Finding humor in the immigration process

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

Sometimes, I get so stressed out and so worried that I just start laughing uncontrollably at the ridiculousness of it all. Like Natalie Portman says in Garden State, "I'm not saying I don't cry but in between I laugh and I realize how silly it is to take anything too seriously."

The ridculousness of the fact that I have to go through a 6-12 month (or longer!) process to marry the man I love because he was born 45 minutes north of an imaginary line some old guys in a room smoking cigars and drinking scotch decided upon a couple hundred years ago is laughable.

For those of you trying to get your Canadian fiance(e) in, I'm sure you can attest to hearing the same thing that I've heard a hundred times over, "But it's only Canada!?" People say with such a shocked face. Like, it's hard to believe it's even a foreign country. And I'm sure that's same with a lot of countries, especially ones that have a history of allied ties to the States. Sometimes it's hard to grasp the seriousness of those borders and it makes it so amusing. (Beyond the fact that how well you know the person and the idea of him or her being a threat to the U.S. homeland security and/or a determent to society is so proposterous that it's laughable. Or the thought that you are faking your love just to get him/her in the country, it's funny because to us, it's so ridiculous that someone could think that. You know they have to check, but still, it's amusing.)

Of course, I know the seriousness of this process, and the intricate detail it takes to accomplish. But I also just wanted to remind everyone that it's okay to laugh about it every now and again. We're doing this because we are in love and c'mon, the fact that we have to prove our love to the government? So ridculous (understandable, but nevertheless ridiculous) that it's laughable.

So, enjoy a laugh and then get back to work.

[iceyspots 0]

yes it does suck that it takes so long but it is every country that has to go through one same process....

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

yes it does suck that it takes so long but it is every country that has to go through one same process....

Oh, I know that. And I agree with that, because giving preferential treatment to different countries would be completely wrong. That doesn't mean I don't find it humorous still.

[Officer's Fiance 0]

I HEAR YOU ON THAT ONE!!!! LOL I think this process is so emotionally draining, nevertheless, we have to go through it.....

Just curious, I was reading your timeline and noticed Craig got denied access to the US and you hadn't even applied for the K-1 yet??? Wow, you must have ran into a grumpy officer or what???? I'm travelling to the US next week and will be filing for the K-1 and wasn't planning on bringing proof of ties in Canada, perhaps I should rethink this????

[Lizzy 0]

I lost patience around the 6 month mark of security checks, lol

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

Well, it was a selection of factors. Craig was unemployed at the time, living with his parents, we were traveling by car, together, and truthfully we were just flat out uneducated about it. We had no idea that he'd need to have proof of ties back to Canada. The CBP officer was very nice about it, telling us that it happens all the time, and it's unfortunate but we had to learn the lesson. He wasn't fingerprinted or photographed and not charged with anything. The officer just ask that he reestablish ties in for a few months Canada before trying to cross again.

So needless to say, I've been flying to him a lot.

But yes, I recommend taking proof. Even if they don't ask for it, it'll be nice to have in case you come across a grumpy officer.

I HEAR YOU ON THAT ONE!!!! LOL I think this process is so emotionally draining, nevertheless, we have to go through it.....

Just curious, I was reading your timeline and noticed Craig got denied access to the US and you hadn't even applied for the K-1 yet??? Wow, you must have ran into a grumpy officer or what???? I'm travelling to the US next week and will be filing for the K-1 and wasn't planning on bringing proof of ties in Canada, perhaps I should rethink this????

[Keith & Xiang 0]

Keeping on the same subject as "it's an imaginary line...", how many here have heard of the NAFTA Super Highway that they plan on pushing through in 2007? The "check point" is in Kansas City. This "Super Highway" will run from Mexico to Canada, bypassing the border patrol at both the U.S./Mexico border and the U.S./Canada border. Sounds to me like an excellent way to enter the United States, making sure that you exit the semi trailer prior to reaching Kansas City.

You may move this posting to another location if you deem it's not relative to the thread, just my thoughts and also wondering how many others may have heard of the "Super Highway".

Thanks

[bebop + rocksteady 0]

I haven't heard about this at all!

Wow, that's crazy.

Although, I did hear about the fact that in Minnesota alone, there are 30 marked, county/state roads that DO NOT have border crossing agents at them and lead directly to/from Canada without ever being stopped by customs of either country.

Craig and I were trying to be truthful and cross at a border crossing, but nooooo the truth got him denied.

Keeping on the same subject as "it's an imaginary line...", how many here have heard of the NAFTA Super Highway that they plan on pushing through in 2007? The "check point" is in Kansas City. This "Super Highway" will run from Mexico to Canada, bypassing the border patrol at both the U.S./Mexico border and the U.S./Canada border. Sounds to me like an excellent way to enter the United States, making sure that you exit the semi trailer prior to reaching Kansas City.

