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| Tuesday, November 28, 2006 |
| US Consulate |
Yesterday I went to the US consulate because I have to get a US tax number for income tax purposes. What a freaky experience that was.
I enter this great big building and there is no one around. It's so quiet you could hear a pin drop. I take the elevator to the 9th floor. Once there I walk up to the door and naturally just go to open it. It was locked. I tried it a second time, pushing, pulling, wiggling the handle.
Then I decide to read the big sign, and I hear..."Can I help you?" I look around all freaked out, and realize it's an intercom..
So I say.."Uh, yeah, I have an appointment. I'm here for a tax number."
So the door beeps and I enter. After I get inside I'm practically strip searched, and anal probed by the security guy. Once that's complete, I have to leave all my belongings in this cubby hole and take this laminated card with me.
Then I have to walk through a security thing like at the airport.. followed by more anal probing. I then move on to another room, where I'm told to sit and wait. I glance up to see this HUGE picture of Bush. He's staring down at me as if to say. "We Want You!" That didn't help my nerves at all.
So I get called up to this counter, with bullet proof glass separating me from the clerk. I'm asked to sign papers. By this time I'm so freaked out, my hands are shaky and I drop the pen twice. After my papers are notarized and my fee paid, I am all ready to go.
I pick up my belongings and go leave. I'm waiting for the elevators and the security guy comes rushing out of the office calling me. I'm so freaked, that I practically press my hands to the wall and spread my legs, waiting for the strip search. At this point, I'm pretty sure I would have confessed to any crime. LOL.
So the guys asks if I took the laminated card with me...and by God, I did. So I hand it back and got the hell out of there. |
posted by Cathryn Fox @ 7:22 AM  |
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| 4 Comments: |
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OMG Cathryn. If I ever have to do that, I'm taking you with me. The last time I had to deal with a US Government office, we were trying to get our work visa renewed. After a few months of that, we moved back to Canada.
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Friendly places, aren't they? (shaking head) Sadly, I've had similar experiences at the INS. :(
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That's wild - and funny, especially the picture of Bush. It gives you all kinds of ideas for stories, though.
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I don't do well at Customs or major airports, and this doesn't sound any better.
I wonder if the people they should be intimidating get nervous? Or is it just those with nothing to hide? :-)
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OMG Cathryn. If I ever have to do that, I'm taking you with me. The last time I had to deal with a US Government office, we were trying to get our work visa renewed. After a few months of that, we moved back to Canada.