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I would just like to take a moment of your time to rant about a recent experience at the immigration office in Charleston, SC.

My wife is a British National. Her green card was stolen when our car was broken into a while back. I applied on-line for her to get a new green card. We were sent an appointment letter that stated she needed to be at the Charleston SC immigration office at 1100hrs on Friday. We arrived on time.

After being patted down, this part I agree with, we were let into the immigration office. She checked in and was asked if we brought two passport photos? I said no, we were not told to do so in the appointment letter. The lady stated if my wife wanted a temporary card she would need two photos. Well we figured we were there and shouldn't leave to get two photos. This may or may not turn out to be a mistake. We can only hope she doesn't need to travel before the new card arrives, up to 6 months.

This leads to the first part of my rant. Why 6 months when she is already in the system? They pulled up her name in their computer and all of her info was there and current. Also why did they not address the photo issue in the appointment letter? Simple questions really. I can see why someone waiting on their initial green card having to wait 6 months however someone already in the system should not have to wait this long. As a matter of fact that day they fingerprinted her, again, and took a new photo. Heck all they needed to do then is print and laminate a new card. BTW, this replacement card cost me $260.00.

Well after check in we look around and the room is packed. There is one chair so I tell my wife to set down and I will stand. The lady at the check in said I had to sit. Now I saw a lot of rules on the walls there, no smoking, no food or drink and no cell phones however no sign saying you must take a seat. I almost said something sarcastic; instead I went to another room and fumed in silence.

I noticed that the line was really moving at a snails pace so I went to check on the wife. She had been talking to a family that had a 9 o'clock appointment, it was now 1130hrs. I was dumbfounded. These people had been there two and a half hours and hadn't been seen yet. Mind you, they tell you when to be there and this is only for a photo and fingerprints. This makes up $70.00 of the total charge. That’s right, they figure getting finger printed and having your picture taken is worth $70.00. This is stuff the MPF does everyday.

So I make my way back to the other waiting area before Ms. Personality tells me to take a seat. While there I witnessed something that made me mad as H&LL.

A man of foreign decent was trying to talk to one of the employees there about his green card case. The man was well spoken and very polite to the employee. He had his potential employer there with him to help plead his case. It seems he applied for a green card in Sep and this is June. His son also applied at the same time and had already received his green card. He only wanted to know why his case was being delayed as his potential employer could not hire him unless his had his green card.

Well the employee was not so well spoken or polite. The foreigner spoke better English and had much better manners. The employee was rude to the man and his potential employer. They in turn asked to speak to someone with more authority. Bad mistake, the boss was even ruder. He told the potential employer she had no part in the matter and to walk away from the window. Then he wouldn't talk to the man until she actually sat down. What a jerk. Then the boss made several rude hand gestures to the man as he tried to get information on his case. I was just in amazement at the rude treatment this man got. Well it gets better.

After that man left a couple came up to the window and addressed the first employee about getting a citizenship for the woman. Now this couple was not a couple, they appeared to be in their 50's. She looked to be Japanese and he was white. The conversation went something like this.

Husband: I would like to see about getting a US citizenship for my wife?

Employee: Through what method?

Husband: She is my wife of 30yrs.

Employee: Why haven't you done it before now?

At this point I was like duh? Why is it any of your business?

Husband: She never wanted to do it before now.

Employee: (Sarcasm dripping) You should have done it before now! Why wait so long?

Again I am dumbfounded at the rudeness of the employees at this place. Another point is they assume you have internet access. They tout their website like it some kind of Holy Grail. All answers given by the employees are precluded by “That information is available on our website. Whoopee do, maybe I don’t have internet access or maybe I would like the old fashioned application.

Later as my wife is still in line I get up the nerve to approach the window and inquire about getting my wife her citizenship. However before I do I have to leave the main area and return to the guard to get a number ticket. Mind you no one is in line however I figure I would be denied service without the “now serving number" ticket. The guard reaffirms my suspicion.

Luckily there is someone new at the window as I make my inquiry. I told her my wife would like to see about getting her citizenship. Again the same question about how long have we been married? I said 22yrs, and was asked the same question about waiting so long. I ignored the question and moved forward with questions of my own.

It now takes $400.00 to submit an application for citizenship and can take up to 2 years to complete. Two freaking years, you have got to be kidding me. What bureaucratic BS.

The bottom line here is the US Immigration office in Charleston, SC employees some of the most rude individuals on the planet. They know you dare not speak out or your application may mysteriously get delayed or even worse, lost. I fear if the other immigration offices around the country are run in a similar fashion even those wanting to become legal citizens may forego the process just because of the BS involved.

The wife was finally called to get the photo and fingerprints done, nearly three hours after we were told to be there. Such inefficiency coupled with institutional rudeness makes for a very bad organization and I see no end in sight. Why is it most government offices seem to be run this way? End of rant.


Fender

"Patriotism is your conviction that this country is superior to all other countries because you were born in it."
George Bernard Shaw

Dude, that really sucks. The only thing the gov't is efficient at is being <i>in</i>efficient.

Assault is a type of behavior, not a type of rifle.

sounds like they need a couple of good NCO's and a weedwacker...

"One of you is gonna fall and die, and I'm not cleaning it up"
<img src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v60/jollyrogerspaintball/cup.gif" border=0>

_________________
\"One of you is gonna fall and die, and I'm not cleaning it up\"

<BLOCKQUOTE id=quote><font size=1 face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" id=quote>quote:<hr height=1 noshade id=quote>Why is it most government offices seem to be run this way? <hr height=1 noshade id=quote></BLOCKQUOTE id=quote></font id=quote><font face="Verdana, Arial, Helvetica" size=2 id=quote>
Have you ever tried to get a Government employee fired? Not gonna happen unless they come in for work with a machine gun blazing!

Dealing with the public these days in general sucks, add a stack of paperwork ( computerized or not ) to everything you do all day long, and then realize that most of the work you do means absolutely nothing as far as getting something done ( they recognize the inefficiency too, but they cant do anything about it ) and it will wear down a normal person eventually.

A 45 has a muzzle.
A 9mm has a bullet vent.

_________________
The only time you have too much fuel is when you're on fire.

Immigration lawyer. It parts the beaurocratic Sea. Most ricky tick tick. Years ago, I need to get a permenent Residency upgrade after my Japanese ExWifes 2 year Temp Visa Expired. Standing at the window was a Hispanic lawyer entertaining every Illegal mexican that walked in the door.

After about a 2+ hour wait. I walked up to the window and demanded to speak with a supervisor. They complied and I ripped his ass in front of everyone for about 20 Minutes. Eventually he could not withstand the Muddisms and complied with taking care of our Immigration paperwork.

We recieved the Permanent residency visa 2 weeks later...

About 8 months later they called us in becasue they wished to revoke it. Due to some technicallity issue (basicly they messed up and need to review it)

We returned with a Lawyer. I informed them that we had him present and were in the parking lot getting ready to serve them Legal Action. The INS representitve for our region came out to the parking lot, said he would handle it. We never heard a word since after that.

After my Divorce, Being that she was a permanent resident, they again extended her another 10 Year Permanent Visa.

Once Your wife recieves the permenent residency Visa, all the B.S. stops for 10 years untill you have to update it on expiration.

Save yourself the hassle and slip a lawyer 300 Bucks..



"I was a Hero once. Now i just fuck with people on the Internet"