{"id":7647,"date":"2019-11-18T20:32:00","date_gmt":"2019-11-18T20:32:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/?p=7647"},"modified":"2019-11-18T20:32:06","modified_gmt":"2019-11-18T20:32:06","slug":"a-visit-to-the-immigration-office","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/a-visit-to-the-immigration-office\/","title":{"rendered":"A visit to the immigration office"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Last week I had to go and ask for a re-entry permit at a local immigration office. It is an integral part of life for most of expats to pay a visit to this place every now and then. The immigration office is usually the only governmental institution that we can turn to when we need a document or a service.
<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

I had an appointment for the document that I needed to get, and I arrived on time for this appointment with all my application documents filled out correctly. And, of course, my non-expired passport with many blank pages for my re-entry permit. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The office looked nice and bright, and the wait was surprisingly not long at all. That made me feel like the government is taking care of me almost as good as of all the citizens of my host country. As soon as they called my number, I handed over the paperwork to the agent only to be told (to my great shock and disappointment) that I was in the wrong place!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The “right” place<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

As I was taking the metro across town to get to the other foreigners’ centre, I felt upset about wasting my time; especially because I was clearly following all the rules I found on the ministry’s website. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Finally, I arrived to the other immigration centre where I could get what I needed. This building looked nothing like the first one. It was in a dark alley, looking old and unpleasant. The air in it was stuffy and there were tons of people from all over the world and from all walks of life, including kids and babies that were watching cartoons in one corner (and other being rather loud!) of this big waiting room. Not a place you’d want to visit after a long day at work!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

People seemed confused about what they should do, although the guards were trying to guide them through the ticketing and waiting system. The overall experience looked like pure agony not only for the clients, but for the employees of this place as well. I was thinking about what the clerks really thought of us (the immigrants in ‘their’ country). Did they take this job to help and support us or does this experience make them more anti-immigrant?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Why are expats so different?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

After 45 minutes of wait, I finally got what I needed and walked out of this room. It was already dark outside, but I decided to walk home. I needed some fresh air after that stuffy, crowded place, not to mention the stress of all of this nonsense. I couldn’t help but wonder why does the government need to treat non-citizens so differently? Such is the case in probably many of our home countries as well.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

Expats are just as hard-working, tax-paying and law-abiding members of society just like the actual citizens, so don’t they deserve the level of service that is just as high as everyone else? I can’t find a proper reason why would the governments constantly try to remind us that we are not equal to their citizens. Maybe it is just an issue of lack-of-funding, constantly changing immigration laws, or maybe the current politicians don’t care about us because we don’t have the right to vote. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

