U.S. Border Status Update

I can't help but laugh a little. Its been 39 days since I first tried to cross the border with Steve to go down to Mountain View for some incredibly exciting business training. Its been 37 days since I tried for the second time and was dismissed for having a scary file. Its been 28 days since I applied for a B1 Visa from the US consulate in Toronto. 14 days since my first interview when my application was sent to Lewiston for further processing. 1 day since they invited me back for a second interview. about 7 hours since I got up at 4:30 this morning to catch a train to Toronto to visit the consulate. And about 75 minutes since they suspended my application on the grounds that I'm a Canadian citizen and don't need to apply for a Visa from the consulate (apparently I had to show up in person to find this out).

In total I've missed 50 percent of the seminars I was trying to visit the US to attend. Spent about 25 hours fussing, worrying and filling in paperwork to try and fix my file. Spent about 18 hours in transit, lineups, and call queues waiting to meet officers. Spent about 12 minutes speaking with officers. And 26 days twiddling my thumbs waiting for the US government to inform me that I'm using the wrong process.

Like I said, I can't hep but laugh a little.

I never imagined, for the life of me, that a border guard having a bad day could so unrelentingly affect my future. Live and learn I guess! If I were to offer a hypothesis - it seems a bit like the support center phone transfer problem. Except instead of no one knowing how to fix my problem, no one is willing to say I'm ok. The original officer decided I was a bad guy, and no one has the balls to overturn that. Which I guess I get. If I actually were bad, who wants to be the sucker that proves the original guy right. Especially in a system where there is no duty to serve the customer. What I don't get, is why the computer screen trumps the insurmountable evidence I have been bringing with me. Why a note that says I was unprepared and didn't provide paperwork is worth more than the paperwork I didn't bring the first time. It doesn't make sense. And I'm pretty sure that's a catch-22. I'm pretty sure there is no way to win without some serious amount of compassion on the part of a border guard.

So I head back to the border. Back to plead my case. I know a little bit more now, and I have a better skill-set. And maybe these are silly questions, but I can't help asking. Couldn't they have just told me to go back to the border a month ago? Why did it take so much paperwork, time and money to explain a process to me? Why even offer to look into it? Or most importantly, why lie to me and keep passing the buck?