Don't worry...I'm used to things not going my way
Well, it certainly has been a bumpy few days since monday. Spence and a buddy from work are driving around in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan right now, looking for a hotel room. But I guess I should backtrack.
Monday morning, before we left for the Packer game, Spence finally got ahold of the woman in the HR dept., who is his contact to the law firm dealing with his work visa case. They had wanted to set up a conference call that afternoon, but we were leaving for Green Bay around noon. So Spence gave her my cell phone number, and told her to contact him with as much info as she could. After arriving in Green Bay, I checked my messages, had a message from the woman in HR, and Spence called her back. Originally, it looked like once Spence got all the documents from the law firm, all he'd have to do was speak to an INS agent in Milwaukee, to get the application for his third year approved or denied. But after speaking to the law frim once again, the lady in his HR dept. found out it looked as though he'd have to have the application approved at a port of entry. So Spence went back to work on tuesday, got all the documents he needed for his visa application, and found out that he would have to speak to a NAFTA representative at a port of entry...the closest one to us being in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He got his buddy Craig to agree to taking a day off of work to drive him up there this morning.
Everyone throughout the company and at the law firm seemed pretty confident that this would be a piece of cake. Although Spence already submitted his resignation, they haven't even posted an opening in his job position yet. It's just work as usual. A tailgate party at his branch this saturday, work still on the go at his office...it's like no one even understands that wednesday might have been his last day. I knew differently, and I knew not to get my hopes up...but I did. Spence and his buddy Craig left at 5am this morning...and I knew instantly that something wasn't right.
I woke up at 11am scared out of my mind. And I sat and waited for over 4 hours for a phone call. I passed the time playing Sims, and left the house briefly for a pack of smokes and some cough syrup...yes I know, an ironic combo. When I came home, I turned on the computer and the phone rang as soon as I logged onto LJ. Spence was on Craig's cell phone. All I could get between the breaking up of the phone was we're staying overnight...turned down...law firm...congressman...call you back when we find a hotel. He called me back 10 minutes later, when the phone had a better signal. Apparently, the woman at the port of entry turned down the application. Spence called the law firm to let them know what was going on, and they "figured something like this might happen". So they're going to get in touch with some congressman, and send over new documents. The lady at the port of entry left for the day at 3pm, so the documents couldn't be sent over right away. So the law firm told them to get a room for the night, so they didn't have to come all the way back home and then find out that the visa application would be approved. I couldn't talk...I just knew this wasn't meant to be. Between tears, I managed to ask why the application was turned down. Spence told me the lady said, "Three years? Doesn't sound temporary to me".
So starting today, everything in my life goes back to being the way it was over two years ago. I might as well just erase the past two years of my life...cuz that's sure as hell what it feels like. So Spence goes back to meet with the same woman again tomorrow morning, with new documents. If she declined it the first time, why would she approve it tomorrow? I don't know, maybe everything will work out tomorrow. But I have to prepare for the worst.
I'd appreciate it if you could all send some good vibes this way for us, cuz we sure do need it more than anything.
Monday morning, before we left for the Packer game, Spence finally got ahold of the woman in the HR dept., who is his contact to the law firm dealing with his work visa case. They had wanted to set up a conference call that afternoon, but we were leaving for Green Bay around noon. So Spence gave her my cell phone number, and told her to contact him with as much info as she could. After arriving in Green Bay, I checked my messages, had a message from the woman in HR, and Spence called her back. Originally, it looked like once Spence got all the documents from the law firm, all he'd have to do was speak to an INS agent in Milwaukee, to get the application for his third year approved or denied. But after speaking to the law frim once again, the lady in his HR dept. found out it looked as though he'd have to have the application approved at a port of entry. So Spence went back to work on tuesday, got all the documents he needed for his visa application, and found out that he would have to speak to a NAFTA representative at a port of entry...the closest one to us being in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan. He got his buddy Craig to agree to taking a day off of work to drive him up there this morning.
Everyone throughout the company and at the law firm seemed pretty confident that this would be a piece of cake. Although Spence already submitted his resignation, they haven't even posted an opening in his job position yet. It's just work as usual. A tailgate party at his branch this saturday, work still on the go at his office...it's like no one even understands that wednesday might have been his last day. I knew differently, and I knew not to get my hopes up...but I did. Spence and his buddy Craig left at 5am this morning...and I knew instantly that something wasn't right.
I woke up at 11am scared out of my mind. And I sat and waited for over 4 hours for a phone call. I passed the time playing Sims, and left the house briefly for a pack of smokes and some cough syrup...yes I know, an ironic combo. When I came home, I turned on the computer and the phone rang as soon as I logged onto LJ. Spence was on Craig's cell phone. All I could get between the breaking up of the phone was we're staying overnight...turned down...law firm...congressman...call you back when we find a hotel. He called me back 10 minutes later, when the phone had a better signal. Apparently, the woman at the port of entry turned down the application. Spence called the law firm to let them know what was going on, and they "figured something like this might happen". So they're going to get in touch with some congressman, and send over new documents. The lady at the port of entry left for the day at 3pm, so the documents couldn't be sent over right away. So the law firm told them to get a room for the night, so they didn't have to come all the way back home and then find out that the visa application would be approved. I couldn't talk...I just knew this wasn't meant to be. Between tears, I managed to ask why the application was turned down. Spence told me the lady said, "Three years? Doesn't sound temporary to me".
So starting today, everything in my life goes back to being the way it was over two years ago. I might as well just erase the past two years of my life...cuz that's sure as hell what it feels like. So Spence goes back to meet with the same woman again tomorrow morning, with new documents. If she declined it the first time, why would she approve it tomorrow? I don't know, maybe everything will work out tomorrow. But I have to prepare for the worst.
I'd appreciate it if you could all send some good vibes this way for us, cuz we sure do need it more than anything.