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and you haven't been for a while, you might find this of some interest
Charge for permission to enter US
(The article explains that up to the 7th of September the security authorisation is still free of charge and recommends future tourists to apply now as the permit is valid for 2 years)
As for me, I don't know if I'll bother.
It would be nice to go again perhaps to visit the 'deep south' where I've never been but I am quite tempted to stay away until Adrian and I are recognised as a family by immigration to avoid any further humilation.
(Should I ever feel the need of being barked at again, I'll just go to Battersea Dogs Home: it's much nearer).
Bye bye (my) American Dream!
Sep. 23rd, 2009 11:17 pmIn the last couple of weeks I've been itching to book a holiday for February/March (as ![[livejournal.com profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/external/lj-userinfo.gif)
bobalone knows, since we discussed it at length over dinner).
Despite the winter being rather mild in London, what we miss here is the light and the sun.
Winter with its very short days can be a depressing affair, and I find it helps to have something to look forward to.
After taking the 4 short breaks planned for the rest of this year, I'll still be left with 2 weeks of annual leave. According to company rules, I'm allowed to carry them forward and take them before the end of March with my line manager's approval.
My line manager has been on holiday while the British Airways sale was on.
There were some tempting offers for flights to the US, and I quite fancied seeing Arizona in winter or sunning myself in Palm Springs or treating ourselves to Bette Midler's show in Vegas on my birthday.
I could have booked it as I'm sure that I would have had my time off approved but on the other hand, the idea of having to go through U.S. immigration again curbed my enthusiasms, especially as I'm still smarting when I think of last year. *sigh*
Out of curiosity, I looked at the Homeland Security website and found a press release from 2004 that made me laugh (bitterly).
"I expect professionalism and courtesy to be the hallmark of every CBP Officer. It is my goal that all visitors and traveling U.S. citizens see the CBP uniform as a symbol of our Nation's great strength, ideals, and liberty," said Commissioner Bonner.
"We pledge to cordially greet and welcome you to the United States. We pledge to treat you with courtesy, dignity, and respect. "
Nothing but words. I am still angry at the discrimination and at the rudeness, and have never liked the assumption that every alien is a threat unless proven otherwise.
That memory certainly makes the Mediterranean even more appealing! (plus the BA sale is now over anyway).
bobalone knows, since we discussed it at length over dinner).Despite the winter being rather mild in London, what we miss here is the light and the sun.
Winter with its very short days can be a depressing affair, and I find it helps to have something to look forward to.
After taking the 4 short breaks planned for the rest of this year, I'll still be left with 2 weeks of annual leave. According to company rules, I'm allowed to carry them forward and take them before the end of March with my line manager's approval.
My line manager has been on holiday while the British Airways sale was on.
There were some tempting offers for flights to the US, and I quite fancied seeing Arizona in winter or sunning myself in Palm Springs or treating ourselves to Bette Midler's show in Vegas on my birthday.
I could have booked it as I'm sure that I would have had my time off approved but on the other hand, the idea of having to go through U.S. immigration again curbed my enthusiasms, especially as I'm still smarting when I think of last year. *sigh*
Out of curiosity, I looked at the Homeland Security website and found a press release from 2004 that made me laugh (bitterly).
"I expect professionalism and courtesy to be the hallmark of every CBP Officer. It is my goal that all visitors and traveling U.S. citizens see the CBP uniform as a symbol of our Nation's great strength, ideals, and liberty," said Commissioner Bonner.
"We pledge to cordially greet and welcome you to the United States. We pledge to treat you with courtesy, dignity, and respect. "
Nothing but words. I am still angry at the discrimination and at the rudeness, and have never liked the assumption that every alien is a threat unless proven otherwise.
That memory certainly makes the Mediterranean even more appealing! (plus the BA sale is now over anyway).
