Attempted Trip to Bermuda

[CapnZiggy]

Originally Posted by cwyckham

I think most people would figure out where the nearest consulate is (British consulate would probably handle Bermudian affairs?) and drive there instead of buying a boat and attempting an epic trip with no background knowledge of how to do it safely.

I've loved the candor and the writing style of Black Oak's posts, though. Especially nice that he's started using paragraphs!

Second

[Richard5]

Have y'all noticed how BO responds to others? And when those others are perceived as being experienced or able to transfer skill to him, BO responds very positive. In fact, he is so charged up--full of confidence--to venture forth after his time with others.

Obversely, when alone it seems he constantly questions himself and does so in a quite serious manner. Or, he will move forward based on what he had learned, then when he comes up against the limit of his new found skill level he begins to flounder into doubt. Given his seriousness when he does lapse into uncertainty, I suspect he is cerebral therefore perhaps too hard on himself.

Black Oak is refreshing for his candor and humor and his willingness. Yet he's almost entirely unsure of himself even though he is a trooper. I hold him in high regard for that. I suspect the antidote is for him to hire a knowledgeable crew to sail for Bermuda with him. I am as certain as I can be that he is well up to the task. He comes across as competent and intelligent, he just needs some instruction. Perhaps after a while the light will go on above his head that HE'S DOING IT! and the self-confidence will spike through the roof. There is an immense satisfaction to both student and teacher when that light comes on.

All I am trying to do here is think out loud, to figure out the man in order to figure out the solution. As in most things in life, it isn't hard at all. All we have to fear is fear itself. That is why I suggest some serious cruising with a skilled person. Let's put some miles under her hull and get over to the west coast of FLA. Then perhaps, jump for a short passage to Bermuda.

Lastly, I admit part of this is self-serving. I don't like to accept defeat in myself and in others. And I see this as defeat. Also, I entirely enjoy Black Oak's writings, don't give up the ghost just yet.

[GrowleyMonster]

I was hoping that by now the star of the show himself would have something new to post. I am really hoping our boy makes it some day.

[chuckt]

Me too Growley.

I took the passport thing as more of an excuse for the adventure as opposed to an absolute necessity. Or perhaps there is some strange set of facts which cannot be revealed. I agree that in the normal case, one simply goes to the consular office. Even if your passport is expired, lost, or you are here illegally, you can usally get something to allow you to travel. If you are here illegally, you might get something temporary and you might have to take some guff but your home country will let you go home. I wonder if he knows this? I know that's how it works with the Mexican consular office. No direct knowledge of British procedures.

Probably riskier to enter Bermuda illegally than to go to consular office in the U.S. and try to straighten things out.

[mcarling]

As long as he was not already in trouble with US immigration, the British consulate would not be interested in whether or not he was legally in the US. Getting a new British passport in the States would be easy. Neither the UK nor the US have passport controls upon exit (UK used to but Thatcher put a stop to that).

[CapnZiggy]

Rumor has it, that the boat was sold and nice two-seater gyrocopter was purchased.

[salticrak]

The honesty and down right puttin' yerself out there, is so bloody refreshing. This yarn is without ego and spin.
Strength to yer arm B.O.

[cwyckham]

Originally Posted by CapnZiggy

Rumor has it, that the boat was sold and nice two-seater gyrocopter was purchased.

No way is the gyrocopter going to have the range to make it to Bermuda!

[GrowleyMonster]

Originally Posted by cwyckham

No way is the gyrocopter going to have the range to make it to Bermuda!

Oh, I don;t know about that... what if he lashes it to the deck of a sailboat? Or what about in-air refueling? Don't be so negative!

[Richard_W]

Originally Posted by cwyckham

No way is the gyrocopter going to have the range to make it to Bermuda!

Probably not, but it would make a good story ...

[BlackOak]

I'm still around, in Marco Island chillin out. I will give yall a little heads up on my immigration issue.

I was born in my grandparents home Benjamin & Lillian DeSilva in Southampton, Bermuda in 1957. My mother at that time was/maybe married to my brother's father, an american sailor stationed in Bermuda. My brother was born in 1954. My brother's father left Bermuda in early 1955, and I came along in 1957. My mother gave me my brother's father last name. My mother remarried in 1960 to another american sailor stationed in Bermuda, who then brought me, my brother, and my newborn sister to the states, with his new bride. So here I have lived all my life.

