As a Ph.D. student, my primary job is to carry out research and then to report on them. A quick way of reporting my results is through scientific conferences. That means leaving Canada for a country, mainly in Europe or the states. This is when my acquaintance with Ahmadinejad comes into play.
A few months ago I had a paper in a conference in Spain. That was when my prof started to realize that in fact some people do need to apply before they go places. Unfortunately, we only had a couple of months and so I couldn’t do all the paperwork.
Then, I submitted a paper to a conference in Ireland. This time I was quick. However, it took them two months to issue a reentry visa for me. I guess I couldn’t do it faster either. Just thinking about someone who has lived in the same city as Ahmadinejad would freak out any person. Sometimes I check out our apartment before I turn on the light. Who knows? Maybe I’m in some level a terrorist and I don’t know.
So, I got the visa and called the Ireland Embassy. The lady asked where my passport had been issued. “Iran”. She did not even look it up, “Your passport should be sent to Ireland. We suggest you do not book your flight. It might take about three months before the visa arrives.” To make me forget the trip, the requirements section in the application package also insisted that I should have a temporary residence permit valid for at least six months after I come back. I guess no one has told them that I apply for the study permit every year. I hate it when people do not understand terrorists.
Spain and Ireland went away. My prof asked me over the phone why I was apologizing and said he did not think that I have done anything wrong. He humbly asked me to prepare the presentation, which he so honorably accepted to give for me. The bad news is, I have a paper in Scotland and another one in Mexico. At least I hope Mexicans understand terrorists.
p.s. I am not even thinking about the paper in Washington D.C.
As another terrorist, I have a paper in a conference in France. The conference is held exact 5 days before the expiry of my study permit. So I have all of your problems plus the problem of applying for study permit too. I have 11 weeks to apply for study permit (needs 5 weeks in the best case), re-entry visa (4 weeks at least) and France visa (3 weeks at least) and everything should be done in series. So if I be lucky I can go to France and present my paper after conference finishes :(
Comment by Shaghaiegh — March 27, 2007 @ 11:07 pm
Hi,
Nice post. But I don’t understand your giving up your confidence by saying “Just thinking about someone who has lived in the same city as Ahmadinejad would freak out any person”. Is this the closest a Visa office can come in understanding the ‘imposed’ situations on Iranians?
I hate Ahmadinejad, and anybody that equals me with him based on my birth location.
Comment by Mohsen — March 27, 2007 @ 11:33 pm
Mohsen,
Sometimes, in engineering, we use conservative estimates. Meaning we do something simple which might abandon some opportunity but is safe. I guess that’s exactly what they are doing.
Anyway, nice to meet you. :)
Comment by Kamangir — March 27, 2007 @ 11:44 pm
Come on … It is not so hard. I am going to the U.S. embassy in Ottawa in two days for visa interview and probably I will get it. Aparently leaving Canada to the states does not require a re-entering visa. Therefor Washangton D.C should be the easiest place to go.
Comment by Øسین — March 28, 2007 @ 1:15 am
As Hossein said, Whashington D.C. would be the easiest one. Lots of my freinds studying Canada, visit US repeatedly!
Comment by shimbalkhaan — March 28, 2007 @ 1:21 am
As the third terrorist in this page, I got my H1 Visa from Dubai when the American warships where going towards Persian Gulf. To let you know, although my passport is full of stamps from different countries including EU, but just two months before getting my H1, the French embassy refused to give me a visa!!!
and to be honest, Iranian money is probably feeding half of french children. Ayatollah Khomeini came by the air france to Tehran, almost all Iranian oil companies are french now, and our auto industry is making billions of dollars for french people.
More interestingly, when I went to the American embassy, every one was so respectful to Iranians. Even you may not believe it but they kept everyone in one line and separated Iranians in another line to go first!
So, don’t worry about DC. Trust me, if one country in this world is still behaving nicely with Iranians, it’s the US.
Comment by Smileme — March 28, 2007 @ 2:19 am
You do not reentry visa to Canada if you decide to go to the US. I think it is more simple to choose the US. I have the same situation like you I have been in the US once. I did not have any problem.
Good Luck
Comment by Ali — March 28, 2007 @ 2:21 am
BTW, this is a great news that I found today:
Scientists have created the world’s first human-sheep chimera!
Comment by Smileme — March 28, 2007 @ 2:22 am
Recently the Iranian press reported on a flight from Germany to Iran. The Iranian press (link below) was reporting that bombs had been planted on the plane. No other country in the world reported that story. Remember me asking you about that? Where was your outrage then? The country of your birth (I guess) makes up shit that casts Iranians as suicide bombers prepared to crash a plane and you are silent. You can’t have it both ways.
Here is the link
Comment by Paleo — March 28, 2007 @ 12:32 pm
Archer said:
“Sometimes, in engineering, we use conservative estimates”
What type of engineer are you?
I’m an I.E.
Comment by tedders — March 28, 2007 @ 2:15 pm
Lots of engineers here. Nice! I’m a Chem E in a biomedical engineering company. :-D
For all the crap we get, the average American is pretty respectful of people from other cultures. You rarely hear about some racist American causing a scene or committing a hate crime. Most of us are pretty fun to chat with if you give us a chance. :-)
Comment by Tom — March 28, 2007 @ 2:39 pm
I really understand what your saying, and you know in these times I am just sorry being an Iranian, and more than that hate Iranian idiots who make life harder.I saved all the troubles and decided ,to participate conferences in Canada:).
I am a Chem E too,(since everybody says ):)
Comment by mahi — March 28, 2007 @ 2:59 pm
I believe situation is getting harder and harder. But I have a solution: You have your re-entry visa, so you can present a paper in a conference in Iran, something like Anti-holocaust Conference! :D
By the way, I came here to leave you a reminder comment for today afternoon! ;) See ya!
Comment by Mahmoud — March 28, 2007 @ 5:14 pm
Come on Kamangir whats your ilk? Mechanical, Aeronautical, Electrical, Chemical, Civil, Industrial, Nuclear, inquiring minds want to know!!
Comment by tedders — March 29, 2007 @ 9:23 pm
Tedders,
Electrical.
Comment by Kamangir — March 30, 2007 @ 1:29 am