California well apparently*.....i was then grilled as to my intention, why i didnt want to stay in Canada and why i didnt look like the photo on my last visa...i was finally allowed to leave....
decision as to terrorist status pending.....
Calgary was in my experience dirty, boring and not very friendly...there were also a lot of homeless people on the street adding to the depressing feeling of the city centre...there were however quite a few funky second-hand stores and cd stores which i spent a few hours perusing....
summoned back that afternoon i again waited in the LONG line of visa hopefuls to have documentation handed out...pink application in hand i was bestowed my H2B.....
so successful trip all in all....but as always a kick in the pants at the end...
my flight home (again delayed)was in a "flying short bus" so dubbed by the band we were travelling with.... a flight in a small plan with a band always ends well doesnt it?....so of course my luggage was lost but at least we didnt crash....
so now the countdown is well under way and i will be leaving canada on the 14th as planned....i dont know how i managed to pick such a perfect date back in november but its all worked out...story of my life at the moment...touch wood and all that...
the trip started out well...my plane to Calgary was delayed by about an hour, there was no coffee and the stewardess wwas strung-out on too much caffeine and no sleep....but i got there in the end....
after a not so good nights sleep i arose at the crack of dawn and walked about 5 blocks in -7 snow/sleet to the consulate...which i had trouble finding given there was NO marking on the building...i then lined up with all the other hopeful applicants before going through the insane-tighter-than-airport security.....at each step presenting my documentation and all important application fee.....at each stop informed that the bright pink paper i had printed my application on "wouldnt be acceptable"....but i was prepared to stick to my guns as there had been no stipulation in the application list that white paper was necessary....
however after being grilled on why my application was bright pink, why my employer petition was bright green, and why for that matter was i planning to work on a ski hill in LA...*he didnt know California well apparently*.....i was then grilled as to my intention, why i didnt want to stay in Canada and why i didnt look like the photo on my last visa...i was finally allowed to leave....
decision as to terrorist status pending.....
Calgary was in my experience dirty, boring and not very friendly...there were also a lot of homeless people on the street adding to the depressing feeling of the city centre...there were however quite a few funky second-hand stores and cd stores which i spent a few hours perusing....
summoned back that afternoon i again waited in the LONG line of visa hopefuls to have documentation handed out...pink application in hand i was bestowed my H2B.....
so successful trip all in all....but as always a kick in the pants at the end...
my flight home (again delayed)was in a "flying short bus" so dubbed by the band we were travelling with.... a flight in a small plan with a band always ends well doesnt it?....so of course my luggage was lost but at least we didnt crash....
so now the countdown is well under way and i will be leaving canada on the 14th as planned....i dont know how i managed to pick such a perfect date back in november but its all worked out...story of my life at the moment...touch wood and all that...
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