I love my husband!

I love my husband so much that I will shout it on the street, out the window of my car, out the window of my apartment, and tell any passing stranger this fact if I wasn't in fear of being involuntarily committed to a mental health institution.

He called me late last night and I could tell he was in bed, in that super relaxed state immediately preceding sleep. The conversation goes like:

Me: "Hello miel" (I have Caller ID although all it says is Ontario and no number when he calls me.)

Husband: "Do you love me?"

Me: "More than anything. Why aren't you sleeping?"

Husband: "I've been bad."

Me: *pause*

Husband: "I hope you can forgive me, but I cheated."

Me: "Were you surfing internet porn or something?"

Husband: "No, I was bad. I cheated. *pause* I... I did it... I bought a ticket and I am coming to see you on Jan 28."

Me: "Oh my god, are you serious???"

Husband: "Yep! I couldn't resist. I found a round trip ticket for $550 I couldn't wait to see you anymore."

We spent another 20 minutes going over the itenary, what we want to do with his week with me, my schedule at work and his, and all that other fun stuff. He is going to help me buy a 'real' bed when he gets here (better than this sleeping on a quasi-air mattress that I have currently) and he wants to buy a dinette so we can do our traditional New Year's Eve dinner for two (we find some new recipe for something we have never had before, cook it at home, play music and chat and have a lovely candlelight dinner around midnight). After all that, it is lay around and just 'be' with each other.

Now do you understand why I love this man? He makes me feel like the luckiest woman in this vast universe that I have him.

I've lost that Christmas feeling

*envision Maverick and Goose singing ala Righteous Brothers here*

I was never much of a 'holiday' person to start with. I was never the one with the house all dazzled out in lights and light up santas and reindeer. I didn't have Christmas paraphernalia scattered all over the house. I never owned those little guest towels for the bathroom that had embroidered Christmas trees or candy canes on them. I never owned a Christmas scene snow globe nor a Nativity scene. I have seen 'Miracle on 34th Street' and 'It's a Wonderful Life' but I never liked them much. I do candidly confess that 'A Christmas Story' (the one about the boy who wants a Red Rider BB gun more than anything for Christmas) is one of my favorite movies.

But, for the first time in my life, I wish I were one of those people. I want to scatter holiday cheer randomly on everyone I see, just like fairy dust. I want to greet people in the store or on the street with "Happy Holidays!" and mean it. I want to spend days shopping for gifts for everyone I know, even the postman and the garbageman. I want to spend an evening in front of the fireplace with all the lights off, enjoying a nice glass of wine while sitting on the couch and admiring the beautiful twinkling tree. I want to sit there and discuss how the kids will have such a wonderful holiday and how nice it will be to see all the relatives while enjoying the scented holiday candles.

I want to buy new mittens and a hat and put on my snow gear and go outside and make snow angels and catch snow flakes on my tongue. I want to lick icicles like a Popsicle. I want to make a snow fort and have a major snowball battle with my family until we are so cold we can't feel our fingers. Then we can go inside and drink hot chocolate with those little mini marshmallows until our noses are no longer pink. We can sip our hot chocolate and gaze in wonder at all the brightly wrapped presents under the tree and ponder what are in those pretty boxes. Perhaps, when no one is looking, I will pick up a box or two and squeeze them and shake them, and try to deduct what it possibly could be. Whatever is in those mysteriously wonderful boxes is sure to be perfect.


We could spend the colder weekends in nice fuzzy sweaters baking cookies and cakes. We could make tins full of these massive varieties of goodies for co workers and neighbors. I especially like those peanut butter cookies with the Hershey Kiss plopped right in the middle. We can nibble on those warm, just out of the oven cookies and talk about everything unimportant but cheerful or sing along to our Christmas cd's.

We could sponsor a less fortunate family and take their 'wish list' to the store and buy everything they want, plus a few extras, so that they too have a wonderful holiday. We can donate some food to the food bank and put our spare change in the Salvation Army kettles when we see them outside the stores ringing their bells.

We could sit at our dining room table and write our Christmas cards to everyone we know. We could get those glittery cards that are so fun to look at. We could collect the cards we have received and paste them all over the back of our front door and when that is full, we can start taping them to the nearby walls in the foyer. Cards with pictures of snowy villages, candy canes, reindeer romping in the snow, and snowmen with crooked hats, children on a skating rink, and even the Budweiser Clydesdales.

We could help the smaller kids write their letters to Santa. In their little kid spelling and block letters, we could help them spell things like 'pony,' 'legos,' and 'sled.' We would help them address their envelopes to Mr. Santa Claus, Christmasland, North Pole and watch their faces beam with pride and hope as we walk down to the mail box and send those letters on their magical journey.

I would give anything to be able to do just one of these with my family this year. For at fate would have it, this year, I am separated from them all. I will spend Christmas Day completely alone. I will communicate with my family via electronic means, but it it no way replaces the warmth of their hugs and the soul filling feeling of hearing their chatter and their laughter throughout the house. So, today, I send off my own letter to Santa:

Dear Santa:

Please bring my family home for Christmas this year. This is all I want.

Sincerely,

Delicia

Closing the file on CIC

I shiver with anticipation to finally announce that my case is now closed, complete, and kaput with CIC. I cannot explain the relief this is.

On November 28, 2007, my husband received a check from CIC in the amount of $975.00. While it wasn't the full refund to which I think we are entitled, it is good enough for me. The check being issued to my husband does also corroborate my earlier suspicions that those paper worshiping government employees are not the most literate individuals walking the planet. If they were adept at their positions, they would have noted that the fees were charged under my card and not my husband's, so the fee is actually owing to me. Regardless, it went into the joint checking account in Canada and promptly withdrawn as cash in the U.S. and deposited to our U.S. savings account.

Which left me with the one issue hanging of this Form IMM 5021, Voluntary Departure Confirmation. Since the refund, formerly known as Nemo, was in hand, I had no worries about informing CIC of my current address in the U.S. So, I replied to their demand with the following correspondence.

December 4, 2007

Citizenship & Immigration Canada
ATTN: D.M. Salmon
5343 Dundas Street West
Etobicoke, ON M9B 6K5

Dear Sir or Madam:

I am in receipt of your letter dated November 16, 2007 requesting me to complete Form IMM 5021 (copy attached).

Please be advised that my son and I have moved to the U.S. prior to your request to complete a Voluntary Departure Confirmation. We departed Canada on land route via Sarnia/Port Huron, Michigan on September 24, 2007. I started a new employment position in Phoenix, Arizona, U.S.A. on October 1, 2007. I am currently in process for sponsoring my husband into the U.S.

