Of visas and cattle sheds
Recently returned from a whirlwind trip home that involved, among other things, a trip to the US Consulate for my brand new H1B (work visa). Over the span of one long day spent standing in many lines, there was little to relieve the unending boredom. Since neither books, nor mp3 players are allowed in the building, there really was nothing to do but stand around and maybe talk to other people. Which made the one highlight of the day particularly entertaining.
After waiting in 4 different lines, we were finally shepherded into the air-conditioned bliss of the actual consulate, where our interviews would take place. Even more blissful - there were chairs. A short while after we were seated, an American walked up to where we were sitting and proceeded to give us a series of instructions and something akin to a pep-talk. He began by introducing himself as the head of the facility, and assured us that in the wake of Bush's visit, they were now back at full staff and he could now begin making improvements to the facility. (But he was addressing a group that had just spent over 4 hours standing in the heat in what we called the cow-shed, and that were being interviewed 4 hours after their appointed time). Seeing the clear skepticism of his audience, he then went on to defend his facility. He argued that the newspapers continually berated the embassy for the long lines and long delays, but they were interviewing over 800 people a day and there were bound to be delays. He would be happy to cut down on the lines, and grant fewer interviews, but that would mean a longer wait to get an appointment. As it is, the wait for an appointment is already 4 months.
Then began the instructions and the pep-talk.
- Smile when you approach the desk.
- I have an accent, and you have an accent. But I have to interview a LOT of people. So I might not speak slowly. Listen to the question.
- Don't take it personally if you are rejected.
- Listen to the question. If I ask you how many children you have and you answer 'Computer Programmer,' you will not get your visa. If I ask you the date of your departure and you say 4 months, you might not get your visa.
His speech seemed to have the desired effect. He got his laughs and there was an audible release of tension in a room filled with it. Of course, he then moved on and the tension built again as we listened to interviews and saw people being rejected for inexplicable reasons. The only source of entertainment then becoming whispered discussions on which line you did or didn't want to be in.
Glad that's over.
After waiting in 4 different lines, we were finally shepherded into the air-conditioned bliss of the actual consulate, where our interviews would take place. Even more blissful - there were chairs. A short while after we were seated, an American walked up to where we were sitting and proceeded to give us a series of instructions and something akin to a pep-talk. He began by introducing himself as the head of the facility, and assured us that in the wake of Bush's visit, they were now back at full staff and he could now begin making improvements to the facility. (But he was addressing a group that had just spent over 4 hours standing in the heat in what we called the cow-shed, and that were being interviewed 4 hours after their appointed time). Seeing the clear skepticism of his audience, he then went on to defend his facility. He argued that the newspapers continually berated the embassy for the long lines and long delays, but they were interviewing over 800 people a day and there were bound to be delays. He would be happy to cut down on the lines, and grant fewer interviews, but that would mean a longer wait to get an appointment. As it is, the wait for an appointment is already 4 months.
Then began the instructions and the pep-talk.
- Smile when you approach the desk.
- I have an accent, and you have an accent. But I have to interview a LOT of people. So I might not speak slowly. Listen to the question.
- Don't take it personally if you are rejected.
- Listen to the question. If I ask you how many children you have and you answer 'Computer Programmer,' you will not get your visa. If I ask you the date of your departure and you say 4 months, you might not get your visa.
His speech seemed to have the desired effect. He got his laughs and there was an audible release of tension in a room filled with it. Of course, he then moved on and the tension built again as we listened to interviews and saw people being rejected for inexplicable reasons. The only source of entertainment then becoming whispered discussions on which line you did or didn't want to be in.
Glad that's over.
posted by Nids | 3:45 PM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home