When my husband, my brother and I went to Florida to visit my mother-in-law for our summer holidays, we got some hassle from immigration. First of all, my brother and I are Irish Chinese and my husband is Irish. I was using using my maiden name (still am), so my name on the passport is different to my husband. The immigration officer in question asked what relationship was my brother to my husband, I said they are brother-in-law’s. An my relationship to my other half is my husband even though we don’t share the same surname. His eyes rolled when I said it was my maiden name, but he rolled his eyes at my husband and gave him a nasty look. Maybe I read too much into it but it was like “how dare your wife not take your family name” look. I also had to explaing that I was siblings with my brother, go figure. It’s like he’s never heard of inter-racial marriage or something and I can’t bring along a Chinese relative to visit my in-law who’s living in Florida for a summer holiday. He said we had to fill in individual forms, which was bull crap as I was over with friends and we got through with one form before, and we are all related here. I asked does he want me to go back to the really long queue and fill out the forms and come back again? He said don’t bother but don’t do it again. Seriously? What was his problem. I was so annoyed as this was suppose to be a summer holiday and it was the first time my brother (who’s only 16/17 at the time) visited America.
We enjoyed our trip, but it’s always beggar’s belief on why we get hassled for some stupid reason or another. Maybe they should play some video games or go to those massage chairs when they take their break. What gobshites!
