My current visa expires today, January 31, 2004. My application for the new one is floating around somewhere within the Immigration Departments vast system. At least I have proof that they have my application.
So technically, I will be here illegally tomorrow. If I am caught, then they will ban me from returning for years. They could also criminally prosecute me.
My visa agency in Sydney assure me that the immigration department has assured them that they are not going to go after people like me who are (a) trying to redo their visas to comply with the new rules, and (b) have their application in the system. However, they will not give put this claim in writing.
That makes me nervous. The enforcement arm of their agency may not be aware of this verbal promise. All they know is that my visa has expired and they have no record of my leaving the country. They know were I live and were I work. It is easy picking for them.
So I've taken precautions. I spoke to my friend Louise who is a lawyer. I asked her if it is ok for me to call her if I get arrested. She said that is fine, so I've written her number on my arm. I gave her a list of people to contact for me should this happen, such as my boss, my pimp, and my housemates.
I knew that if I was picked up, they would take me to their holding jail out by the airport. I figured it would take them a couple of days to deport me, so I might have a chance to make one call. I don't expect that they will be nice enough to let me use a telephone. But I have my calling card memorized, so I can get a call out should I get my hands on a working telephone.
To complicate matter, the visa specialist in Sydney have my passport. So if I am picked up and shipped out, I won't even have a passport to travel with. How in the hell am I going to get back into the US... or anywhere?
There isn't much more I can except lay low. People tell me that I'm being a worry wart and the law isn't interested in people like me. They are more worried about illegal asians and arabs.
Still. If I'm on a computer, they have to hold me if they catch me.
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