What are your experiences that you must endure being an expat in your host country? Share your story by submitting an article for this blog series by contacting us here<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Last week I had to go and ask for a re-entry permit at a local immigration office. It is an integral part of life for most of expats to pay a visit to this place every now and then. The immigration office is usually the only governmental institution that we can turn to when we […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":7654,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2752],"tags":[42,2753,2755,530,1351,2754],"class_list":["post-7647","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-what-expats-must-endure","tag-expat-life","tag-immigration","tag-immigration-office","tag-life-as-an-expat","tag-life-teaching-abroad","tag-teaching-in-your-host-country"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/11\/reception-2507752_1280.jpg?fit=1280%2C853&ssl=1","jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p2flVT-1Zl","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_likes_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":23,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/want-to-work-at-an-international-school-in-the-netherlands-%e2%80%93-tips-for-expats-in-holland\/","url_meta":{"origin":7647,"position":0},"title":"Want to work at an international school in the Netherlands? \u2013 Tips for Expats in Holland","author":"ISCommunity","date":"February 14, 2012","format":false,"excerpt":"Life in Holland does indeed sound nice. \u00a0Riding your bike to work and watching the canals as you dart in and out of the streets of Amsterdam could be something very easy to get used to every morning. \u00a0The Insego website has highlighted some excellent tips that international teachers and\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Great Resource"","block_context":{"text":"Great Resource","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/great-resource\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.files.wordpress.com\/2012\/02\/screen-shot-2012-02-14-at-9-57-28-pm.png?w=350&h=200&crop=1","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":2619,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/new-survey-percentage-staff-expat-hired\/","url_meta":{"origin":7647,"position":1},"title":"New Survey: What percentage of your staff is expat hired?","author":"ISCommunity","date":"January 28, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"A new survey has arrived! Topic:\u00a0\u00a0What percentage\u00a0of your staff is expat hired? International schools are definitely not all the same. \u00a0You might think that the international school you want to work at has mostly expat teachers, but that might not always be the case. Many international schools hire locally. \u00a0The\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Surveys"","block_context":{"text":"Surveys","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/surveys\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/new_teachers.jpg?fit=640%2C425&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/new_teachers.jpg?fit=640%2C425&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/01\/new_teachers.jpg?fit=640%2C425&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x"},"classes":[]},{"id":11338,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/isc-members-get-50-off-your-first-year-with-tietax-expats-helping-expats-navigate-u-s-taxes-roth-ira-rules\/","url_meta":{"origin":7647,"position":2},"title":"ISC Members: Get $50 Off Your First Year with TieTax \u2013 Expats Helping Expats Navigate U.S. Taxes & Roth IRA Rules!","author":"ISCommunity","date":"March 4, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"For U.S. international school teachers, navigating tax obligations while living abroad can be overwhelming. Many assume working overseas means they no longer have to file U.S. taxes\u2014that\u2019s a costly myth. You risk penalties, missed deductions, and financial stress without expert guidance. This is why ISC has partnered with TieTax to\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Great Link"","block_context":{"text":"Great Link","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/great-link\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/income-tax-g14b773be7_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/income-tax-g14b773be7_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/income-tax-g14b773be7_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/income-tax-g14b773be7_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/04\/income-tax-g14b773be7_1280.jpg?fit=1200%2C800&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":457,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/great-link-3-statistical-data-about-the-lives-of-expats\/","url_meta":{"origin":7647,"position":3},"title":"Great link #3: Statistical data about the lives of expats.","author":"ISCommunity","date":"April 20, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"It can be viewed as a very ideal lifestyle most of the time, the life of an expat.\u00a0 But what is it exactly that makes our expat lifestyles so desirable?\u00a0 What aspects of expats\u2019 lives have improved since moving to live abroad? What aspects have not improved? Personally, I know\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Great Link"","block_context":{"text":"Great Link","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/great-link\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":3502,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/big-news-irs-abroad-behind-us-tax-returns\/","url_meta":{"origin":7647,"position":4},"title":"Big News from the IRS for Those Abroad Who Are Behind on US Tax Returns","author":"ISCommunity","date":"August 1, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"About Us | Contact Us \u00a0 Seriously Good News from the IRS -\u00a0New \u201cPenalty-Free\u201d Program\u00a0for Delinquent Expats We have an important announcement. IRS has just announced a new Amnesty Program. The old, 2012 program, was popular, but had a number of strict entry criteria. It offered great terms - but\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Highlighted Articles"","block_context":{"text":"Highlighted Articles","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/highlighted-articles\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"logo","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/08\/logo.png?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":284,"url":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/educating-children-abroad-can-be-an-expensive-business-so-its-important-to-start-planning-early\/","url_meta":{"origin":7647,"position":5},"title":"Educating children abroad can be an expensive business, so it\u2019s important to start planning early","author":"ISCommunity","date":"October 2, 2011","format":false,"excerpt":"International School Community would like to highlight another article from the Guardian.co.uk website.\u00a0 This time it is related to international schools and how expensive they are to some families. The title of the article by Dawn Cowie: Educating children abroad can be an expensive business, so it\u2019s important to start\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "Discussion Topics"","block_context":{"text":"Discussion Topics","link":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/category\/discussion-topics\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/static.guim.co.uk\/sys-images\/Guardian\/Pix\/commercial\/2011\/7\/20\/1311172585749\/Four-schoolgirls-walking-007.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]}],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7647","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=7647"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/7647\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/7654"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=7647"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=7647"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/internationalschoolcommunity.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=7647"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}