ADAM Dickinson wants his experiences of the past few months to serve as a warning to anyone thinking of emigrating to America.

"America has been turned into a quivering mess in which all manners and freedoms have been lost," he says in the current, paranoid, post-911 climate.

Last year at Cafe Stella in Leigh, Adam met the girl of his dreams, Patricia Grimshaw from New Jersey. Patricia was visiting Britain to see her grandparents who live in Plank Lane.

After a whirlwind romance Adam decided to emigrate to the US with Patricia. But the prospect of leaving his friends and family was nothing compared to Adam's nightmare awaiting him at the Immigration Department in the US.

He says he and Patricia have been "to hell and back" trying to secure the legality of their transatlantic partnership.

Adam, formerly of Holborn Avenue, Leigh, claims he was given the wrong advice by unhelpful immigration staff. He entered the US on a visa waiver form, restricting his stay to 90 days. However, he says he was then told the visa waiver could be bypassed with a marriage certificate.

With this news, the couple hastily arranged to marry. Their wedding was held on October 11 in New Jersey.

However, upon returning to the Immigration services, the newlyweds were then told that Adam would still have to return to the UK!

In sheer desperation, the couple's last remaining hope was to hire an immigration lawyer, which meant footing another expensive bill. Adam reckons, so far, he has shelled out over $4000 trying to get his green card and work permit and, even now, his claim is still being processed.