Have you been reading my blog, Twitter or Facebook and wondering WTF is going on? Why is Jamie not in Seattle I hear you cry. Sit a while and let me tell you the story…
It all begins last Wednesday (17th) as I landed at Sea-Tac airport, early by the way. From the plane I headed straight to immigration/passport control as I wanted to be one of the first to get there, and I was. However I hadn’t filled out my form completely (you’d think I’d have the hang of it by now) and so was sent to the end of the line.
However I returned triumphant with completed form in hand, stated my business and was duly red flagged and sent for further questioning. This happened last year and tho I’d hoped it wouldn’t (ain’t these people heard of a database?) I anticipated it would.
I went to the desk and sat like a good boy until called forth, was told to collect my bags which I did like a good boy and was then questioned. I answered all questions truthfully and to the best if my ability. I was here to visit my boyfriend of three years for 86 days while on holiday and then would return home. Yes I quit my job but only on a technicality and it was understood my job was kept open for me. My situation was IDENTICAL to last summer apart from the fact that THIS YEAR I had MORE MONEY.
But apparently this was not enough, I was told I was inadmissible un the visa waiver program and although no reason was stated I believe it was because I didn’t have a job and apparently living with my parent doesn’t class as maintaining a residence abroad. W. T. Eff.
So at this point I was told I was being sent home.…on the next flight available. Which wasn’t until the next day. Can I at least phone my boyfriend and let him know what is happening? Later they say. How about now? Later. Now? Later.
So as I’m being taken to the detention centre (in handcuffs) some eight hours after I landed, I ask one last time. “you can call him from the detention centre but we will phone him to let him know what is happening”. The detention centre is exactly what it sounds like, a slight step up from a prison. The one good thing is that I get a free medical and apparently I’m not due to die soon, hooray!
Upon my return (in handcuffs and in the back of a cop car!) to Sea-Tac the following morning I again request to speak to my boyfriend. Later…but you have to phone your mother because she called her demanding to speak with you.
So I ring home and my mother answers, I announce it is I and she promptly bursts into tears. What the? Apparently she only learned I’d been detained through Tim posting on Facebook that he knew I’d been detained but hadn’t heard anything since they called to verify my story at 1pm the following afternoon. So Ms Makenova, who assured me she’d call him and make him aware of what was happening?Not so much apparently.
So for twenty some hours he’d been waiting to hear from me all because this woman didn’t deem him important enough to be informed. But I’m sure if we’d been married she would be obligated to, thanks Mr Obama you’re doing a bang up job!
But I digress. Turns out my mother had to phone the Home Office, the police, the US Embassy and the British Embassy in San Fran (which also covers Washington State don’t you know?) just to get to speak to me. The term ‘raising hell’ doesn’t really do it justice.
At 12:55pm Thursday (18th) some twenty five hours and forty minutes since I had landed I was on another plane out of Sea-Tac, not once in that time did I taste fresh American air. For a claustrophobic person, being indoors (in areas without windows) for 24 hours is extremely dehabilitating, I’d also been without proper sleep for roughly 62 hours.
And after 25 hours of being on his native soil, I finally managed to speak to Tim, only to tell him I wouldn’t be seeing him anytime soon. Our summer together? All the concerts we had booked, my sister and her boyfriend coming to visit, my weekend of being taken away for my birthday, PAX, tattoo expo, Elbe? Gone, because of one persons belief I wouldn’t leave the country, despite having left perfectly on time the previous five times I’ve visited!
So in the eternal words of the cast of Buffy the Vampire Slayer, where do we go from here? Well I can apply for a B2 tourist visa or green card, I’m only banned from travelling on the visa waiver program. The B2 visa costs tho and takes around 4-6 weeks to get.
So my plan of action is to fight the deportation based on the fact I am NOT an immigrant risk. I have never, nor will I ever, thought about staying in the US illegally. If, and yes it’s if now, I do move to the US it will be to live a peaceful life there with the man I love. Not to be living in constant fear of deportation or prison while working a shitty pay job.
So on Friday I’m meeting with my Member if Parliament (think Senator) who also luckily happens to be the Scottish Secretary if State. So basically he’s about the highest person I could go to regarding international stuff. I’ve gathered evidence of my job status, living arrangement, ties to the UK, lots of fun things detailing my life here and hopefully that will be enough to convince them they made a very bad judgement call.
If not then apparently I shouldve been given the choice to eiter be deported or willingly withdraw my application and come back with further evidence. I was not given this choice so I will be bringing this up to my MP.
Worst comes to worst I will apply for a B2 visa and spend what’s left of the summer in Seattle. But that would mean the cost of the visa AND the cost of another set of flights. Frankly I don’t think it’s just that I should have to considering they have clearly made a mistake.
Lets hope it all gets resolved soon tho cos I don’t know if I can stand seeing my sister and her boyfriend jetting off to spend time with my boyfriend that I should be spending with him. In fact as I write this I should be sitting next to him on the sofa settling down to watch some Buffy or play some games.
But no I’m half a world away, typing this in my bed wondering when I’ll even get to see him again. And we all thought the world would be a better place under Obama. Oh how we thought indeed.
very exciting!
