I'm keying in data into GLACIER, which is some Amurrcan tax system, which helps the tax people determine how much money they should take out of my scholarship checks. Somewhere in the GLACIER system, I run across this:
For each CALENDAR YEAR between 1986 and your date of arrival that you were previously present in the U.S., please select the calendar year of each Prior Visit and the corresponding Immigration Status and Total Number of Days associated with each Immigration Status. You MUST include ALL Prior Visits to the U.S.
Do these assholes understand how often I have visited the States? No. There is an implicit assumption that we're all dirt poor and couldn't have visited the States often, because there are only 8 lines in which we can enter data.
The fields provided: CALENDAR YEAR, IMMIGRATION STATUS, TOTAL NUMBER OF DAYS
Here is where I'm stuck. I had a B1/B2 visa for the last ten years. Everytime I've entered the States, it's basically an arbitrary decision by the immigration officer whether s/he signs it B1 or B2.
I'm not a fan of lying, so I list down the different immigration statuses:
2012 - B1 - 2
2012 - B2 - 28
2011 - B1 - 15
2011 - B2 - 19
2010 - B1 - 17
2010 - B2 - 3
But guess what happens when I do this?
"GLACIER does not support more than 2 visits in any one year. Please contact the GLACIER Support Center for assistance."
??????????
OK, so GLACIER Support Center. I write 'em and basically explain, yo, I keep getting this error message everytime I follow the instructions. What is up?
....
"Thank you for your email. Please input all visits in F, J, M or Q immigration status. Then please input all visits in all immigration statuses in 2012, 2011, and 2010. If you still need more space, then please email me ALL of your visit information including entry and departure dates and immigration status for each visit."
I'm sorry, but somehow or another this person does not seem to understand my problem. Which is that, I JUST FUCKING DID ALL THAT.
Well, maybe I misunderstood, so I asked again:
None of my prior visits were under F, J, M nor Q immigration status. I have made multiple visits under B1 or B2 statuses and tried to input these visits separately without success (see previous email for the error message I receive). I have also been through US immigration while in transit between Malaysia and Canada. Please advise.
Response?
"As I stated below, please input ALL visits in 2012, 2011 and 2010. You may combine the days you visited and show as one visit."
WHAT THE HELL DO YOU THINK I'VE BEEN TRYING TO DO?????
But, calm down, I know how to write to support:
"I have attempted to input ALL visits in 2012, 2011 and 2010 with no success.
The following is the information I have attempted to input:
2012 - B1 - 2
2012 - B2 - 28
2011 - B1 - 15
2011 - B2 - 19
2010 - B1 - 17
2010 - B2 - 3
Please advise if I should disregard the status written in my passport and simply combine all the dates into a single status."
TOO BAD SUPPORT DON'T KNOW HOW TO WRITE ME BACK:
"Please provide the dates of entry and exit to the U.S. in 2012 including the immigration status. Also, please let us know how long you plan to be in the U.S. in 2012."
I PLAN TO BE SITTIN' IN YOUR COUNTRY FOR A LOONNNG TIME, MOFO. NOW FIX IT SO YA'LL DON'T RIP OFF YOUR OWN TAXPAYER MONEY PAYING TOOLS LIKE YOUR TECH SUPPORT.
And I want to get this DONE so badly, otherwise the financial aid hold on my account won't come off (there's apparently also a technology fee I have to pay, which is stupid).
I'm going to clear my apartment all crabby now.
EDIT:
Just tried entering ONE immigration status per year, and it got through. How stupid is this? WHY do these assholes even bother separating the statuses if the system can't even handle the idea that, OMG! PEOPLE MIGHT ENTER THE COUNTRY MORE THAN ONCE IN THE SAME YEAR WITH DIFFERENT STATUSES.