Feature Story on Immigration from the UK by Arron Docksey

Summer 2006: due to the humidity it was an especially hot day, the sun was high and it beat down on me and my family with intensity. We were feeling stuffed from the all-you-can-eat breakfast that morning, but the amount of walking we were about to do would sure ease that. The scent of candy followed us as we made our way around  the park, we watched in awe as roller coasters raced  by and Mickey Mouse hats bounced past on top of happy children's heads. This place felt like a dream that I never wanted to wake from. The prospect of another two weeks in America excited me, I knew I would come back at some point, but little did I know that in four years time I'd have the opportunity to live the dream for a whole year.

Summer 2009: it was my first year at The University of Central Lancashire (UCLan) in England, I had enrolled on a three year BA Hons degree in Film and Media studies and was looking forward to the challenge ahead. Moreover, as a boy who has grown up in small towns, I relished the chance to live independently in a big city. Shortly afterwards this plan was turned on it's head when I learnt that I could spend my second year in the United States. A sandwich year they call it in England (perhaps a term more suited to the American vocabulary...) upon hearing this stunning news  there was an important decision to be made, it was not concerning my interest in the venture, but where in the States I would be living. I knew if all went to plan in my first year at UCLan I could study for a whole year in one of a number of different States, and it felt like a dream come true. I recall reading the list and then stopping as soon as my eyes read 'California,' memories of Disney '06 came flooding back. Where's the dotted line, I asked. However, things were not to be that simple.

I wrote in a blog post that certain requirements must be met for immigration, boxes have to be ticked and certain steps taken; what came of this was months of application and stacks of forms that I didn't know what to do with. In order to study for a year in America I was required to obtain a number of documents, such as a SEVIS form (Student and Exchange Visitors Program), and a DS-156 form (standard non-immigrant visa application), it's hard enough to read these forms, try obtaining them. Once I had these I was able to apply for my J-1 student visa which would allow me to spend 9 months in the USA. With work at University still to be taken care of, and the worry that I might not be able to afford this once in a lifetime opportunity, it was a stressful period, but my heart was set, and study abroad I would.

As my first year drew to a close I had confidence in my grades and an important interview date set for the final stage of my study abroad application; it was a meeting with a consulate at the U.S Embassy in London, who would read over my documents, asses my personality and hopefully give me the green light. The building itself was incredibly overwhelming, a huge gold eagle perches on it's roof looking down judgmentally on anyone who wishes to immigrate to the United States - it just added to the nervousness. The process was smooth, though, and a few weeks later I received the acceptance I had been longing, and working hard for.

Summer 2011: here I am in California, writing this blog post and thinking about what a fantastic year it has been. My relationship with the USA started in 2006, and now it's stronger than ever. I said five years ago that I would return to this country, and I'll say it again...
in the words of Arnold Schwarzenegger... I'll be back.