Ready-steady-go!

Nowadays each journey starts at least 48-72 hours before departure, when the prospective traveler gets tested for COVID and is declared safe to be allowed on the plane and/or in the destination country. My journey to the US started even before, due to the Presidential Proclamation in force banning entrance in the US of travelers who have visited Schengen area in the previous 14 days. Adopted by Trump in March 2020, it remained in force until his last day in the office and then was upheld by Biden. Biden amended the proclamation only at the end of May 2022, adding additional National Interest Exception with regard to research scholars, which at certain conditions could include me. 

Therefore, starting as of June, after having returned from vacation in Croatia, I put my effort at getting invitation, NIE and visa. After having obtained all the aforementioned, retrospectively, it seems straightforward, but it was not so when I was in the process, as I did not know what steps are to be taken and where I should come with initiative and when I should just wait. 

Preparation

To be admitted as a research scholar in the university of Massachusetts, one must have an invitation letter from the “sponsoring department”, who thereby notifies IPO (international program office) of prospective scholar. The sponsor (which does not exactly sponsors anything) submits confirmation of tour English proficiency and then you receive a link from IPO to UMass system where you should upload a bunch of documents, tell about yourself, include proof of funding (bank account statements do not count, you have to submit documents proving you’ll have income during your stay), and pay 550 USD fee to the university for considering your application. 

And then you wait. 

I waited patiently for 2 weeks and then wrote a polite email inquiring about my application. It turned out, the PolSci department had not approved something in the system (a tick in a form?) which was the reason the process had stopped . The department meanwhile thought they have done everything and the problem is at IPO. Few days at the beginning of August I spent forwarding emails in between both departments, as it seemed the only way to get their attention amidst their other task . Which is understandable, if you ask me. UMass had (before COVID) about several thousand international students, each year somewhere between 350-550 undergraduate international students are starting their studies at UMass Amherst. Less graduate students and scholars of course, and also COVID has made its amends, but midsummer most likely is the hot season for the staff. 

​And then, at one sunny afternoon, DHL courier was at my doorstep, carrying an envelope with golden-valued DS-2019 form. 

​This form gave me the rights to apply for J-1 visa. In Latvia the visa application should be filled on the special website (hosted by US embassy), whereby all the relevant information, including photo and mentioned DS-2019 should be uploaded. At the same page it is possible to pay the visa fee (160 USD). After the documents are submitted, the website offers to schedule a visa interview. The first available date the website offered was at the end of November… The process is, that you should take this date and then plead for emergency rescheduling. I did that, providing proof that my program starts at the end of September. I got visa interview date next week.​

The visa interview did not differ much to other interviews, two significant details though: first, research scholars have to pay SEVIS fee (220 USD) (payable at the internet site) to the US government at least three days prior to the interview, and second, one should already schedule (pay) for the courier (velokurjers), who will deliver your passport from the embassy to your address. 

So in few days time the bicycle-courier delivered a slightly wet envelope (it was raining), containing my passport (with visa!) and a letter from embassy confirming my NIE status. Hallelujah!

Finding flight was comparatively easy. My compliments to KLM - I initially booked flight with them, but had to change the date. They returned all the money without a fuss in few weeks time. 

Departure

Riga airport seems full at the first glance: there are cues at the airBaltic check-in counter and Aeroflot counter. Non at Finnair, though, I check in quickly. Only document the officer asks me is the COVID test. Also at the security check there are only few people. It turns out, the crowd at the entrance were almost the only people in the airport - RIX may not be completely deserted, but a far cry from busy airport I have seen before. Only at the gate to Helsinki flight there are some people and the small aircraft is full up to hull. the ​

Beside me sits a girl who is traveling to New Mexico through Chicago. She has a very short connection at Helsinki and as our plane is getting some 10 minutes late, we vent our stress by chatting about travel,  life, and existence. About choices one makes in life, how the US differs from Latvia, how it is for her- to live the life she loves,  while her family in Latvia does not exactly get that. How it is for me, the changes, slow-grading, turning towards academia after 15+ years at the law office. When less billed hours and less income can result in satisfaction, as it gives a possibility to do something I love. At Helsinki we bid our farewells (she hurries to her plane), wishing good luck to each other. 

Hallways of Helsinki airport terminal 2 are empty. I see only one crowd, there are even people in white disposable protective-suits, Asian origin (I’m not good at recognizing different nationalities). I already brace myself for full flight but it turns out that the crowd is waiting for boarding at gate 45 while flight to JFK is at 44. I have passed it without noticing as there is no crowd around. 

My NIE is explored here in depth. Test proof (EGL printout about saliva test) is ok. I have been admitted. 

Flight to JFK is empty. Literally empty. From 360 seats occupied are only around 60. Our saloon has only 6 occupants. Flight attendants are at our disposal all the time, happy to chat, happy to have passengers. We, passengers also feel somehow different- chatting, exchanging stories. At least - me and the woman sitting two rows behind, traveling back to the USA, having visited her parents in Saint Petersburg. 

The only advantage of having “dinner” on board is that mask mandate is lifted during meal. The food does not interest me in slightest (something that looks like tofu in suspicious sauce and cabbage salad without any dressing, and a roll. Luckily I’m not hungry. I take time to savor my coffee and coke and mask-free minutes. 

Ps. Netflix download function is cool. And guilt-free binge watching of your favorite series, sitting with your legs up across three seats is actually quite ok. I have seen worse. 

​Finnair arrives at JFK Terminal 8. There are no crowds at the immigration control (where could the people get from if the aircrafts are empty?). The officer, after having inspected my documents, asks me to follow him to a specially designated area where a specially instructed officer will inspect my NIE documents in depth. Luckily, the process does not take more than 5 minutes (I even don't get time to become really nervous), and I have been given a green slip, confirming I my documents are ok and I may enter the Forbidden Land.

The terminal is spooky. Almost empty,  parts under construction. In the terminal (nor at arrivals, nor at departures) or outside it there are no benches. There are no cafes or bars, or diners. These could be COVID measures, to discourage people from lingering in the terminal.  But I have to linger here as my ride has been delayed by heavy traffic jams. These two hours maybe are the most difficult ones at this trip, as I already have relaxed, adrenalin has left my body and I feel each and every of 24 hours spent without a sleep. But all is well that ends well. My ride arrives, I even get a steak-dinner, and very very late in the night I arrive back in the college town I left 18 months ago: Amherst, Massachusetts.

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