6 years ago today I arrived in London. I came for a year, on a secondment from the Jo'burg office.
It was freezing. After getting through passport control (where I had to submit to a health check) and dragging my many bags through a unfamiliar and transport system, I got to South Coulsdon, where I ordered my first minicab. I had no idea what was going on, and I didn't understand anything the guy said on the phone. Still I got to Coulsdon Manor.
I wandered around Coulsdon a little, but it was beyond freezing (and mind numbingly dull) so I ate lunch at the hotel and passed out during the Grand Prix. The next day I made my way to Croydon, where I would be working, and was to spend the next 14 or so months. For a while I even thought Croydon was London.
Last week I got my permanent residency. This means they can no longer kick me out. In a years time I can apply for citizenship.
/sidebar
Although I am pleased that I have my residency, and far more relaxed as I now have some security that's not dependent on me remaining with the same company, the home office still managed to prove themselves Squirrel Monkeys.
As I have only a few pages remaining in my passport, I got a new one in South Africa. I didn't sign it as my signature is digitally embedded under my photograph. And no one has ever checked my passport for a signature ever. Except the home office who suddenly (I have been told this has never been a problem before by my visa agent) decided that they would not put the stamp in the new passport as it's unsigned.
So as a result I have my stamp in my old passport with no space left for visa stamps. Which means I have to pay £250 to the bastards to get it moved, or carry around two passports.
Bureaucratic Squirrel Monkey Knobheads!
1. Daisy
You mean… Croydon isn’t London? Congratulatons on the residency!
2. Destructor
Congratulations man. Difficult to imagine London with out you.
Trying it now……yep, it’s awful. Glad you’re here.
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3. zed
congratulations on the residency - the british embassy is renowned world over (i should think) as being right arseholes when it comes to giving visas etc.
4. Simon
mazeltov - I know how much this means to you
5. razorhead
Idenfinate leave to stay? They’ll let anyone in these days.
(I’m rather glad they let you in though)
6. Francesca
Tremendous news, congratulations :)
I hear you about UK immigration - we waited for half a day at the Croydon office, only to be told that we had to return to the US. Cue a last-minute trip to New York, where surprisingly, the paperwork could not have been easier.
7. Green Fairy
BWAHAHAHAHAAA! We have you now!
8. Kevin
Congratulations :-)
9. Lori
Congrats on the residency. Does this mean you’ll be sending my tie out soon? ;)
10. Adrian
Thanks for all the congratulations.
Ties will be sent out this week.
11. stroppycow
They only did it that way so they can have twice the fun when looking at the passport picture when you go through emigration. Everybody knows that passport photos are the most unflatering and they make everybody look like the spiritual child of a serial killer. BTW due to renue my passport soon, please, please, please make sure your squirrel monkeys magnet is on when I go to the consulate so they don’t come anywhere near me.
12. Joe
Congratulations on the residency, Adrian. If your a good boy, we might even allow you across the border into Wales every now and again!
13. Suzy
Random factoid: my father grew up in Coulsdon and I spent quite a few summers there when I was a kid. It used to be Surrey, but I believe it’s now greater London. Of course, Manchester is probably greater London by now. Anyway, congrats!