Abu Ahmed and his family left today for the United States.
We went over to their home to say good-bye. Everyone was gathered there.
Abu Ahmed still had not come home yet, although the family was due to leave for the airport in a couple of hours. He was waiting for a form to be faxed over from Egypt. The IOM informed them they would need this form before they could board the plane that evening.
He went to the IOM office twice that day and still the form did not arrive. With all the bags packed, the house keys ready to be returned to the owner, and just hours before departure, the family was still uncertain whether they would be able to leave for the United States that day or if their trip would be postponed for a few more weeks.
Ahmed looked frustrated. He was tired of waiting. He wanted to leave now. Om Ahmed served us soft drinks with her usual smile, trying so hard to remain calm. She had changed from her beautiful abaya into a matching jean outfit perfect for their trip to the US. Even Mustafa had changed into jeans.
Abu Ahmed showed us the receipt for the four plane tickets, each ticket costing over US $1,200. The family would be expected to reimburse this cost within six months of arriving in the US. Upon arrival in the US, they would stay a few nights with a friend, while looking for an apartment.
But there would be no resettlement office there to assist them. They heard many horror stories about Iraqis going to the US, receiving no assistance, and after finding it too difficult to survive there, returning home again.
They were anxious about what to expect from their new life.
We went over to their home to say good-bye. Everyone was gathered there.
Abu Ahmed still had not come home yet, although the family was due to leave for the airport in a couple of hours. He was waiting for a form to be faxed over from Egypt. The IOM informed them they would need this form before they could board the plane that evening.
He went to the IOM office twice that day and still the form did not arrive. With all the bags packed, the house keys ready to be returned to the owner, and just hours before departure, the family was still uncertain whether they would be able to leave for the United States that day or if their trip would be postponed for a few more weeks.
Ahmed looked frustrated. He was tired of waiting. He wanted to leave now. Om Ahmed served us soft drinks with her usual smile, trying so hard to remain calm. She had changed from her beautiful abaya into a matching jean outfit perfect for their trip to the US. Even Mustafa had changed into jeans.
Abu Ahmed showed us the receipt for the four plane tickets, each ticket costing over US $1,200. The family would be expected to reimburse this cost within six months of arriving in the US. Upon arrival in the US, they would stay a few nights with a friend, while looking for an apartment.
But there would be no resettlement office there to assist them. They heard many horror stories about Iraqis going to the US, receiving no assistance, and after finding it too difficult to survive there, returning home again.
They were anxious about what to expect from their new life.
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