No I don't think so either, I just doubt she had the foresight or stuff lined up to get a business visa which are pretty tricky to get during the pandemic especially when we weren't officially letting people in. I've tried to get them for legit talent (LOL) during non-pandemic and they aren't easy to navigate. I'm sure she'll be gone b/f 90 days. Her thinking she will come back to NYC to live though...she would need it. God, please don't let her live here - she will be insufferable. Haha.
I love the U.S. We came over many times b/f moving mainly to go to all the National Parks and the big cities etc. Best memories of my life -particularly SF and Yosemite - highlights. I think SF is so beautiful. Last time I visited I was a bit depressed it had lost it's edge and everyone looked like they had stepped out of a Madewell catalog but it still gives me goosebumps. My dad would get jobs over here and we would tag along.
The last time US immigration gave me hell (and let's keep in mind I've been living here over 3 decades with a full green card/permanent residency) was when I returned from being in Australia. When I came through they shoved a pamphlet at me (pamphlet being kind, a bunch of typewriter typed paper, stapled) on the United States. It was the worst written piece of propaganda, I mean primary school writing, I've ever read. In the first paragraph it said home to Disneyland and Mickey Mouse. I'm not even joking. LOL.
Americans have no idea this side of things b/c they never go through these people, it's a totally different line.
Anyhoo, that time they sat me down in an isolated office and even though I had permission from them to be living in Australia with all the paperwork for 3 years and returning every year they were shocked and grilling me. They could not quite believe that I had left it 11 months since my last visit and questioned why I would want to live in Australia at all when the US has everything I need.
I also tried to leave for a funeral of my Granddad in England once from SF when I was working at Levis and had to get my British passport renewed and it needed a special "stamp" from US Immigration so I waited for 8 hours for that "stamp". When I had the audacity to ask how much longer it would be the clerk told the "man in charge" and said "man in charge" with gun in a holster no less busted into the waiting room super dramatically and called me to his office like a principal reprimanding a 12 year old (I was 30)
Well apparently the stamp was not a stamp at all but them checking Interpol to see if I was a serial killer or something and it takes time but I didn't know that b/c they tell you a stamp to not tip you off I suppose. LOL. After me going through my story, he then apologized but before I left his office asked for a hug, alone, in his office. Big guy with both arms extended. UGH.
I have more weird experiences on the border of Mexico, in NYC too. I'm super leery of them and always am like, oh, here we go, look normal...and I'm so white I'm almost translucent, I can't imagine if I was a person of color.
I think they are pissed that none of my family has become citizens and they are incredulous. It's mainly that I'm lazy but also that I still feel British. When I flip it on it's head and say hey so if you were living in Europe and you didn't get your citizenship there b/c you feel American would that be is odd to you? No. It feels weird to have another country's "thing", sort of like you are disavowing where you belong? And then people get it. It's also like $1000 and I never feel like doing it. It is illogical but an emotional block none of immediate family can pull the trigger on. I definitely should get over that though.
Anyhoo...I digress
