stumped and splode
Friday, 9. June 2006, 16:54:49
A quickie today (minds out of gutter please)
Am falling behind in my replies to comments. Will catch up over the weekend...abject apologies etc.
Stumped because in 24 hours, visits to my blog jumped from 31 to 189
I'm being stalked virtually, or rather, my blog is. Yes. that's it. No idea what happened, the monkey servers must have gone beserk or sumfink.
Splode because had 5 meetings in a row yesterday - whatta waste-a of time-a. Blah blah blah. Bubbling brooks couldn't compete.
Angry, not me personally, but friend whom I've not seen in a long while. Out of the blue an e-mail from her saying
Anyway, SS is caught up in a horrific, sticky, tangled-up mess of red tape which would repel even Occam's Razor. The sequence of events:
This was Monday, she checked into a hotel with only the clothes on her back. Good thing no Victorian strictures about not being able to get hotel room without luggage here.
The next day she goes back to the airport - 6 hours there - with a different IO, one who rolls her eyes and has this look of compassion flood her face when SS tells her that it was disturbing-white-lashes-across-the-eye-IO. Apparently White-lash has gone on stress leave, and it's been in the works for a while.
Unfortunately, the damage has been done. The refusal is on her record and her only option now is to apply for a green card and different work visa. The catch? She has to stay out of the US during the application process which can take up to 6 months (that timeframe, btw, expedited for married couples).
So now, hubby and hubby's family in CA are writing all the congressmen they know and filing all sorts of papers and cursing HPL-BI who as SS said basically "took 3K to photocopy my diplomas and fill in a few forms - the incorrect ones at that"
They hope that she'll be able to get back to the US and start the application process from there rather than having to stay outside the country as the paper work grinds through.
A few other things:
HPL-BI also applied for a parole form on Monday so that SS, being primary caregiver for her 2 - year old daughter, could return on compassionate grounds to be with the child. White-lashed IO also refused this saying that parole forms were for primary caregivers to go into the US to take a sick person out.
At one point, SS called her parents in Rostov-on-Don who were horrified and aghast until SS said that what she might do is to get hubby to bring daughter to her, then head back to Rostove-on-Don until the papers come through.
Then mum was all happy.
Anyway, the company stopped paying for the hotel last night and so SS will probably spend a few days here with me on big blue until they know what's going to happen in the near future.
Keep fingers crossed for SS please!
Am falling behind in my replies to comments. Will catch up over the weekend...abject apologies etc.
Stumped because in 24 hours, visits to my blog jumped from 31 to 189
I'm being stalked virtually, or rather, my blog is. Yes. that's it. No idea what happened, the monkey servers must have gone beserk or sumfink.Splode because had 5 meetings in a row yesterday - whatta waste-a of time-a. Blah blah blah. Bubbling brooks couldn't compete.Angry, not me personally, but friend whom I've not seen in a long while. Out of the blue an e-mail from her saying
...what's your number? I'm in town and don't know how long I'm stuck here...the guy who answered when I called the number I have for you has your NAME, SOUNDS LIKE YOU and used to live in Montreal too. Are you avoiding me?!
Anyway, SS is caught up in a horrific, sticky, tangled-up mess of red tape which would repel even Occam's Razor. The sequence of events:
- SS moves to CA from Canada to join American husband (2 year kid in tow) 6 months ago
- Finishes her work commitments in Canada
- Looks for job in CA
- Is offered most-excellent-10-minute-walk-from-home-across-University-campus-pays-so-much-she-almost-drove-her-car-off-the-highway-when-she-found-out job.
- But of course she needs a work visa to take the job
- The company hires these high-priced lawyers (HPL) to "take care of the matter"
- HPL (soon to be know as blistering idiots (BI)) file an application for SS
- Application comes through and she's told to head to the nearest border for the final formalities
- Flies up to Vancouver planning to do a turn-around trip
- Denied work visa eyes: because HPL placed her in the wrong category and therefore wrong visa
- Turns to immigration officer (IO, apparently he has white eye-lashes which stick down across his eyes so when he looks at you, he has to tilt his head back - "...was very disturbed by this right away") and says...."we'll clear this up in CA, I'll take the next flight back"
- IO tilts head back and says: No you won't.
- SS: but why? Don't give me the work visa, but I'll go back on my visitor's visa
- IO: I've cancelled it
- Apparently, once you're refused a visa, all other visas are automatically cancelled
- Frantic phone calls to HPL (now known as BI and worse), hubby who thinks she's joking and company.
- Hubby thinks she's joking until SS snaps and says This is f***ing serious, I might not be able to get back for 6 months! So f***ing pay attention!
This was Monday, she checked into a hotel with only the clothes on her back. Good thing no Victorian strictures about not being able to get hotel room without luggage here.
The next day she goes back to the airport - 6 hours there - with a different IO, one who rolls her eyes and has this look of compassion flood her face when SS tells her that it was disturbing-white-lashes-across-the-eye-IO. Apparently White-lash has gone on stress leave, and it's been in the works for a while.
Unfortunately, the damage has been done. The refusal is on her record and her only option now is to apply for a green card and different work visa. The catch? She has to stay out of the US during the application process which can take up to 6 months (that timeframe, btw, expedited for married couples).
So now, hubby and hubby's family in CA are writing all the congressmen they know and filing all sorts of papers and cursing HPL-BI who as SS said basically "took 3K to photocopy my diplomas and fill in a few forms - the incorrect ones at that"
They hope that she'll be able to get back to the US and start the application process from there rather than having to stay outside the country as the paper work grinds through.
A few other things:
HPL-BI also applied for a parole form on Monday so that SS, being primary caregiver for her 2 - year old daughter, could return on compassionate grounds to be with the child. White-lashed IO also refused this saying that parole forms were for primary caregivers to go into the US to take a sick person out.
At one point, SS called her parents in Rostov-on-Don who were horrified and aghast until SS said that what she might do is to get hubby to bring daughter to her, then head back to Rostove-on-Don until the papers come through.
Then mum was all happy.
Anyway, the company stopped paying for the hotel last night and so SS will probably spend a few days here with me on big blue until they know what's going to happen in the near future.
Keep fingers crossed for SS please!
WIDGETIZE
Allan # 9. June 2006, 19:26
I´ve heard similar stories before - so conditions similar to that is not that uncommon, unfortunately.
Kay Four # 10. June 2006, 10:34
I hope she does well. It is unfortunate tht people get caught up in things beyond their control every now and then.
hungryghost # 11. June 2006, 20:19
the last word on Friday didn't sound very good. THe situation is more complex than we thought. Hopefully, some more compassionate consular office will be able to suggest a way out on Monday.
At present, poor SS is starting to look for jobs here and talking about setting up a second home with her daughter until they can get the visa thing sorted out - could take up to a year!
ღೋCupcake Blogೋღ # 19. June 2006, 19:00