Immigration Interview

Hello Everyone,

Joel did an excellent job of updating ya'll but he didn't give a detailed description of our interview. Looking back it was pretty funny.

We met our lawyer for the first time 30 minutes before our interview. I thought this was not a good thing but it didn't turn out to be a bad thing. She didn't really speak or defend us. She didn't have to. She was with us if there were any questions about the documentation. So Cynthia (our lawyer) said it usual runs 30 minutes to an hour late to getting in the interview. She was completely right. While the three of us were waiting we got to know Cynthia a bit better. Learned that she was getting married in December. She told us a bit about her job what she liked what she didn't like.

Then we went into the interview. Our Lady immigration officer looked very cross. Not warm and fuzzy at all. The first question that came out of the immigration officer's mouth was "Do you have your ID? Please pull it out" I thought she was just talking to Joel. Oh no she turned to me and said "You too" DANG IT. The first question to the test and I failed. "Mine is in the car." "Well go get it." It sounds like an easy answer but Janet and Chuck had taken off and I didn't know where they were. Good thing we all had cell phones. The only probably was we had their number in the cell but not the area code because in Lake Charles you don't need an area code. So I tried calling it but the cell wouldn't let me. So I tried memorizing it. I would look at the number and then try to dial it. I kept forgetting. The longer I took the more I would shake. Final I was like Dess you know the first 6 digits just memorize the last 4. Some how I managed to dial the number and found out they were just down the street waiting for us. Thank goodness I grabbed my ID and ran back up to the interview. Cynthia and the Lady Officer were getting to know each other since the officer was new in town. At least Cynthia kind of saved me.

Then came the questions. The immigration officer asked the same questions to Joel that he had answered on the application we had sent in March of 2005. Then she asked if we lived in a house. I answer for Joel "no on a ship." I apologized to Joel and said go ahead answer. So he did. Then she asked if we had the deed to the ship. Of course we don't. So Joel started explaining what we did. She then asked do you have a car together, this together that together. All we had were bank statements. Then we gave her a letter that Mary, Joel’s boss had written for the both of us. Stating we didn't need much money to do what we did and explaining what we did.

She then said "let me see pictures of your travels together" SO I got out the pictures and showed her. But the funny thing is in my mind I was convinced that she needed to see pictures of the ship so she would understand why we don't have paperwork in our name to the ship. So I would pass by the couple pictures and show her the ship. "There's the ship, oh and there, and that's the ship, and right there." Joel in his head was thinking "What on earth is Dess doing she is passing all the couple pictures. Why is she showing the ship?" Then I said to the officer "Oh I am sorry you can flip through for yourself" She started flipping really fast. So I saw another picture of the ship she needed to see "Oh you missed this picture of the ship." She got done flipping through the pictures grabbed Joel’s passport and stamped it with a seal of approval. It was quick and easy. We thanked Cynthia and went on our way with Chuck and Janet.

It was pretty funny once you think about it. Joel wasn't too happy during the interview. But you can't please every one. I think in the next blog I will put pictures of the ship so you can get a good idea how great Joel's and my relationship is ;).

Ship lover,
Dess