I can be reached at: name
address
address
phone

Please let me know if you require additional information.

Sincerely,

signature

While the letter by no means expresses my true feelings and it definitely does not say what I would like it to say, it does the job. I told my husband a few days ago that I have exactly 2 visits to Canada left in my body. The first is to attend his U.S. immigration interview at the U.S. Consulate in Montreal and the other is to fly there to help him drive down for the final move to the U.S. once he is approved. Therefor, telling CIC how I truly feel about their sorry excuse for an agency could no doubt hinder those 2 final visits into Canada.

Farewell CIC! I hope I never ever ever in my life have to deal with you again.

My latest visit to Toronto

I mentioned a few days ago that I went back to Toronto to visit my husband and son over the U.S. Thanksgiving weekend. We had such a good time, and I thought it appropriate to get away from this complaining about the government (or lack thereof) and provide some details. I want you, Dear Reader, not to think that this is all I do all day, find fault with Canada and both the U.S. and Canadian immigration processes. Yes, I do have a job and I have a family and a couple dogs, and I do laundry once a week and run to the grocery store and stop and put gas in my car (as painful as that is with the current gas prices), much the same as everyone else.

I arrived in Canada on the Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving (U.S.) to pouring and cold rain. The temperature hung just above freezing and that is just miserable weather. I was processed through Canadian customs rather quickly even after telling the officer that I was there to visit my husband and son. He asked how long we have been married and I answered him, "2 years." Then I added that we were in the process for my husband to immigrate to the U.S. He nodded, and waived me on. No stamp in my passport though. In my previous trips in and out of Pearson, I always had to be very careful with the words I used with the Immigration Officer. It was nice be relaxed about the process (but I carry my complete CIC file with me, including FOSS notes just in case).

I had declared on my form that I was carrying $400 in gifts, which was a slight understatement. I had an XBox 360, extra game controller, and a copy of Halo 3 in my carry-on. So, needless to say, I got waived into the duty area. I waited in line there about 30 minutes before my turn came up. I explained to the officer what I had, and he took my form and waived me through. Seems as if they are only interested in alcohol and tobacco imports. I was thankful for not having to pay more for my son's birthday gift than I already had. Those XBox's are spendy things!

I found my husband as soon as I exited Customs and he was relieved to see me. He told me after that he tracked my flight and was going to give me 1 hour to exit Customs before he started trying to reach the MP as he was sure I would be pulled into secondary because of the poor experiences we had had in the past. It was so nice to see him. I had forgotten what a good looking man he was. He even brought me my winter coat to wear leaving the airport since I had left all my coats and heavy sweaters in Toronto as there is not much call for them in Arizona. That man is always thinking of my welfare, even when I don't appreciate it.

We went straight to the my in-laws, so we could play early Santa and give the XBox to my son and my brother-in-law. I missed my son more than I thought and was thankful to see him again after 2 months. Fortunately, he looked exactly the same, so I didn't feel like I had missed anything, except his crazy, goofy, self. We dispatched our gifts, hubby hooked up the Xbox, provided them another game, Call of Duty 4, and that was pretty much the last I saw of The Kid and my brother-in-law for the rest of the weekend. They had their faces into the TV playing those games for the remainder of my visit. I take it they liked it.

My husband spent the next few days going back and forth between our hotel (very nice and glad my hubby thought enough to get one instead of me staying at the in-laws) and my in-laws house. We caught a movie and dinner out a few times. My husband likes taking me on dates and I think that's wonderful. We cooked up a traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Saturday with all the fixins. I made a huge ham (preferred over turkey at my house) and it was yummy. My husband was eating ham salad sandwiches at work for the next week, but he wasn't complaining.

The hardest part is always leaving. It is like a dark cloud that plagues the entire visit, knowing that I have to go home without my men. But, knowing I was going to be intensely busy at work takes the edge off. We decided that since airfare is completely out of control over the Christmas holidays, we were both going to stay put and plan for my husband to come for a visit sometime in late January as an early birthday gift for him. I can't wait.

Here is a picture of the dog that stayed with my husband. The dog is originally from a sled dog trainer/breeder in Quebec and he is gorgeous. I bought him for my husband's birthday last year and we drove about 5 hours one way to go pick him up. It is rather hard to take pictures of him because he won't sit still for any amount of time. Talk about a dog with ADHD.

All eyes on USCIS

Back to the U.S. immigration process for a moment before I close out the Canadian side (which I am oh so close to doing).

I have been monitoring the USCIS processing centers and in a helpful way, the USCIS posts, on their site, a weekly update. They list all the forms (well, most of the forms) and the date that the individual Service Centers are up to with that type. I, being hung over from frustration with CIC, started monitoring these updates shortly after I submitted the I-130 to the California Service Center in the end of October 2007. At first, I was slow on the uptake and had to determine when, exactly these updates are posted. It appears now, that USCIS is very reliably posting the updates every Friday, but it hits their site in the wee pre-dawn hours of Saturdays. With this revelation, I have decided to track these updates and do some quick math to see, what it is exactly, they are working on. It certainly isn't the I-130s, which is the form nearest and dearest to my heart.

So, in this light, my analytical self has developed a spreadsheet to track this information and calculate the change from week to week to keep an eye on the U.S. paper loving (although they are subject to the Paperwork Reduction Act) government employees and make sure that they are doing something. Unfortunately, the USCIS website only has the current update and is not archiving previous updates (that I can find anyway). I did some light forum reading and found all the older processing times posted in various threads and used that information to build my spreadsheet. If anyone out there can point me to either USCIS archived Application and Receipting Updates or knows where someone else may have this information posted, please drop me a line.

So, here it is: USCIS Processing Times Spreadsheet

(I have a permanent link to this sheet in the upper right hand corner of this blog.)

Enjoy!

Even more mail from CIC

Wow, those paper worshiping government employees at CIC are now working overtime on my case. Too bad they couldn't have done this, say ummmm, when I actually applied for the immigration 2 years ago. I withdraw the statement as I forgot who I was talking about.

November 16, 2007

Dear Ms. CXXXX & family

This is in reference to your application for permanent residence under the Spouse or common-law partner in-Canada class, received at our Central Processing Centre-Vegreville on 15Feb'2006.

We have received the correspondence dated 19Sep'2007, from yourself and your sponsor, MXXXX CXXXXX, indicating your sponsor's desire to withdraw or cancel the Undertaking he submitted on your behalf. His request is accepted and a copy our letter to him is attached.

I noted that you also have requested withdrawal of your application for permanent residence and indicate that it is your intention to leave Canada. As such, no further action will be taken on your application for permanent residence.