You may move this posting to another location if you deem it's not relative to the thread, just my thoughts and also wondering how many others may have heard of the "Super Highway".

Thanks

[USMA 0]

Borders are imaginary lines. We keep them that way because we still see the world as 'them', 'us', 'you', 'they', 'me', 'mine', 'yours', etc. To see beyond the borders and the differences takes a huge shift in thinking to see the fact that everything and everyone is the same. To group anyone or anything into countries or 'tribes' is a very primitive way of thinking.

I agree that it is rediculous and should be laughed at more than it should be agonized over.

Here is a link to something Wayne Dyer wrote about this very thing:

http://www.consumercide.com/dyer-worldego.html

This is a subject I feel very strongly about and feel that it needs to have more light shed on it.

Best wishes to all on this journey!

Brenda

[hockeygal 0]

This "Super Highway" will run from Mexico to Canada, bypassing the border patrol at both the U.S./Mexico border and the U.S./Canada border.

I think that is an exaggeration floating around the web...

[Caladan 19]

Oh, I hear ya. My boyfriend's from the Edmonton area, and his town reminds me of my hometown, and sometimes it's like 'DUDE, I can get there with a driver's license and my birth certificate, and shop at many of the same stores how does this count as another country again?

Most of the Canadian board is bush and unpatrolled, but I guess they figure the coyotes will eat troublemakers.

[calidreamer80 0]

Well, it was a selection of factors. Craig was unemployed at the time, living with his parents, we were traveling by car, together, and truthfully we were just flat out uneducated about it. We had no idea that he'd need to have proof of ties back to Canada. The CBP officer was very nice about it, telling us that it happens all the time, and it's unfortunate but we had to learn the lesson. He wasn't fingerprinted or photographed and not charged with anything. The officer just ask that he reestablish ties in for a few months Canada before trying to cross again.

So needless to say, I've been flying to him a lot.

But yes, I recommend taking proof. Even if they don't ask for it, it'll be nice to have in case you come across a grumpy officer.

I HEAR YOU ON THAT ONE!!!! LOL I think this process is so emotionally draining, nevertheless, we have to go through it.....

Just curious, I was reading your timeline and noticed Craig got denied access to the US and you hadn't even applied for the K-1 yet??? Wow, you must have ran into a grumpy officer or what???? I'm travelling to the US next week and will be filing for the K-1 and wasn't planning on bringing proof of ties in Canada, perhaps I should rethink this????

I was denied for the same reasons as Craig. Only I was fingerprinted on one occasion and all that jazz. The second occasion I was treated really rougly although I was told that it happens alot. It pays to be educated. I had a 12 month border block put on me too. You are right, we do need to laugh about it sometimes.

Edited June 22, 2006 by calidreamer80

[Alex+R 0]

Hehe, I am from Minnesota and we go camping and canoeing in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area, a chain of lakes and portages on the border of Canada, all the time. Sometimes the rangers patrol and make sure we are not Canadian. They come in canoes, with two men per boat, paddling very quickly in their little ranger canoeing outfits. The Canadian rangers also patrol the Quetico, which is the Canadian side of the BWCA.

However, they don't do this all the time, and usually just check to make sure you're not building a fire in an undesignated area....perhaps more people should just start canoeing in.

[Amy and Brian 1]

Well... it is the largest unprotected border in the world. There's just not much to fear from us friendly Canuckian folk I guess

[zauberblume 0]

Borders are imaginary lines. We keep them that way because we still see the world as 'them', 'us', 'you', 'they', 'me', 'mine', 'yours', etc. To see beyond the borders and the differences takes a huge shift in thinking to see the fact that everything and everyone is the same. To group anyone or anything into countries or 'tribes' is a very primitive way of thinking.

Borders are indeed imaginary just as national identity is imaginary. However, it serves a purpose, even if you deem it to be primitive. It's actually not at all primitive. It's a quite recent phenomenon.

Everything and everyone are not the same. I'm not sure if you're being general or if you're being serious with your statement above.

Lastly, there is a way to have a border, even in its imaginary existence, and to also have immigration policies that are not so exclusive. Think about the Visa Waiver Program and how many citizens of VWP countries can come to the U.S. Now think of all the countries that cannot use VWP. Americans are free to travel a lot of places without having to file for a visa. Some nations, though, are adopting the U.S.'s immigration stance and using the same laws to make it difficult for Americans to come into their country (e.g. China). This is about, in my opinion, U.S. immigration laws and border control more than anything. Because, in Europe, for example, border patrol is more relaxed. It's easy to just drive into Switzerland from Germany. You won't be harassed as long as you're not doing anything illegal.

America has such a superiority complex. This nation believes that every non-American citizen wants to be a citizen because America is just the greatest land on Earth. If the borders are opened or even relaxed, there is sentiment, held by the U.S. government in their immigration policies, that other non-American citizens will want to come to America, the promised land. That's really not the case at all.