Hot and Bothered

When I started this emigration business, some days would be very frustrating. I knew I had to wait and that was fine..it was just the lack of information and instruction that bothered me. It was like we were expected to know what to do ...and when.

But now Im here...its all plain sailing...right?

Wrong..

This week I have been trying to get a social security number. Tuesday I spent over an hour on the telephone, pressing lots of numbers, talking to a machine and listening to some rather annoying jangly music. Just as I thought I may be able to speak to a human being...the line went dead!



So...I decided I would go to the Social security office myself, and speak to someone there. After nearly two hours of waiting in a very crowded room, my number was called. Armed with all the information I had used to get my visa, I explained to the lady what I wanted and she asked for my alien registration number...

My what?? No one ever said I had one...sighhh

She gave me a website to go on to and assured me this was all I needed...and off I toddled the two miles home....have I mentioned I don't drive and I don't trust myself on the buses yet.

Last night, I logged on and I found my number and printed it out,  then filled in the forms I needed. Early this morning, hoping to beat the queues, I arrived yet again at the offices. The line of people trailed out of the building. There must have been 100 people ahead of me. Im glad I took a book to read. Eventually I was called and the woman asked for my documents...

I-94....check,

passport... check,

forms ...check,

birth certificate...check...

Proof that MrD and I married within 90 days of my arrival...check

marriage certificate...check

change of name documentation.... my what??

So apparently I needed to inform immigration of my change of name ...Oooooooh Bother!

Thus began the trudge home in 80 degree weather....



So now MrD will have to take the day off and drive into LA to the immigration offices there to give in our proof so I can change my name formally. Hopefully that will be the end of it

I don't mind doing any of this.. I understand why all the rules have to be followed and all the I's dotted and all the T's crossed

But I just wish someone would have told me. Not once during the visa process, interview and entrance into the US did anyone tell us what the next step was and what we had to do. We were left dangling in the wind.. thinking everything was done and dusted



I wonder whats next?

Love and Hugs
Phoebe x