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passports and visas
Jun. 14th, 2013 06:36 amUGlas wrote to ask for info on my undergrad studies in London, wanting to know what kind of visa I entered under at that time (just watch--there will be some sort of tsurrus because I didn't gte a formal student visa...) What I found entertaining was that I *still have* the actual passport I used at the time. The DOS gave it back (as they will do, if you ask) when I got its replacement. Hysterically funny to see what a geek I looked like, back in 1985. :-)
Also, I got an entry and an exit stamp in 1985, but when Chris and I went for our (delayed) honeymoon in 1988, I got an entry but no exit stamp. Can I use that to claim that I've been resident for 25 years? :-)
My second passport has indications of the vagary of the immigration officer that are so distressing to those of us of a slightly OCD variety. Page 8 is the first page for visas; it has entry stamps from the UK for 2002 and 2005 (May), for Canada from 2005 (transit--September), and a re-entry stamp from US DHS from 2006 (apparently we didn't start doing that until that year). The next page has entry stamps from the UK (2005--September), Canada 2006, and US re-entry 2007. Page 10 has my marriage visa from 2008 and its confirming IO stamp, and the facing page, 11, has the US re-entry stamp from 2008 and UK and US stamps from 2010.
If you're counting, you'll notice there's something missing--the UK entry stamp from 2007. Yes, the random bastard skipped pages 12, 13, and 14 (all blank, as were 10 and 11 at the time) and planted it on page 15!
My newest passport is as yet marked only by a DHA re-entry stamp from last October. Apparently Canadian customs and immigration didn't even see fit to give me an entry stamp when I visited the Maritimes last autumn.
Also, I got an entry and an exit stamp in 1985, but when Chris and I went for our (delayed) honeymoon in 1988, I got an entry but no exit stamp. Can I use that to claim that I've been resident for 25 years? :-)
My second passport has indications of the vagary of the immigration officer that are so distressing to those of us of a slightly OCD variety. Page 8 is the first page for visas; it has entry stamps from the UK for 2002 and 2005 (May), for Canada from 2005 (transit--September), and a re-entry stamp from US DHS from 2006 (apparently we didn't start doing that until that year). The next page has entry stamps from the UK (2005--September), Canada 2006, and US re-entry 2007. Page 10 has my marriage visa from 2008 and its confirming IO stamp, and the facing page, 11, has the US re-entry stamp from 2008 and UK and US stamps from 2010.
If you're counting, you'll notice there's something missing--the UK entry stamp from 2007. Yes, the random bastard skipped pages 12, 13, and 14 (all blank, as were 10 and 11 at the time) and planted it on page 15!
My newest passport is as yet marked only by a DHA re-entry stamp from last October. Apparently Canadian customs and immigration didn't even see fit to give me an entry stamp when I visited the Maritimes last autumn.
