hello everyone 
i would like to share information on my trip to Portugal. I applied for portugese visa in their consulate in boston. it took them less then a week to issue it (about 40$). they were not too strict with requirements; just the regular: bank statement (fotocopy 
)invitation letter, ticket reservation. I was issued Schengen visa which usually is given for 6 motnhs but since we are so special 
they gave it to me for the length of the trip on my air ticket reservation (15 days). I got a cheap ticket through Switzerland and had to get a transit visa in the swiss consulate in NYC (took 90min and 46$)arriving in portugal was a bit weird; they seemed to have never seen a travel document before, asked me all sorts of questions on what i do and reminded me not to overstay my visa dates. on my way back they were also weirded out by the TD. I was travelling back through London (changing planes but not airports there) and needed to get a transit visa at the UK embassy in portugal (one day and 42 euros). I flew in back to Boston and and at the first check was met by an Immi officer who asked where I went and for which reason. I said family reunion even though it was for a vacation.It seems to me that if an asylee say he/she went on a vacation the IOs ears dont like that sort of sound. 
So he said: you look like a nice guy, go straight to Passport Control. there I was asked the same questions and also where I worked and the address of the company. i said the name of the last company i worked for (i am not employed at the moment)They heard the name of the company but never noted anything. This took about 10 min. then I had to see the customs officer who again asked all those questions AND wanted to know if i had obtained any other passport in the meantime. i said I did not (true) and he just nodded and let me pass.
I find it sickening to travel with this sort of document even though I think myself very lucky to have this status at all. However, the way I am treated at borders is very ugly. When I think of someone who is with same sort of document but not as eloquent or well versed in the english language I feel utmost sadness for that individual. At least they could make this document last for a few years once issued.
i would like to share information on my trip to Portugal. I applied for portugese visa in their consulate in boston. it took them less then a week to issue it (about 40$). they were not too strict with requirements; just the regular: bank statement (fotocopy )invitation letter, ticket reservation. I was issued Schengen visa which usually is given for 6 motnhs but since we are so special they gave it to me for the length of the trip on my air ticket reservation (15 days). I got a cheap ticket through Switzerland and had to get a transit visa in the swiss consulate in NYC (took 90min and 46$)arriving in portugal was a bit weird; they seemed to have never seen a travel document before, asked me all sorts of questions on what i do and reminded me not to overstay my visa dates. on my way back they were also weirded out by the TD. I was travelling back through London (changing planes but not airports there) and needed to get a transit visa at the UK embassy in portugal (one day and 42 euros). I flew in back to Boston and and at the first check was met by an Immi officer who asked where I went and for which reason. I said family reunion even though it was for a vacation.It seems to me that if an asylee say he/she went on a vacation the IOs ears dont like that sort of sound. So he said: you look like a nice guy, go straight to Passport Control. there I was asked the same questions and also where I worked and the address of the company. i said the name of the last company i worked for (i am not employed at the moment)They heard the name of the company but never noted anything. This took about 10 min. then I had to see the customs officer who again asked all those questions AND wanted to know if i had obtained any other passport in the meantime. i said I did not (true) and he just nodded and let me pass. I find it sickening to travel with this sort of document even though I think myself very lucky to have this status at all. However, the way I am treated at borders is very ugly. When I think of someone who is with same sort of document but not as eloquent or well versed in the english language I feel utmost sadness for that individual. At least they could make this document last for a few years once issued.