On our way home from England last week, my daughter and I had to clear customs in Raleigh, North Carolina. I thought,
“Here we go again!” as I dug out my ancient and probably by now, invalid, permanent alien resident card. But the customs officer was very pleasant and told me that until the government actually passes a law there is nothing they can do to prevent me from using my permanent alien resident card to gain access to all I hold near and dear…although he did mutter a comment under his breath and with my good hearing it went something like this,
“Why issue a card that lasts forever and put a photograph on it, how clever is that?”
I tend to agree with him.
Only, on the front of my card, beside my photograph, is a fingerprint; my one and only, unique to me, fingerprint.
For the past few years each time I come through American Immigration, I am fingerprinted. Raleigh was no exception. I questioned this very pleasant customs officer, making sure I was polite because I had read the warnings posted all over the immigration hall informing us about what will happen if we decide to smart off to an employee of the American Government.
This very pleasant customs officer explained to me that my fingerprints were being sent to a central computer for verification and while he was chatting to me he got confirmation that it was indeed ME!! Surprise surprise!
He returned my card and sent me on my way!
Photograph? Fingerprint? Why this thrust to renege on the permanent status of my Alien card? I was told it would last forever. I say this every time I approach the desk and quickly add,
“I know, nothing lasts forever anymore.”
I am thinking the government needs revenue. Permission to live and work in this country does not come cheap.
If I don’t comply I run the risk of losing the priviledge of being able to reside in the same land as four competent, mature members of society whom I co-spawned. And with the difficulty involved in getting a settlement visa for my American husband in England, the same risk is run on the opposite shore.
As for our children, they are dual citizens so will not run into the problem.
Well hello there! My name is Vivienne McNeny.
I am an empty nester exploring life as a Boomer…you could say I'm happily Boomering along!
As a homeschooling Mum I have finally quit the job of role model and mentor to my four children. I do what I want to do, eat when I feel like it, enjoy life with my blue eyed cowboy and clean my house once a month or so whether it needs it or not!
In true English form I write about the emergence of my true identity now that I can no longer hide behind my children as their Mum.
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