Today we gave our biometric information for our visa applications: fingerprints and a digital photograph at the US Citizenship and Immigration Office near RDU. I knew it was a government office as soon as we opened the door, though: there was a line. We also had to go through a full airport style security check, which surprised us. Is it this way for all government buildings now? This is a “paperwork building”, not a courthouse or a major outpost of any kind, just a single-purpose visa office: I am not sure that all that extra expense is really necessary, nor was the two-receptionist system: they had you report to the main receptionist (after standing in line), who looked at your paperwork and told you where to go. There was a choice of two places to go – and one of those places was an information station. And you wonder why we’re in a deficit situation? That place needed at least 8 less employees/contractors in it…!
On the plus side, the folks were very pleasant and helpful, and even with the security check and the lines we had to stand in, we were out of there in about 30 minutes or so. Not bad for a government office! Still waiting to hear from Brunel University’s Financial Aid Office to see if I can actually use the visas we have applied for -- and paid almost $1,000 for the privilege to do so. The situation should be resolved – or “sorted” as the British say – pretty soon. We'll see!
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