abhi_01201
Registered Users (C)
Guys
As promised - here is my version of Boston stamping experience.
Woke up at 4 in the morning( yes - I have had hard time to believe I could ever do it) and drove through dark I-90 till I saw that all rodes and cars are leading to Boston. Took I-93 and for a little bit got stuck in early morning jam(6.30 !!!), somehow got out at exit 22, took a left turn at State street and right on New Sudbury street All street parking was full so had to go for that parking lot opposite JFK which was not too bad( $4 an hour as early bird). Started moving my frozen butt( felt like sub zero) towords JFK building and saw around 90 people on the front entrace around 7 in the morning( not kidding guys). I would advise guys from Boston not to go on Friday - looks like that's an auspicious(!!!) day for potential immigrants. Being as a dumbo as I am, I completely ignored the advice of my predecessors to use the side entrance which would probably have saved me an hour.
The gates open just after 7 and I was in by 7.30. Went through the security check and followed the direction of room E-160. Please ignore room E-125 in your notice, the room even does not exist. Went to the immigration booth and showed approval notice. Twice the signature and fingerprint was taken and I was told not to write or fold that form( like I was gonna play origamy with that form) I hold on to the form like that was the ten commandmends.
I was given a token and my number was C423. The time written was 8.27 and so I though I will have breakfast later. If you guys want your photo done inside they will do it for $10 and you will have infinite time to get it done.
They did not start the counter till 8.15. An overanxious agent started calling the numbers and he was taking ages checking them out, calling on phone and prowling accross the hall. Later I understood there are different types of cases and almost all of them took lot... of time.
Sometime in the middle they must have opened another counter - I dont know must have passed out from hunger( no food or beverage allowed inside). I have been chatting with one desi but he deserted me as soon as his number was called.
They called me around 10.45 and it took only 2 goddamn minute. The agent (whom I have by now christained Mr. Magoo) stampped my passport and and wrote down the validity of my passport as 10/24/2002(!!!!). He must have seen the look of Boston strangler in my face, so he appologized and crossed 2002 and overwrote 2003(phew). He said the cards may come in 3-4 months which as you guys all know is a very pure form of BS(should get it much earlier).
Relaxed( coz I got the stampping done and went for loo)I went back to the parking lot and got the hell outa there. Missed a turn to I-90 amidst all the construction dust of the city but enjoyed the beautiful mass fall foliage on the way.
After I went back to my sweet little town and went to the SSN office. Got a receipt for my application and she said the new card will come in 10 days. She said I will have to come back to her once I am a citizen - though I doubt she will be as cute after 5 years.
So yabdi yabdi yabdi - thats all folks - you guys are all wonderful ( including habib, shantanub) and my heartiest thanks to Mr Rajiv Khana and Greaty K for rupnet and JUly16, dma_va, patientgc, chicken 65 and everyone else who kept me optimistic( may be not as optimist as mahesh_k) for last 3 months.
Once last piece of advice - there is light at the end of the tunnel - ( easy for me to say now huh!!!!)
PS - I will hang around for a while coz I will miss Anita Gupta, Scotgal, Calgal etc etc etc. so if you guys have any question I will try to answer that( I have always been a silent visitor - this is my last chance to blabber)
As promised - here is my version of Boston stamping experience.
Woke up at 4 in the morning( yes - I have had hard time to believe I could ever do it) and drove through dark I-90 till I saw that all rodes and cars are leading to Boston. Took I-93 and for a little bit got stuck in early morning jam(6.30 !!!), somehow got out at exit 22, took a left turn at State street and right on New Sudbury street All street parking was full so had to go for that parking lot opposite JFK which was not too bad( $4 an hour as early bird). Started moving my frozen butt( felt like sub zero) towords JFK building and saw around 90 people on the front entrace around 7 in the morning( not kidding guys). I would advise guys from Boston not to go on Friday - looks like that's an auspicious(!!!) day for potential immigrants. Being as a dumbo as I am, I completely ignored the advice of my predecessors to use the side entrance which would probably have saved me an hour.
The gates open just after 7 and I was in by 7.30. Went through the security check and followed the direction of room E-160. Please ignore room E-125 in your notice, the room even does not exist. Went to the immigration booth and showed approval notice. Twice the signature and fingerprint was taken and I was told not to write or fold that form( like I was gonna play origamy with that form) I hold on to the form like that was the ten commandmends.
I was given a token and my number was C423. The time written was 8.27 and so I though I will have breakfast later. If you guys want your photo done inside they will do it for $10 and you will have infinite time to get it done.
They did not start the counter till 8.15. An overanxious agent started calling the numbers and he was taking ages checking them out, calling on phone and prowling accross the hall. Later I understood there are different types of cases and almost all of them took lot... of time.
Sometime in the middle they must have opened another counter - I dont know must have passed out from hunger( no food or beverage allowed inside). I have been chatting with one desi but he deserted me as soon as his number was called.
They called me around 10.45 and it took only 2 goddamn minute. The agent (whom I have by now christained Mr. Magoo) stampped my passport and and wrote down the validity of my passport as 10/24/2002(!!!!). He must have seen the look of Boston strangler in my face, so he appologized and crossed 2002 and overwrote 2003(phew). He said the cards may come in 3-4 months which as you guys all know is a very pure form of BS(should get it much earlier).
Relaxed( coz I got the stampping done and went for loo)I went back to the parking lot and got the hell outa there. Missed a turn to I-90 amidst all the construction dust of the city but enjoyed the beautiful mass fall foliage on the way.
After I went back to my sweet little town and went to the SSN office. Got a receipt for my application and she said the new card will come in 10 days. She said I will have to come back to her once I am a citizen - though I doubt she will be as cute after 5 years.
So yabdi yabdi yabdi - thats all folks - you guys are all wonderful ( including habib, shantanub) and my heartiest thanks to Mr Rajiv Khana and Greaty K for rupnet and JUly16, dma_va, patientgc, chicken 65 and everyone else who kept me optimistic( may be not as optimist as mahesh_k) for last 3 months.
Once last piece of advice - there is light at the end of the tunnel - ( easy for me to say now huh!!!!)
PS - I will hang around for a while coz I will miss Anita Gupta, Scotgal, Calgal etc etc etc. so if you guys have any question I will try to answer that( I have always been a silent visitor - this is my last chance to blabber)
