well it looks like I now work for Air Canada. I think. I was told to come in tomorrow at 815A to the airport to get all the paperwork done and go get my drug tests... and make sure I have my 10 year background check, IDs, etc.

:-) :-)

Congratulations UAPremierExec! Best of luck.

Congrats!

Blame Canada.

Congrats!!!!

After being stabbed by a shoplifter with a screwdriver who really wanted a bike for Christmas a few years ago, I found a winter job delivering motorhomes and trucks out of Indiana. Funny thing is, it sounds rotten, but you get alot of time to listen to yourself, learn all of the songs on the radio, get paid to go to NYC, and if you stay on the road, clear $900-$1000 a week. I would love to work for the Red Sox again for Spring training here in FL, but driving pays 3x as much.

JudyJFLA
driving on a road near you, but right now heading to Hawaii tomorrow!!

What do you write in that space - "Unemployed"?

just and simple 'Manager' (that always worked).

Writer or Novelist is also good.

You could also put down "sales" because if you are looking for a job, you are selling your skills, right?

To give a more detailed answer, here is my experience. For the last eight years or so, I have been an independent contractor for a company I used to be employed by. I wanted to do this so I could take long vacations abroad -- as long as three or four months.

In one case, back in 1995 I was leaving France after two months there. In the UA check-in line, a French security guy (not sure what his official title was) started asking questions pertaining to the length of my trip, and the interview degenerated from there into a lot of leading questions. He looked at my passport and noticed I had been in Turkey the previous year, asked if I knew anyone in Turkey (no -- I was on a tour), asked if I was carrying any electronic devices -- yes, a cassette recorder -- asked to look at it, and so on. The look of disgust and exasperation on my face seemed to help end the nonsense. Maybe he thought I was trying to carry a concealed explosive on the plane, hidden inside the cassette recorder, planted there by my Turkish terrorist friend -- who knows?

In 1997, I went to the British Isles for 3-1/2 months. Upon entering the UK at Heathrow, I was grilled by the immigration official who behaved as if I was up to no good. My mistake was giving an honest answer to his first question: "Where will you be staying in London?" I replied that I would be staying with someone in their home. (I should've just given the name of a hotel.) He snapped, "Are they English or American?" In fact, they were neither, but seeing I had only two choices, I stammered, "English." He was also concerned about the planned length of my trip. Things went downhill from there. He finally asked to see my return plane ticket. I presented him that, and it (perhaps along with my facial expressions) convinced him to let me in. I suppose the UK immigration people are concerned about us Yanks entering on tourist visas and then illegally taking jobs.

On all other occasions, however, I have encountered no problems entering or leaving countries. Most of the time (especially in EU countries, with the exception of the UK), you are just waved through without even a stamp in your passport. And returning to the USA is entirely routine and uneventful.

On visa applications/landing cards, I would suggest that for "occupation" you put whatever your usual one is.


Kathy



[This message has been edited by KathyWdrf (edited 01-08-2003).]

Having been recently unemployed and travelled to Europe, here's a tip, carry cash or cash equivalents with you when entering.

I ran into trouble at the J/F passport line at heathrow. In the occupation section of the landing card, I wrote "unemployed" (I was honest), and I had less than $300 on me.

Now what I usually do is withdraw money from my citibank card at citbanks all over the world right from the ATM. Not only is it easy, it saves me money and the hassle of the money exhange.

I was staying with a friend, who is English, who is also unemployed (by choice). So you can see the problem.

Needless to say her majesties customs grilled me. They asked me how much money I had... I told them that I had money, 2 credit cards and futhermore I asked them "Would anyone who doesn't have money fly Biz class?"

Then they asked to see my return ticket, which was 2 weeks later. I wasn't really dressed well (jeans, fleece, t-shirt), but I offered them my phone to call them bank so that they could verify that I had money to use. By this point the line had built up, and upon seeing my return ticket (also in J), they stammed my passport and let me through.

so it's now a prerequisit to be EMPLOYED to visit a foreign country???!!!???

I should write "unemployed" down just to see if I get grilled going into Canada.. :P

On my last visit to New Zealand an interesting conversation ocurred between myself and the immigration agent.

Agent: What is your purpose for visiting NZ?
Me: Visiting a friend.
Agent: What is your friend's address?
Me: I don't really know since they are picking me up but I have their phone number.
Agent: How long are you visiting?
Me: 9 days.
Agent: Ok. Do you have sufficient funds to support yourself in NZ during this stay?
Me: (opening my wallett with various CC's) Is this sufficient?
Agent: Are all these gold cards REALLY real?
Me: To the best of my knowledge they are. Would you like to check them out?
Agent: No, it's OK. Enjoy your very brief stay in NZ, Sir and welcome back anytime!

Looks like smooth sailing to me.

I always just write something generic: "Manager" or "Director." I manage and direct many things, only a few of them having to do with my job...

However, Using that second definition, we could all fill in "Flyertalker." You know, if one person, just one person does it they may think he's really sick and they won't take him. And if two people, two people do it, in harmony, they may think they're both f****** and they won't take either of them.
And three people do it, three, can you imagine, three people [flying] in [claiming to be flyertalkers] and walking out. They may think it's an organization. And can you, can you imagine fifty people a day, I said fifty people a day [flying] in [claiming to be flyertalkers] and walking out. And friends they may thinks it's a movement....

And if said person is also dressed like a clown....

(*ducks*)



Let us know how that works out for you. Seriously.

On the landing card in Toronto I wrote consultant as my occupation. You would have thought I wrote International Terrorist. The goons there escorted the two other gentleman I was traveling with and I to a private room where we were grilled at length about the purpose of our one day trip. A long monologue that sounded similar to the riot act but was actually about NAFTA then ensued for several minutes. Subsequently, we were accused of stealing jobs from hardworking Canadians. As a result I now wear my green visor and write accountant on the declaration.