As you are currently in Canada without Immigration status, you are required to verify your departure from Canada. Please submit the attached Voluntary Departure Letter, for yourself and your son, to the Immigration authorities at your port of exit from Canada. Failure to verify your departure could result in you becoming the subject of a report under section 44 of the Immigration Act.

The cost recovery fee of $700 that was paid on this application is non-refundable. The Right of Permanent Residence fee in the amount of $975.00 will be refunded to your sponsor as he was the payee. This process has been refered to our Vegreville office as that office recieved the original payment.

The client number in the upper right corner of this letter is your personal identification number and it provides access to information on your file. For your own protection, do not allow any other person to use this number. If you require any further information, please contact our Call Centre at 1-888-242-2100.

Yours truly,

D.M.Salmon
Immigration Officer
Citizenship & Immigration Canada
5343 Dundas Street West
Etobicoke ON M9B 6K5

cc: my spouse

Where to start with this.... First, the fees were charged on my card, not my husband's. My daily card limit is at $1,800 while my husband's was at $1,000, so we opted to use mine. No matter, we have a joint account and the measly refund will go directly in our savings account to be used on our soon-to-be house.

Secondly, I left Canada in September 2007. Kind of hard now to provide this form they want. I am debating calling the Call Centre and informing them of such, but as is the completely inefficient CIC way, their toll-free number doesn't work outside of Canada and I do not feel like putting one more ounce of money (long distance fees) or time (an hour on hold is fairly average) into this process.

Thirdly, CIC will not issue refunds outside of Canada. So, if I give them my true and correct address in the U.S., I do not get a refund. Go figure this logic out, someone, and get back to me because I just cannot get my mind wrapped around it.

My husband's correspondence is nearly identical to mine with a few minor and unimportant changes so I will not bother with it.

The form they want to me to have completed is an IMM 5021. It just requires me to sign it and for some immigration officer to verify my airline flight number, date and time of departure and location of departure. So, bring on the report under section 44 of the Immigration Act and let us see if these officers can reach me here in the U.S. is what I am thinking now. I certainly won't make any effort to have it completed anytime before the Right of Landing Fee has been deposited and cleared our bank account.

Yippee! More mail from CIC

It appears that the one sure fire way to get a response from CIC, since it isn't by filing an immigration application, is to withdraw an application. I received this letter recently:

16 November 2007

This refers to your request for a refund of fees paid for Right of Permanent Resident Fee.

A refund in the amount of $975.00 has been requested. This refund cheque will be sent to the original payer of the fee who in this case is your sponsor MXXXXX CXXXXX.

The client number shown in the upper right corner of this letter is your personal identification number. This number provides access to information on your file and for your own protection you should not allow any other person to use it. If sending correspondece to Citizenship and Immigration Canada please include your personal identification number. Failure to include this number could result in the return of your correspondence unanswered.

Please note that if another person has paid the fee on your behalf, the reufnd will be issued to that person.

If you require further assistance, please telephone the Citizenship and Immigration Canada Call Centre, toll-free at 1-888-242-2100 and be prepared to quote your client number and your date of birth. General information and application kits may also be obtained throught our Internet Web site at http://www.cic.gc.ca.

Please notificy this office, in writing, or any Citizenship and Immigration Call Centre, by telephone, of any change in your address.

Yours truly,

Officer LWE/CSU
Case Processing Centre
Vegreville, Alberta

Very disappointing, but not unexpected, indeed.

(U.S.) Thanksgiving in Canada

I had a very enjoyable and relaxing trip to Canada to visit over the long U.S. Thanksgiving weekend. My husband took very good care of me and even booked a very nice suite for us to stay in for my visit. (more about this later as I am dog tired right now and had a return flight back that was 80% turbulent, so no sleeping for me!).

I did, however, remember to pick up my mail, and in that stack was a letter from my husband's MP. The letter reads:

October 9, 2007

The Honourable Diane Finley, P.C., M.P
Minister of Immigration
Journal Tower South
21st Floor
365 Laurier Avenue West
Ottawa ON K1A 1L1

Dear Minister,

I am writing to you on behalf of my constituent, Mr. MXXXX XXXXXX, who approached my office seeking assistance with the sponsorship of his spouse, Ms. SXXXX XXXXXX.

Mr. MXXXX XXXXXX filed an inland Family Class sponsorship on February 11, 2006 to sponsor his spouse. This file was referred from Case Processing Centre in Vegreville, Alberta to the local office in Etobicoke, Ontario on November 7, 2006. The local office put the file in queue for review, which is estimated to occur in the final months of 2007.

Due to the amount of time needed to process this inland sponsorship case, the couple has decided to withdraw the sponsorship and move to a different country (see attached letter).

Minister, I am extremely disappointed that my constituent will be leaving Canada because of the time needed to process this inland spousal sponsorship application. You should be aware of this problem. Perhaps adjustments can be made to reduce the processing times of inland spousal sponsorships.

Thank you very much for your assistance in this matter. Please do not hesitate to contact me should you require any further information.

Yours sincerely,

Hon. Roy Cullen, P.C., M.P., Etobicoke North

Catching the deluge with a paper cup

It's been a few weeks since we submitted our first round of paperwork to the USCIS (U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service) for my husband's immigration. I figure it is just our luck that USCIS is completely backlogged right now due to the fee increase that happened in July. They are still trying to catch the deluge with a paper cup. All I can do is at this point, keep hopeful and pray that they are close to the end of it. I think that we will be behind the same eight ball when the case is sent to the National Visa Center for even more processing. The only thing we can really do is have everything ready to go when the government is ready to receive it so we minimize any delays in processing on our end. I am calculating by the current backlog and watching other people's time lines for processing, that we won't receive any communication from USCIS until January 2008.

I was digging around on the USCIS website last week, when I came across the Diversity Lottery. It's a very interesting concept. The U.S. basically raffles off green cards, or at least the ability for qualified people who would like to immigrate to the U.S. to have their applications 'moved to the front of the line.' I am not entirely sure how the processing of the winner's applications happens and if they are given an abbreviated process or not, but we decided that since my husband was eligible via his Chilean citizenship and his job skills, we might as well throw his name into the hat. At this point it couldn't hurt and since our luck with cash lotteries is zero, we are due for something good sometime very soon. The winners aren't drawn until May - July 2008 and with fingers crossed, his IR-1 (spousal) application should be well on its way to being finalized. If any readers have been through the DV Lottery process, please post your thoughts and any details you care to share (and no, you don't need an account to post, just use the comments link at the bottom of this post).

