I am a peaceful person. I have never tried to resolve a conflict by hitting a person. I don’t own a gun. I wouldn’t even consider owning a gun -- and yet there are times when I realize why people resort to guns, use violence to try and get their way.
I told you that my wife has been refused a Visa to come to the United States. We are newly married and have been forcibly separated. She can’t come here and I can’t go there because I have a full time job. What infuriates me is the attitude of the people we are dealing with.
Seen one way, it is funny -- almost an Abbot & Costello “Who’s on first, What’s on second” routine. I told you that once she has been refused a Visa, she cannot apply for a Visa Waiver. The office in London replied by saying that Mr. Morgenstein is wrong. Denial of a Visa does not mean that one cannot apply for a Visa Waiver. However, they added, her entrance into the United States can be denied by any official at the port of Entry, and once they find out she has been denied a visa, she will, most likely, be denied entry and put on a plane that goes right back to England.
In essence they are saying. You are wrong Henry. Your wife can apply for a Visa Waiver -- but most likely once she gets here she will be denied entry & deported. This is funny. This is ludicrous. Go ahead. Apply. Spend $600 on a ticket -- and then we’ll ship her right back.
In the same note they correct me again. Mr. Morgenstein is wrong, they say, when he states that Mrs. Morgenstein cannot be in the U.S. during the Resident Alien Application procedure which takes six months to a year. She can be here. If she is in America she must fly back to Great Britain when she is scheduled for an interview and a physical.
Again, are the trying to be funny when they say she is allowed to be here in America? Will they allow her to come here? No, they won’t -- but if she were here she could apply from here is what they are saying.
Very funny--and very infuriating. If they were in the same room with me, I would be tempted to resort to violence. Are you trying to be funny? Why do you say she can apply for a Visa Waiver -- when you know she will be denied a Visa waiver. Why do you tell me she could be here with me when you won’t allow her to be here with me.
This is insulting, infuriating. Yes, it is funny -- an Abbot & Costello routine -- but in the wrong hands, this is the kind of routine that turns into a tragedy. It is such insulting behavior -- Oh, you could apply you know -- but it won’t do you any good you know. I can just see some person going, you think that’s funny. Well maybe you’ll think this bullet to your brain is funny.
I am not a violent man -- but I understand why some people might turn to violence in the face of such contemptable, high handed, behavior.
Copyright © 2004 Henry Morgenstein