Er, welcome to America...

Posted by Tanos on Thu 26 Jul 07, 12:48 PM

popi, lili and I are now in Washington ready for the Master/slave Conference. The journey itself went without any hitches, and we only had one small snag at immigration in Boston, due to there being three of us...

In the past, lili and I have gone through immigration and customs with a single customs declaration form. Those of you who've been to the US in the last few years will be familiar with the blue and white forms, which are to be filled out one per family. lili and I aren't married and don't share a surname on our passports, but it's never been an issue.

However, this time was with popi and lili, and so I and the two women that I live together with as man and wife (ie what's called a common law wife in England, although it has no legal standing as a marriage) were made to leave the line, fill in three separate forms, and go through again as three separate families. Which is interesting, and presumably provoked by the (rude, as always) immigration officer presuming that three adults unrelated by blood couldn't be a "family". But hey, we really identify as a Household rather than a Family anyway

What also continues to be striking is that US immigration is clearly funded by the Canadian Tourist board and their general attitude is bad news for the US, to the tune of billions of dollars. But then the customs officers 50 yards further on (who actually collect the blue forms checked by immigration) are as friendly as almost everyone else here.

Anyway, today is sightseeing, with the conference itself starting tomorrow

Edited Thu 26 Jul 07, 12:51 PM by Tanos