I miss my husband so much my heart aches. I wonder why we torture ourselves going through these various government processes. I also joke with him that as soon as this process is complete, we will have to pick another country to move to, any random country will do. We have been married for just a little over 2 years and for the complete life of our marriage we have been in some type of immigration process somewhere. I laugh and tell him that our marriage won't survive unless we are battling 'the man.'

But, through all the battles we have waged with everything and everyone outside of our little 'bubble of a perfect world,' our life goals have never wavered. We know where we want to go and what we want out of this crap shoot of a game called life. The location of where we accomplish our goals is simply the background, the scenery. It doesn't really matter if we do it in Canada or the U.S. or even somewhere else. We become an incredible force when we are together and nothing is impossible.

Right now, all I want is to curl up in his arms and fall safely asleep.

Gentlemen, start your engines!

I dropped of our U.S. immigration package on Friday, Oct 26, 2007 on its way to the California Service Center. I checked the tracking this morning and found it was delivered this morning and signed for by an L. Franklin. L, whoever you are, I think I love you. So we are on our way.

I also dropped my husband's MP a quick email. He had sent a courtesy copy of a letter he had issued to the Minister of Immigration Canada. Unfortunately, the letter was lost while my husband was back in Canada cleaning out the last of our items from our town home. I requested another copy and received a response from Len, that he would drop one in the mail to my husband's residence in Canada. I will post it after my husband forwards it to me.

Take your vegemite and shove it.

I still have outstanding issues with CIC, namely Moby. But aside from Moby, let me move forward today's issue. I still frequent a certain message board which I found to be helpful when I was attempting to immigrate to Canada. My husband and son are still there after all, and I still have this outstanding refund. More recently, my husband received courtesy copy of a letter issued by his Member of Parliament, the Honourable Roy Cullen, directed to the Minister of Immigration, requesting improvements to the system and not allow overdrawn cases, such as mine. The MP thoughtfully attached a copy of my withdrawal letter for the Minister to reference. Not to mention, I still remember processes and people ask for help, and occasionally I do have an answer. Nonetheless, there are always those rude individuals who like to think they rule the world from their keyboards on those forums just to make everyone else look bad. Guilt by association may definitely apply here.

Here was my post today: Finally started on U.S. immigration

---

I arrived back in the U.S. late Sept and started work Oct 1. I love being a productive member of society again. I like that I can walk into the SSN office and get a name change on my card and have the card mailed to me in less than 2 weeks. I love knowing that some Immigration ijit on the other end of the phone can't threaten to deport me (but they are still very rude to me at CIC, but that's another story). I love being able to register my car and go to the doctor and the dentist. I love feeling like a 'real' person again.

Just dropping in to let you know that yesterday, I dropped off that paperwork to start my husband's U.S. immigration paperwork. I am doing the happy dance. A time line tracker for U.S. immigration estimates his file should be adjudicated in May 2008. I am trying not to get my hopes up on that part, but that would be awesome.

Hope everyone here is doing ok!

And here was his/her response:

And its all Canada's fault right? They forced you to take the long immigration route didn't they? All you ever do is post negative stuff so why don't you just leave already! And don't let the door hit your ass on the way out!

Sadly, in case the responder hasn't read up, I haven't had too much positive feedback from CIC, which was 99% of any of my topics in my original posts. I haven't found relief in writing letters, seeking assistance from politicians, or any other avenue I had tried. I guess the responder would of been happier if I posted fairy tales and complete fiction, rather that post my own true experiences. But some people are just like that.

My topics and my beliefs, even to this minute, are simple: The Canadian Immigration system is seriously broken. Nothing much will be done about this and for one simple reason: the people most directly effected by these problems cannot vote. But the newspaper coverage is there. There are articles all over the place about the problems with the system. Just within the last few days, this article was published about the scam of Canadian immigration. There are many others, if one cares to do a bit of internet surfing.

Today, I have moved on and do my best to boycott Canadian products. Fortunately, I don't see much with the 'made in Canada' label, so it's not that hard. I do, however, have incredible sympathy for any person, regardless of their origin, attempting to start a new life in Canada. whether it be to reunite a family, a refugee, or a skilled worker.

God be with them.

30 days and 30 nights

It has been 30 days and 30 nights since I have seen my husband and son. Although I talk to them a few times a day, I still miss them terribly.

I landed in the U.S. on Sept 24, 2007 shortly before midnight at Port Huron, MI. My husband and I drove our trusty Jetta (God, I love that car!) and all my worldly possessions (including a dog) , from Toronto, Ontario to Phoenix, Arizona. We left late on Monday (had bank and other administrative last minute dramas to clean up before we left) and arrived in Phoenix, AZ on Thursday morning. The drive was peaceful and only encountered some thunderstorms in southern Missouri, but it was a beautiful light show on the horizon watching the storms roll in over the farm fields through the car window. I enjoyed all the time alone I had with my husband, singing along to the radio, talking about our future or just talking about some strange person we saw at our last fuel stop.

We arrived on Thursday and ran around to get a lease on an apartment for me (easy but seriously time consuming). By the time we finished signing the lease and this that and the other thing, it was late. We were tired, hungry and 'srung out from the road,' as the song goes. We got a hotel (pretty tired of hotels by this time, but I certainly appreciated the king size bed), ate some pizza and fell into a crazy sleep. Friday found us calling utilities to get service turned on and shopping to buy a couple basics: a floor mattress, linens, towels, desk, hangers for the clothes, more dog food, towels, shampoo and stuff, a few dishes, pots & pans, and all that other stuff you generally take forgranted that make modern life possible at the minimal levels.

My husband flew off back to Toronto on Saturday (he had work pending and was already past his original return date). I was very sad. But at least when he left, it didn't feel like it was going to be a long term thing. I know, deep in my heart of hearts, that he will be back and living with me permanently soon and this seperation time needs to be used efficiently in order for us to have the life we want. We both have things we need to accomplish in our home countries to make the next, and hopefully final, transition smooth and peaceful.

I dropped him off at Sky Harbor just 30 minutes before his scheduled take off time (Walmart hung us up for a bit and he was focused on getting all my electroncis hooked up and ready for connection before he left and we were missing a cable connection for the TV). I needed to call him desperately to make sure he got on a flight without problems, but having no cell phone or home phone or even internet to text his cell with, I was forced to buy a calling card and use a pay phone. I left the airport and exited on the first exit to find a convenience store and get to a public phone. Naturally, I exited in some office park region and I couldn't find one store. All I found was many curving roads around office buildings. After driving around (no idea where I was as I am new to this town) I find a 7-11. I run in and buy a calling card off the rack and go back outside to use the phone. I look at the card I just purchased a bit closer and it's a card to recharge a cell phone's minutes! I can't use it. I go back into the store and check out their assortment of calling cards and that is all they have on display, various kinds of cell phone recharge cards. I ask the clerk and she informs me that is all they have. I ask where I can buy a 'normal' calling card and she directs me to a Circle K up the street about 3 blocks.

