exciting, informative, snarky, and very likely fabricated tales of life as an american expat in london

my time is like water down a drain

by Jen at 12:07 pm on 9.08.2007 | 13 Comments
filed under: londonlife, rant and rage

and after all that… they’ve denied my citizenship application.

they “normally disregard” absences of up to 180 days in the previous 12 months for applicants married to british citizens, (provided you’ve shown substantial ties to the uk otherwise – i.e. job, bank accounts, etc.)

i was absent for 182 days, and while they “have discretion to waive absences in excess of the permitted maximum”, they are “not prepared to do so in this particular case”.

needless to say, i’m gutted. i was *so* ready for this whole rigamarole to be over. i feel like the last four years, all i’ve done is worry about bloody immigration requirements. organising papers and filling out forms and paying money and jumping through hoops and having to ask which immigration queue to go through and being nervous and answering questions at the fucking border every time i come and go about the one stupid time i was refused entry.

and i got my hopes up and thought i’d finally done enough to be done. i wanted so very badly to be done. so badly. i wanted this weight off so badly. it’s so stupid, but i can’t seem to even stop crying over it.

and instead, i have to do it all. over. again.

i can’t bear the thought right now.

which i just perfect, since i can’t even reapply until october anyway. another £600. another application with forms and copies and signatures and grovelling. another 4+ months of watching the post. waiting.

waiting for it all to be done.

fuck.

zero 7 – in the waiting line

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fugazi – waiting room

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13 Comments »

13 Comments

  • 1

    Comment by Avril

    9.08.2007 @ 13:54 pm

    I’m sorry Jen.

  • 2

    Comment by Abigail

    9.08.2007 @ 15:54 pm

    I’m so sorry (

  • 3

    Comment by kim

    9.08.2007 @ 18:42 pm

    I am so sorry, jen. sad

  • 4

    Comment by Thomas Foolery

    9.08.2007 @ 21:00 pm

    Nuts.

  • 5

    Comment by Anglofille

    9.08.2007 @ 23:41 pm

    i’m sorry things didn’t work out this time. try to keep your chin up. xx

  • 6

    Comment by nikoline

    10.08.2007 @ 14:25 pm

    It sounds like an utterly exhausting process and if, at the end, one is denied something after a lot of work and waiting…it can be hard to stop crying. hang in there. i hope the next round yields a different result.

  • 7

    Comment by Jen

    10.08.2007 @ 17:53 pm

    thanks guys. it’s just so disappointing.

    i know, i’ll get there yet. i’m nothing if not stubborn persistent!

  • 8

    Comment by vanessa

    10.08.2007 @ 18:23 pm

    well that sucks. bigtime.

    I’m so sorry.

    xo

  • 9

    Comment by Nicole

    10.08.2007 @ 22:18 pm

    Ack. I’m sorry. . .

  • 10

    Comment by Ali

    11.08.2007 @ 21:28 pm

    Talk to Hamish – he went through the same!
    Hang in there.

  • 11

    Comment by Your Sister

    13.08.2007 @ 14:13 pm

    That sux big, dead donkey balls.

  • 12

    Comment by Jen

    13.08.2007 @ 17:49 pm

    Talk to Hamish – he went through the same!

    wow, did he really? somehow that actually makes me feel a lot better )

  • 13

    Comment by mum

    15.08.2007 @ 21:51 pm

    what a bummer! you can have my shoulder to cry on when you come. love

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