Legal at last: Carmel Papworth-Barnum’s American quest
Carmel and Larry’s January 2007 wedding didn’t guarantee the Aussie bride a home in America.
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Carmel Papworth-Barnum and her husband of 15 months, Larry Barnum, have had more on their minds besides training, competition and producing National Masters News. Like avoiding deportation. Larry, an M60 world champion, is safe. But Carmel, an Australian native, lived in fear of discovery for much of 2007. She was, essentially, an illegal alien. Being married to an American citizen wasn’t enough. But today, all is well. Carmel has her legal status. And the couple tell their story publicly for the first time in this wonderful interview. Funny, dramatic and touching, the tale is one for the ages. Love knows no age-group limits or national boundaries. I’m privileged to be able to share the account of this quintessential American quest.
4 Responses
Two of the finest..kindest..most generous..(fastest!!!) people in Masters Track and Field. My ONLY suggestion is if after a competition Larry picks a place to go eat that evening MAKE SURE IT STILL EXISTS!!!!!!!!
Congratulations to two people I’m privileged to count as friends.
Congratulations on surviving the ordeal that is imposed on those who chose to go through the process of legal US immigration.
Many US immigration officers are, to put it charitably, ignorant clowns.
No bureaucracy Kafka described could match their idiocy and incompetence.
From personal experience, I have been lied to by immigration officers and if I had followed their instructions on more than one occasion, would have been in violation of the law and subject to deportation.
Wow! Great story. It must have been a real test of nerve. I’m glad it has a happy ending. See you in Lahti, then.
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