I find the Circle K without problem and purchase a calling card. Go outside and don't see a phone anywhere in my field of vision. I go back inside and ask if they have one. The clerk is busy with a line up of about 5 other people, so when she finally answers me, she informs me that they do not have a pay phone and the closest one is down the street about 3 blocks at the 7-11. You can imagine what I am thinking at this point!

I get back to the 7-11 and use the calling card and get a hold of my husband's cell. He tells me that he didn't make it on his flight but that he got a ticket for the next flight (with a stop in North Carolina) which leaves in about an hour, so he is all good. I am just thankful to hear his voice again as I can't talk to him until the following day when my home phone is connected.

He arrived safely back in Toronto and was back at work Monday as was I. I started my new job and felt so liberated. After having sat around frustrated for 2 years, with a government that refused to allow me to work or do anything for that matter, I felt like a new person. I am very happy and grateful to be 'home' again and to be able to join the ranks of 'real' humans again. I am grateful to my husband and his family for putting up a small amount of funds so that I could buy some basics and eat food while I get my own feet under me again. (A special thank you to mi swagra toxica.)

I'm Going Home

I'm staring out into the night,
Trying to hide the pain.
I'm going to the place where love
And feeling good don't ever cost a thing.
And the pain you feel's a different kind of pain.

Well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
Well I'm going home.

The miles are getting longer, it seems,
The closer I get to you.
I've not always been the best man or friend for you.
But your love, it makes true.
And I don't know why.
You always seem to give me another try.

So I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
I'm going home.

Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all,
And then some you don't want.
Be careful what you wish for,
'Cause you just might get it all.
You just might get it all, yeah.

Oh, well I'm going home,
Back to the place where I belong,
And where your love has always been enough for me.
I'm not running from.
No, I think you got me all wrong.
I don't regret this life I chose for me.
But these places and these faces are getting old.
I said these places and these faces are getting old,
So I'm going home.
I'm going home.

-Daughtry (or someone else who wrote it)

While I am busy moving & driving

Perhaps you all, Dear Readers, can post comments so that when I finally get to my destination I can read what you all think. It would be nice to know I am not sitting here writing to myself, but it probably won't change anything (as in I like talking/writing to myself and I am a good conversationalist).

Ladies & Gentlemen! In the Center Ring...

Welcome to my life, as I like to refer to it, Cirque de Delicia!

I am moving to the U.S. from Toronto in exactly 5 days. Because Phoenix is not known for their public transportation system, I am forced to drive since no buses or trains go anywhere near my new office. I am giving myself 3 days to make the trip, and I will go solo so staying awake on the passes through places like Oklahoma may be my biggest concern. Our original plan was for me to fly there and then purchase a low-rent car, one good enough to keep running for about 6-9 months, then fly back to Toronto and pick up The Kid either after the end of his first semester this year or at the end of the school year, but me having a car in Phoenix seems like a bigger priority than we originally calculated.


So, the real circus started yesterday. We were in flux about if the husband and The Kid and the two dogs, would stay living in our rental town home or move to someplace smaller or any other viable alternative. Yesterday, it was planned that the husband, The Kid, and the 2 dogs will move in with the in-laws. The Kid will come to live with me either at the end of the semester or the end of the school year, whichever he chooses at a later date and the husband will come as soon as USCIS (U.S. Citizenship & Immigration Service) will allow. We are planning on about 1 year for that process, but as CIC has shown us, anything can happen and we have to stay prepared for that.

With my remaining 5 days here in Canada, I not only have to pack myself up and get my ducks in order, I have to move an entire house, much of which has to go into a rented storage facility for the time being. By the time my husband gets to Phoenix, I will pretty much have a furnished place, so not much of that 'stuff' will have to make the trip to the U.S. but we don't have time to sort it all out now. We save that joy for another day.

I will be making another solo drive back to Toronto for Christmas (employer vacation approval permitting) and picking up dog #1 for transport back to the U.S. The return trip, at least my husband will accompany me and keep me company and help with the driving and then he can visit in Phoenix for a bit before returning back to his dreary life in Toronto. Dog #2 will have to wait and move with husband, simply because most apartments in the U.S. allow 1 dog, which leaves me with having to purchase a house the day after my husband gets the nod from USCIS. yeah. right.

I feel like I just did this big relocation to another country... oh wait... I did!

Nemo was swallowed by Moby

Yes, in my preparations for moving back to the U.S., I have that one last open issue with CIC: Nemo. Since I now am withdrawing my application, Nemo has since met with an unfortunate demise. Nemo was swallowed whole by Moby. Now Moby, is huge compared to poor little Nemo; Moby is $1,600.00 wonderful, Canadian, monopoly colored, dollars. Moby is the entire set of fees that I paid to CIC back in October 2005 (including the $975.00 Right of Landing Fee). I almost feel bad for Nemo, but I have bigger fish to fry (pun very much intended).

I decide that CIC, just like every other person or entity on this planet, does not get to have their cake and eat it too. According to CIC's website, the refund of the overpayment is automatic once the file begins processing; there is no need to request the refund, no forms to fill out, no paper to send the friendly paper worshiping Canadian government employees. Recall, that I have been around this circular logic with the Call Center employees already regarding getting an overpayment refund that is still outstanding. I decide now is the time to put it to paper and post it for all the world to see. Either way, at a minimum, I am obligated to receive the Right of Landing fee of $975 refund, since I will not be landing. To add insult to injury, I was informed by the friendly Call Center employees, that CIC can take up to 1 year to refund the Right of Landing fee. I do not think I have ever come across anyone or anything that thinks it is ok to hold a refund that they don't dispute for 1 year, but whatever.


So, I sit down and pen this letter:

September 18, 2007

Citizenship & Immigration Canada
5343 Dundas Street W
3^rd floor
Etobicoke ON M9B 6K5

RE: Withdrawal of Application & Request for Refund of Fees
Client ID 563XXXXX
my name, DOB: XXMarXXXX
my husband's name, DOB: XXFebXXXX

To Whom It May Concern:

We would like to withdraw our applications for In Canada Application for Permanent Residence. This would also include withdrawal for Spousal Sponsorship application and all other related applications for the primary applicant, spouse, and dependents. The file was originally filed with the CIC Vegreville office on February 11, 2006 and noted as received by Vegreville on February 15, 2006. The file was transferred to your office on November 7, 2006.

