Contraband. January 21, 2012

I have just had a trip to the States and experienced Government inefficiency at its peak.
We are green card holders and because we are now living outside of the United States, we have to have re-entry permits to allow us to travel backwards and forwards more easily. Technically, we come back often enough that we shouldn’t need them, but just in case, the magic turquoise book makes our passage easier. Even so, I always get asked, “Why am I living outside the States?”, “How long will I be away?”, “When will I be returning?” etc., etc..

My issue recently has been that these re entry permits only last for two years, and hard though it is to believe, we have now been in Brazil for over two years so they have to be renewed. You would think that it is a straight forward process, but then you always have to remember the adage that why make things straightforward when they can be complicated.

The process is twofold. The paperwork has to be submitted, and then at a later date, biometrics have to be taken. Let’s now complicate matters. When the paperwork is submitted, one has to physically be in the United States. I have to be ready to present my boarding pass to show that I actually got onto a flight. Wouldn’t you think that the department of immigration could check what my passport was scanned at a border when I came into the country? Seemingly not. According to the lawyers I have to retain my boarding passes – just in case I need to show them.

So I arrived on Friday morning, and duly sent off the paperwork to the lawyers. It happened to be Martin Luther King Day on Monday so everything was closed, lawyer’s offices and of course all public offices. My lawyers processed everything Tuesday and sent it off overnight. But, just in case it wasn’t received on Wednesday morning, it was suggested that I stay and extra day.

Part two is getting my fingerprints done. I’m not sure why my fingerprints would change in the two years since my last re entry permit was issued but they have to be re done – just in case they have changed. Or maybe it is to prove that I am still the same person – who knows? Trouble is, they can’t give you an appointment date ahead of time. So I have now had to return to Brazil – (without my turquoise book) and await the appointment for my biometrics. I checked when I arrived in immigration as to whether I would have any problem getting back into the States without my re-entry book and the immigration officer looked at me and basically said that I travel often enough, I didn’t even need one!

Oh well, it was a week spent in freezing New Jersey. A chance to see Emma, friends and to catch a cold. And of course to do some shopping. Let’s face it; there can never be enough opportunities to do shopping. But here is the thing. Everything in Sao Paulo is ridiculously expensive, (it is now in the top 10 of most expensive cities in the world to live ahead of London and Paris.) When I say I am coming back to do shopping, it is not for the niceties in life such as clothes, shoes and handbags. Sadly it is for boring things like grocery shopping.

When I got back to Sao Paulo, there was a very officious woman at the customs clearance desk. I swear that she stopped every person traveling by themselves with more than one suitcase. I had three large cases and was sent straight to the inspection area. I had only just congratulated myself for being so speedy getting through immigration and baggage collection when I saw the enormous line for customs check. Marcelo would just have to continue waiting.

Firstly, all bags had to go through the X-ray machine and then I was sent to a table to start opening my cases for closer inspection. I was happy that I really had nothing bad in them, but I think the customs officer looked in disbelief as I started showing him what was there. Shampoo, conditioner, razors, and hay fever tablets. Maybe the talcum powder was not such a good idea. White powder? Not so sensible but it passed.

But, my favourite item to show them was the 12 rolls of Bounty Kitchen Towel. Paper towels being smuggled into Brazil – how sad! But decent paper towels are such a luxury in Brazil. I can live without a new pair of shoes but decent kitchen towel – absolutely not.

I am off out to dinner this evening and my hostess gift will be one of my precious hoard. In the United States they cost about US$ 3 each. In Sao Paulo they are priceless.