A few years ago, things changed and I was in need of a passport to travel. Before it was easy, just used my drivers license and voter registration card to travel on. So I had applied for a US Passport, and was rejected. It appears there is a paragraph in the State Department paperwork on me that basically reads, my mother had no physical contact with the man named as my father on my bermuda birth certificate for 2 years prior to my birth. The man who married my mother in 1960, never legally adopted me or my brother. So, there is the rub. I cannot establish who my biological is/was nor can establish if he was an american citizen. So, by the report I received back from the passport office, I cannot claim american citizenship by father's citizenship.

At that time, I was applying for my US Passport, as I was to travel to southeast asia, which I needed a valid passport for a visa. So since I could not get a US Passport, I just applied and received my UK Passport from the Consulate in DC, since I was born on UK soil (Bermuda), and my mother was born on UK soil (Bermuda) which automatically makes me Bermudian till death do I part. So after that trip to southeast asia, I just used my Bermudian passport to travel.

On a trip back from China, I was entering Chicago Ohare immigration, with my Bermudian passport, and was escorted to a holding area. Sucky things about Homeland Security and computers these days. Basically they were going to deny me entry, since they have me on file as entering and not leaving for 3 years, prior to this trip. I pretty much gave my whole life history to the guys, with dates and names etc. and they let me go. Seems they have records going back to forever on their computers, and backed up my story. My mother, has never completed the citizenship process, and is still a green card holder since 1961. Of the 6 children born, I am the only one with this unique problem. Does that make me special?

So, since then I was just busy with life, and never bothered going through the hassle of gettin my US citizenship established, as I would have to go through the whole immigration process, which is both expensive and time consuming, especially considering they are presently working on 2002 citizenship applications. I know this because my sister-in-law has been waiting 11 years for her green card to be processed, as she waits in Vietnam. My wife, a US Citizen, is her sponsor, and it takes anywhere from 10 to 15 years just to legally immigrate. Yes, my wife could sponsor me as well, and it may come down to that, but for now things are what they presently are. I am here, and am an illegal immigrant....I will split the reward if anyone wants to turn me in to homeland security!

So, I was at a point in my life, where I had the means to aquire a sailboat, and the time to take a couple years and get this bucket list of sailing done. Heading to Bermuda was a destination I needed to have and it seemed like a good a place as any. Of course, I could just renew my Bermudian passport through the mail, or even take a motorcycle trip to washington DC to the British Consulate there and re-new my Bermuda passport, but I had the desire to sail a boat. So here I am, and now ya know "the rest of the story".

[David_Old_Jersey]

Chillin out is good .

Cheers for bothering to give folks the background - a MYO(fuggin!)B would have been quicker .

I am no expert on US immigration etc, but I would have thought useful to at least have an application in the process (to keep the computer happy if (when?) you encounter officialdom again) even if no prospect of a rapid conclusion. But all that none of my business .

Anyway, as you have discovered - some threads just keep on giving .

[GrowleyMonster]

Hmmm... but you have legal residency in the U.S., right? Been here as a legal resident over 7 years? You do qualify, then. Make your application now because the wheels of bureaucracy grind slowly slowly as you have noticed. But the wait can't start until the papers are filed so do that as soon as convenient. As a U.S. citizen you don't have to worry about deportation. You should arrange a consultation with an immigration lawyer. You may qualify for some sort of amnesty category if you are not a legal resident. Take care of that or you could some day have problems.

Tracking down your biological father might be possible and could be worth looking into. A few names would help of course. It could be that his DNA is in some database somewhere. I don't know... but establishing paternity would make you instantly a U.S. citizen by birth to a U.S. citizen parent. Worth spending a few grand on? I don't know that is something for the experts. Your situation does sound very tenuous and complicated. I say you got need of an immigration lawyer.

If I were you I would renew the Bermudian passport before going to Bermuda. Gotta do it anyway, one way or the other, so may as well do it in the U.S. first and avoid hassles with Bermuda Immigration. Also you will need a valid passport to visit the Bahamas, an important ticket to punch before you think about trying for Bermuda.

Now, back to our regularly scheduled adventure.

[David_Old_Jersey]

Originally Posted by GrowleyMonster

If I were you I would renew the Bermudian passport before going to Bermuda.

I would also do that as would take out any real need to sail to Bermuda, at least this year. Maybe have a crack at the Bahamas first or simply the East Coast of the USA? (the warmer bits!).



Map for those of us who only have a vague idea where stuff is!

[endoftheroad]

Please, lets not give any advice on immigration.
This is a sailing thread and forum and BlackOak lives with his immigration issues.
He wasn't asking advice, he was giving an explanation.

The title to this thread is "attempted trip to bermuda". It has been a great thread for many as well as for people considering getting into cruising.