Due to the time it has taken for your office to even start processing the file, we have elected not to pursue residency in Canada and have instead decided to move out of country. Additionally, the utter lack of communication from your office regarding this file has made this immigration process frustrating and completely unproductive. I hope, for the benefit of future immigrants, your Ministry can find ways to improve the efficiency of this system.

We also request a full refund of fees (excluding the $75.00 processing fee). Enclosed please find a copy of our receipt of payment of $1,675.00 made October 9, 2005. This refund can be mailed to our current address:

our address
our address

Please note that we have not received the refund of overpayment of the right of landing fees in the amount of $485 to which we became eligible in May 2006, although several requests have been made for that refund. The basis for our full refund request lies with the CIC itself that advised that the $485 overpayment refund is issued automatically when the file begins processing. Obviously, since we have not yet become eligible for the overpayment refund due to the file not being processed, it only stands to reason that as such, we should be eligible for the full refund for the file not being processed.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact either of us at our phone.

Regards,

me

my husband

CC: Citizenship & Immigration Canada
Case Processing Center
6212 55^th Ave
Vegreville, AB T9C 1W5

Office of Hon. Roy Cullen, MP
815 Albion Road

I figure Len at our MP's office might appreciate a copy, so why not?

Moreover, I have a note in my calendar for April 15, 2008. I will start resending this letter on a weekly basis to the parties listed if I have not received a refund by that date. I am sure they will appreciate the regular reminders. I think 6 months is gracious on my part, and occasionally, I can be nice and accommodating (tongue firmly set in cheek).

On the road again, just can't wait to get on the road again

I accepted a position in the U.S. and I am ecstatic. I am also frantically trying to find a way to get there prior to my start date and have those other little luxuries lined up, such as a place to live, transportation to and from work, school for The Kid, and all those other fun things. I restarted my life completely over 2 years ago. I gained absolutely no ground in those 2 years, in fact, I think I went backwards. Now, I get to do it again.

I have a huge list of to-do's to get done over the next week. I have to close bank accounts, get school records, figure out what to pack and what to leave behind, find an apartment in the U.S., finish my background check with the new employer (the final piece, the drug screen, is scheduled for Monday), and the list goes on.

I will not miss Canada nor anyone or anything in it or associated with it. It is my goal in life to avoid purchasing Canadian products or products made by Canadian companies. I will also never return and never drop one of my tourists dimes in this UCSR (Union of Canadian Socialist Republic). This is one time I will burn all my bridges and not only set them alite, but take an axe to them and chop them into tiny little pieces which I will run through a wood chipper, then set alite. No, I am not angry about these last 2 years at all.

Sneaking into Canada? No problem!

I set off for the good ol' USA last week, heading to the desert for a job interview. Going through U.S. immigration at Pearson Airport, the U.S. immigration officer asks me what I was doing in Toronto. I explained to him that I married a Canadian and was stuck in the immigration process for almost 2 years. He laughed and said, "Canada doesn't want you. You are not from the Middle East, you speak English, and you seem educated." He remarked that he had transferred to Toronto voluntarily from Phoenix because he thought it would be 'nice' here, but soon found out he was wrong and next opportunity, he was going to transfer back. I had to laugh.

I arrived safely back in Canada after a one night stay with absolutely no troubles. The Canadian immigration officer asked why I was in Toronto and my pat answer, to visit family and friends, seems to satisfy her. All she asked me was how long I was staying and where these friends and family lived. She stamped my passport and I was on my way. This is the first stamp I have ever received at the airport, go figure.

This should be fun

I leave for a job interview in the States on Wednesday and return the following day. If you don't see any new posts after Thursday, you will know that I was detained and/or denied by Immigration at the airport. I can't wait to test this out. Wish me luck in both the interview and the re entry into Canada and enjoy your holiday weekend everyone!

Boycotting Tim Horton's

I had the TV running one day as it makes nice background noise if the volume is low enough. On this particular occasion, a commercial caught my attention. I turned to see the last few seconds of a Tim Horton's ad for iced coffee. They were introducing new item on their menu for the summer. I love iced coffee and despise Tim Horton's Ice Caps. Might was well go to 7-11 for a blue slurpee and end up with just about the same thing. I didn't think much of the ad at the time, but then I saw it again a few days later and I was craving an iced coffee by then. I love Starbucks, but there just isn't one close to my house, so I don't often get to go there.

I decide to order an iced coffee next time I am at Tim Horton's. I wait in line at the local gas station which has a Timmy's. I review the overhead menu and notice that iced coffee is not on their list. I think perhaps this is due to the newness of the item and the menu has just not been updated yet. I asked the clerk for an iced coffee and she looked at me like I was balancing a pile of green jello on my head. I told her that I had seen a TV commercial advertising this new item and still, she looked at me like I was from outer space. She replied, "I don't know what you are talking about." I figured that perhaps these little gas station variety Tim Horton's just didn't carry this item and I would check at one of the 'real' Tim Horton's.

The following weekend, I ran out for coffee and hot chocolate for the family on Saturday morning as is my custom. I went to a 'real' Tim Horton's and asked again for iced coffee. Again, I was confronted with a blank stare. This particular clerk was rude (I find that to be common place around here) and replied, "We don't have that here and never have." Ok fine. I order a regular coffee as a substitute and go on my way.

Another week passes and the TV is droning on the background. Another iced coffee commercial comes on. This time, my husband is near enough that I tell him to watch. I just wanted a witness that, in fact, I wasn't completely delusional. Ok, so there are at least 2 people on this planet that have seen this commercial and I am sure, none of the Tim Horton's employees are among them. I even checked the Tim Horton's website and couldn't find any mention if iced coffee.

I make one final push to obtain the iced coffee from Tim Horton's the following weekend, but I try a different store. I ask the clerk about it and she replies, "I saw the ads too, but iced coffee won't be carried in this area." Well, at least now I know I am not insane and I make the special trip to Starbucks to get the good stuff.

No more Tim Horton's for me. I am waging my own personal boycott and vow never to return. I feel driven to make signs and gather people to help me hold those signs. We can walk in circles around the Tim Horton's store and sing songs or chant, " What do we want?" "Iced coffee!" "When do we want it?" "Now!" I am willing to even purchase a bullhorn for this.

I am sure that the paper worshiping Canadian government employees are behind this scheme to deny all Canadians and foreign tourists alike their iced coffee! They are probably hording all of it in their little government buildings with their little government cubicles, laughing at all of us.

Birthday Wishes for Mom

Happy Birthday Mom! Have a wonderful day.

Eh?

