Closing the Distance

By the time we found out that the immigrant visa was approved, we started making plans. Joe bought the ticket and we decided to go on a vacation to celebrate. We chose Chicago as it is close to Louisville and would also mean I wouldn't have to do another layover. We made the itinerary and booked the hotels. The visa was finally received on January 5th, 2017 with a document in sealed envelope that I could not open until I arrive in United States. 

On January 18th, 2017, I was boarded on my flight from Jakarta, Indonesia to Chicago, USA. To be honest, it was a pretty thrilling experience as we all know how Trump's view is about immigration and Muslims. I was scheduled to land in Chicago on January 19th, 2017 at 08:30 AM, and since it was my first time coming to USA, I just could not stop thinking about the inevitable hassle at the immigration. The fact that I was bringing a lot of food in my luggage didn't help, which worried me that I would have trouble at customs. 

When it was finally my turn at the immigration booth, my heart was racing so hard, I felt it would jump out of my body. As per the instruction on the envelope, I handed the immigration officer the immigration documents. She asked if it was my first time and if I ever got rejected to enter USA before. She also asked a few things about Joe and I, where we met, how many times we ever met in person, when we got married, when the first time we met, where he works, and where he lives. I could never remember the address because it has too many numbers and it's unusual for me. I did memorize it before the interview and the embassy officer didn't even ask it and I have forgotten the exact address and I didn't even think about memorizing again before I landed. Being caught off guard, I stuttered, "East West um..", and she was like "East Weston?", and since it was familiar, I said yes when it was supposed to be "Easton Commons". She told me to follow her and that was when I thought I screwed up.

Image credit: U. S. Customs and Border Protection

The immigration officer led me to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection room. All I could think about was my luggage and who was gonna take care of it because I had been waiting for almost an hour in the room, and the airport officer would probably take my luggage to the Lost & Found. There were many people waiting with me as well, but I was not sure if they take all the International tourists to this room or people with special visa, like "business, students, immigrant and fiancé visa" or only "suspicious" people. A representative from Japan Airlines finally came to the room and asked if there was anyone flying with it and I answered. She helped me get the luggage and told me to get it in front of the door of the U.S. Customs and Border Protection room, I really, really appreciated that. I was not able to use my phone because it is restricted, so I had no idea how to contact Joe because I was sure he was also worried for waiting for too long. 

Some people went to the interview room, I thought I was gonna get interviewed again and I still could not remember Joe's address 😭 until one of the officers finally called my name, returned my passport and said "you're done here, welcome to the United States". I was so relieved and wanted to leave the room quickly before they changed their mind. I got my luggage, went through the customs, went to the exit gate, finally met Joe and told him to just leave the airport quickly 😂.