8月31日に現在のH-1Bと呼ばれる労働ビザが切れるのですが，今日やっと大学のオフィスから「延長申請書類をアメリカ移民局に提出した」との連絡がありました．残り4日でした．ずっと気になっていたのだけど自分ではどうすることもできず，やっと話が進んでひと安心です．今日は残りの仕事はあるものの，安心してオフィスで１人ビールを飲んでいます．
自分の場合は労働ビザなので，過去のアメリカビザや出入国の記録など，必要書類を自分で揃えた後は，雇用側のHRオフィスが最終的な事務処理をすることになっています．年明けからビザの更新が必要なことは関連オフィスに伝えてありましたし，自分が準備するべき書類は，指示を受けてから1日以内に準備していました．直接の雇用主（自分の場合，研究室のボス）からの延長の許可もおりていました．しかし，洋の東西を問わず，事務仕事やペーパーワークというのは遅々として進まないものです．International Scholars Office の方などはとても協力的だったのですが，間に複数人が入ると，責任の所在が不明瞭になりますし，事務の方の夏休みなどもあり話が進みませんでした．
13年くらい住んでも，アメリカの事務仕事の雑さ（キッチリしていない感じ）には慣れません．自分は日本の事務・役所手続きなどの経験はあまりないので，単純に比較はできないかもしれないのですが，まあそれにしても，4日前になってやっと，こんな大事な書類が提出されたという連絡を受けたのは少し驚きです．どれくらい大事かというと，それを失うと（自分の場合）キャリアの大事な一部を失ったり，家族がいる場合は全員の食い扶持を失ったり，住む場所を変えなくてはならなかったりと，それくらい大事な話です．自分の実力不足で解雇されるなら諦めもつきます．しかし，自分に対して責任を持たない誰かの雑な処理のために話が進まず，労働許可が降りずに帰国となったら，悔やんでも悔やみきれません．ややもすれば，10年くらい精神的に尾を引いていたところでした 笑
そういえば以前，中国系の友人もビザのトラブルに巻き込まれたことがありました．友人の名字の「Chen」が「Chan」と間違えて表記さ れて申請されたため（仮名ですがイメージで），労働許可が更新されず，また違法な申請とみなされたようです．完全に事務的なミスにも関わらず，彼は事務方からの助けは得られず，自分で弁護士を雇って意義を申し立て訂正したとのことでし た．本当に気の毒としか言いようがありません．
よく言われますが，おそらくアメリカの社会は「間違いが起こること」を前提にまわっているのだと思います．なので，自分から訂正したり，確認したり，念押ししたりすることが必要になってきます．一方で日本は，社会的に許容される間違いのレベルが低いのか，日本人が総じてキッチリしているのか，サービスを受ける側はある程度安心できると思いますし，結果として住みやすい国だと思います．（でも，その住みやすさを達成するために，過度な負担がサービスを提供する側にかかるのかもしれません．中庸の徳とは上手いこと言ったもので，個人的には，日本とアメリカの真ん中くらいがちょうど良いとも思います．）
何にしても，無事に話が進んで安心です．外国で対価をもらって仕事をすることは，単純なことではないです．最低賃金がどうとか，アメリカ人の雇用を奪ってはいけないとか，アメリカの国益に適うとか，「外国人としての労働」には色んな制限があります．研究者の場合は専門が分化しているので，比較的ビザはおりやすいと言われていますが．単純労働にはビザがおりることは少ないと思います．日本では外国人留学生がコンビニなどで働いているケースをよく見ます．日本の移民受け入れは大きな問題になってきてきていますが，この辺りの規制は日本はゆるいように見えます（そもそも，留学生が労働に多大な時間を使うのは違和感あります）．
少し発散しましたが，日々の研究ではあまり意識しませんが，今日もここで研究できることは希有な機会であることを肝に命じて，ビールを飲み終わったら仕事に戻ろうと思います 笑
An interesting dialogue is price comment. I feel that it's best to write more on this matter, it might not be a taboo subject however usually people are not enough to speak on such topics. To the next. Cheers
I'm often to blogging and i really admire your content. The article has actually peaks my interest. I'm going to bookmark your web site and hold checking for new information.
I used to be very pleased to seek out this net-site.I needed to thanks on your time for this wonderful learn!! I definitely enjoying each little bit of it and I've you bookmarked to check out new stuff you blog post.
There are definitely lots of particulars like that to take into consideration. That may be a great level to bring up. I supply the ideas above as general inspiration however clearly there are questions just like the one you deliver up the place an important factor will likely be working in honest good faith. I don?t know if greatest practices have emerged around issues like that, but I'm sure that your job is clearly recognized as a fair game. Each boys and girls feel the influence of only a second抯 pleasure, for the rest of their lives.
I simply had to appreciate you once again. I do not know the things that I could possibly have created without those secrets documented by you regarding such a area of interest. It had become an absolute distressing dilemma for me, however , taking note of this professional approach you handled the issue made me to weep for fulfillment. I'm just thankful for your support as well as believe you are aware of a great job you are putting in educating the rest with the aid of a site. I'm certain you haven't got to know any of us.
I found your blog website on google and examine a few of your early posts. Proceed to maintain up the very good operate. I simply extra up your RSS feed to my MSN News Reader. In search of forward to reading more from you in a while!?
very nice submit, i definitely love this web site, keep on it
WONDERFUL Post.thanks for share..extra wait .. ?
I抎 have to test with you here. Which is not something I usually do! I enjoy studying a submit that can make people think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to remark!
very nice submit, i certainly love this website, carry on it
You made some first rate points there. I regarded on the internet for the difficulty and located most people will go together with with your website.
An impressive share, I simply given this onto a colleague who was doing a bit of evaluation on this. And he in truth purchased me breakfast as a result of I discovered it for him.. smile. So let me reword that: Thnx for the deal with! But yeah Thnkx for spending the time to debate this, I really feel strongly about it and love reading more on this topic. If doable, as you change into experience, would you mind updating your blog with more details? It's extremely helpful for me. Huge thumb up for this weblog submit!
You made some first rate factors there. I appeared on the internet for the difficulty and found most people will associate with together with your website.
The next time I read a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as a lot as this one. I imply, I do know it was my option to learn, however I truly thought youd have something fascinating to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you would fix when you werent too busy looking for attention.
I抎 need to examine with you here. Which is not one thing I usually do! I get pleasure from studying a post that can make folks think. Additionally, thanks for permitting me to comment!
very good put up, i actually love this website, carry on it
After examine just a few of the blog posts in your web site now, and I truly like your manner of blogging. I bookmarked it to my bookmark web site record and can be checking back soon. Pls try my website as effectively and let me know what you think.
The following time I read a weblog, I hope that it doesnt disappoint me as much as this one. I imply, I know it was my choice to learn, but I really thought youd have one thing attention-grabbing to say. All I hear is a bunch of whining about one thing that you could possibly fix for those who werent too busy searching for attention.
Good post. I learn one thing more challenging on totally different blogs everyday. It is going to always be stimulating to read content material from different writers and observe a bit something from their store. I抎 favor to use some with the content material on my weblog whether or not you don抰 mind. Natually I抣l offer you a link in your net blog. Thanks for sharing.