I received a phone call yesterday from a Toronto recruiter. He was looking for someone with very specific experience to fill a position for a client. After first listening to him, and then explaining that did I not have the experience he was looking for nor was I looking for a position in Toronto, he asks me, "Do you know anyone who has experience in (lists what he is looking for) ?" The thing I found amusing is how he ended about every other statement or question with "eh?"

Prior to moving to Canada, my only experience with the phrase "eh?" was with Bob & Doug McKenzie and their skits on Saturday Night Live. I always assumed it was an exaggeration, but moving to Canada has, among other things, shown me how little I really know. The phrase "eh?" is very popular. "Eh?" knows no bounds; it is used by everyone regardless of their educational background, socioeconomic, geographical, or political affiliations. The only person I haven't heard use this phrase is the The Kid. He has escaped this influence, thankfully.

I was talking to my husband about something inconsequential one day. I asked him, "What do you think about that, eh?" As soon as the word exited my mouth, all I could do was cover my mouth with my hands in hopes of preventing another one from slipping out. He immediately turned to me and with a huge grin. He laughs and says, "That was a real one. You said it and it wasn't a joke so don't try to say it was!" I felt like I had sinned against nature. I immediately entered my bedroom, closed the door, and atoned for my sins with self mortification by flogging. (Ok, not really, but I haven't said "eh?" since.)

It is quite obvious that some people are having a tough time understanding Canadians, so the following will run through a very brief translation of the Canadian 'dialect' and hopefully ease some minds out there. "Eh" is a useful word that is very important and is the basis of all Canadian communications. It is used in conjunction with other words, or simply by itself. The tone or the slight differences in exclamation also changes the meaning:

Eh? = what did you say?
Eh? = what do you think?
EH? = something to say just to end a sentence.
Ehhhh!! = WOW!!
EH!? = what do you mean?
Eh?? = your joking!!!??
EH!! = Hello..(you off in the distance!!!)
Eh? want a doughnut or some Tim Bits?
Eh! = sure!!
Eh!Eh! = coffee double-cream too please!
Eh? = what you say when you realize you have no money to pay for it.
Eh..cmon, eh? = asking them to let you pay for it next time.
hey..eh! = want to go to the drive-in movie??
Eh...uhuh = yes sure!
Eh..y'know = I'll pick you up at 8:00 (8:30 in Newfoundland).
Eh..cmon!! = well that's early..but ok.
Eh..wanna? eh? = lets fool around ...
EHHHHHHH = sounds coming from the car.
hey..um..er eh... = I'm pregnant!
EH????????? = how did that happen?
EHHehhEHHehhEHHH = sounds from the delivery room.
EHHH-ehh, EHHH-ehh = baby's first cry.
Ehh..whadya think eh? = marry me.



So, now you too, Dear Reader, can use "Eh?" properly. Just don't do it around me.

Perchance to Travel...

By now, I have completely severed all contact with CIC. I do not have anything left to send them or to say to them. I have even given up hope of ever seeing Nemo again and I cannot even muster the energy to call them.

Regrettably, I think I will soon be feeling their presence in my life in a most unwanted way. I have begun to diligently look for work in my field in the U.S. Having completed several phone interviews, I will soon be flying to the U.S. for the more formal face to face interviews. I know that the minute my plane crosses the border into the U.S., I will likely not be returning 'home' to Toronto if CIC has anything to do with it. After realizing that I am out of status here in Canada and after being threatened with deportation by the friendly CIC agents, I can foresee no other end to this dreaded tale except being refused entry into Canada at the airport.

I am almost excited about returning to Pearson Airport and seeing things happen. My husband has our MP's phone number saved into his cell phone, just in case I do get detained. We might as well bother Len a bit, even though he warned me not to travel. "It is really hard to get a job without an interview, in my experience," I will tell him. The only thing I dread is knowing that I will probably be sitting somewhere in the airport for hours while the paper worshiping Canadian government employees go and shuffle papers.

My attitude of shaking things up just as much as we can prior to sticking a fork in it continues. We might as well get our money's worth out of this whole fiasco since it seems unlikely that CIC is going to bother refunding anything, even the overpayment.

FOSS notes, part III

Stardate 8.3.2007: The last 2 missing documents from my original FOSS notes request found their way from the local CIC office to my mailbox. By now, I really don't even care what they say other than to check to ensure the information is correct. There are 2 pages entitled Work In Progress - Remarks, and they read, in part:

16JUN2006 SPOUSAL APPLICATION; HPM R00163XXXX FOR $1675.00 SUBMITTED - OVERPAYMENT OF $485.00. 1344A COMPLETED BY SPOUSE ON FILE... JWWW/IPS
CASE REFERRED TO CIC ETOBICOKE 3296 FROM B6604 07NOV2006 - HPM RECEIPT #R00163XXXX FOR $1675.00 TAKEN - O/P OF $485.OO FOR RPRF REDUCTION NOT REFUNDED AS FILE IS BEING TRANSFERRED TO CIC. SPOUSE IN CANADA APPLICATION RECEIVED 15FEB2006. SPONSOR XXXX XXXXX XXXXX APPLICATION INCLUDES DEP. SON - XXXXX XXXXX DOB: XXXX XXXXX PA HAS LISTED DTR O/S - NOT INCLUDED - XXXX XXXX XXXX DOB: XXXX XXXXX RCMP PASSED 20JUN2006 FBI CERT SUBMITTED - NO RECORD. PA SON HAVE VALID PASSPORTS FROM THE USA - BIRTH CERTS SUBMITTED AS WELL. RECORD OF MARRIAGE SUBMITTED - DIVORCE CERT FROM PA. PA WAS BORN XXXXXXXX & SPONSOR WAS BORN XXXXXX - AGE DIFFERENCE. PA & SPONSOR FROM DIFFERENT CULTURAL BACKGROUNDS. PHOTOS SUBMITTED SHOW ONLY A VERY SMALL GROUP OF PEOPLE IN ATTENDANCE & IT WA A VER PRIVATE MARRAIGE CEREMONY WITH A SMALL GROUP IN ATTENDANCE & THEY WENT OUT TO DINNER AT A RESTARANT.

Well, finally, after months and months (yes we have hit the 18 month mark) we get to the heart of the matter. CIC doesn't like the fact that I am older than my husband and that we are of different cultures. It is comforting to know they do not like our marriage ceremony either. At this point, it is all academic anyway. I do not have anything left to send them to prove the validity of our marriage, so they have to base their decision on what they have. I certainly can argue this is no way can ever be construed as a marriage of convenience, because I can find better employment, health care, housing, grocery stores, and just about everything, in the U.S. If I was after convenience, I would of, and should of, stayed there. But I look at this information as helpful when we get to processing my spouse for U.S. immigration and am better prepared, so for that, CIC, I thank you and flip you the bird simultaneously.

Finding Nemo II

Nemo is still missing and I have given up any hope of ever seeing Nemo again, but I make one last attempt at recovering my fees and my conversation with the paper worshiping CIC agent goes something similar to this:

Me: "I am calling to ask about getting a refund of my fees if I withdraw my application."

CIC: "After reviewing your file, it appears we started processing on it in June 2006 so you would only be entitled to the Landing Fee to be refunded."

Me: "I still am overpaid by $485 for that Landing Fee, why haven't I received that yet?"

CIC: "That refund is automatic when we start processing your file."

Me: "But you just stated you started processing the file in June 2006. I am not eligible for a full refund because you started processing my file. Shouldn't I have received the refund of the overpayment by now?"

CIC: "Your file was transferred in November 2006 to the local CIC. At that time they elected not to process your overpayment refund."

Me: "So, I do not get the full refund of my fees when I withdraw my application because you HAVE started processing my file. I do not get the refund of my overpayment of $485 because you HAVE NOT started processing my file. Am I understanding this correctly?"

CIC: "It is a little bit more complicated that that. We have manuals of procedures are are to follow and the procedure was not to provide the overpayment refund at that time."

And so goes CIC and their pretzel logic. I am waving the white flag.

The fat lady sings

After much debate and emotion, my husband finally jumped onto my sinking ship. He agrees with me now that this Canadian immigration process is the worst mistake that we have made. We both agreed that sitting around waiting endlessly, especially, when there is no light at the end of the tunnel is futile. We have done our time in prison (i.e., Canada) and now it was time to actually move forward with our lives.

After we carefully assess our options and specifically lay out what we want our lives to be like (and no, sitting in Prison waiting, is not it), we decide that perhaps it is time to make a break for it and run for the border. There is no point in waiting for CIC any longer. I already know that the medical exams performed in November 2005 expired 1 year after. I know that the criminal checks have expired as well. These items will be 2 years old when and if CIC get around to picking up my file again and with my experience with the friendly immigration officers, its not likely they are just going to waive those away. We decide to let the Canadian immigration process run it's course, not unlike a bad infection, but there is little point in trying to prod movement out of it.

So, in this new light of possibly getting our lives back again, I look back to the U.S. and start my search for a job. My husband and I will switch seats at the table and I will sponsor him into the U.S. and leave Canada far, far behind. Unfortunately, the only difference is he will have to wait in Canada strictly for financial reasons. The way I feel now, I don't even want to come back to visit as I don't want Canada to have one penny of mine. Additionally, if CIC decided to drop a Permanent Residence card in my lap right now, I would probably use it to start a fire.

The fat lady is singing, but she hasn't quite finished her aria.

FOSS notes, part II

July 30, 2007 brings another large, brown envelope from my paper worshiping Canadian government employees at my local CIC office. I wasn't really expecting this one, so I am curious. I open it to find a letter with some attachments. The letter reads, in part:

This is further to correspondence sent to you on July 16, 2007 from J. Kourakos, Acting Privacy Co-ordinator, Etobicoke CIC.

I have had an opprotunity to review the information withheld by Ms. Kourakos. As a result, I am pleased at this time to be able to release three additional documents to which you are entitled under Section 12(1) of the Privacy Act. Certain information contained therein qualified for exemption pursuant to Section 26 of the Privacy Act. A copy of the relevant section of the Act is enclosed for ease of reference. The two remaining documents will be forwarded to the Access to Information and Privacy Division, National Headquarters in Ottawa, for their consideration.

The 3 pages I received show my husband and my son and 'related secondaries' whatever that means and my medical results. Well, not the actual medical results, just some codes for the medical which list me as 'passed.' I am curious why no medical results for my son are included and I am even more curious about the still missing 2 documents referred to in the letter.

The medical has me puzzled and pissed. I remember calling CIC and asking them about my medicals and they advised me that they had not been reviewed. Seems a bit more than obvious that they have the information and it is a 'pass.' Either the Call Center agents have no idea what they are doing or they don't want me to know anything about my immigration status. Or both.

FOSS notes received, part I

The same day that I received the deportation threat from my friendly CIC agent, I receive a large brown envelope from CIC. The envelope had a return address of the local CIC office. Inside where several pieces of paper. The cover letter reads, in part:

This in in response to your request for personal information made under the Privacy Act which was received by Citizenship & Immigration Canada on 04 July 2007.

An extension of up to 30 days beyond the 30 calendar day statutory time limit will be required to respond to your request. The extension is being applied in accordance with subsection 15(a)(ii) of the Privacy Act.

Attached to that letter is a blank form entitled "Record Correction Request Form." Attached to that is 4 pages of computer print screens. The top of each of these print screens is labeled: Document Name: FOSS. Yippee! These are those FOSS notes, the ones that are supposed to identify the reason(s) for the delay of my file. Each page has only the top half with text and the bottom half is empty.

The first 3 pages basically give biographical data about myself. My name, date of birth, address, eye color, passport number, language preference, etc. Very non exciting stuff and things that I pretty much know about myself. On the last page, the page entitled "Work In Progress - Events" there is a bit more information. It reads:

Referred to CIC 07Nov2006
RPRF Fees Taken/Loan Applied 07Nov2006
Processing Fees Taken 07Nov2006
Deallocation occurred 07Nov2006
RPRF Fees Taken 07Nov2006
Processing Fees Taken 07Nov2006
IMM0703 - CSIS Check Req 16Jun2006
IMM0703 - RCMP Check Req 16Jun2006
Application in Process 16Jun2006
Application Received 15Feb2006

So, they ordered my RCMP (Royal Canadian Mounted Police) criminal check on June 16, 2006. They also ordered my CSIS check on that same day. The CSIS is a mystery to everyone. I know they preform the non-criminal part of the background check and they are probably looking to see if I am a member of some terrorist cell or some other group who gathers with the purpose of overthrowing the government. If was not a member of the latter group, I should be now, I think to myself. They applied my fees and thank the lord for that. I was worried they didn't get their money early enough in the process. And they transferred the file. I find these notes unhelpful and they just prove that they really haven't done anything with the file since the day they received it.

Deportation 101

Stardate 7.18.2007. I noticed before gathering all my forms for my MP meeting that I was missing the one piece of communication I had received from CIC: the letter from November 2006 that advised me that CIC had transferred my file. After ripping through the house a few times, I decide that I should request a copy. I venture forth and prepare myself for the 30 minute hold time with the Call Center.

I finally reach a live body (and I use that term loosely) and go the the game of 20 questions to verify my identity. I inform the agent that I need a copy of the letter from November 2006 that advised my file had been transferred. He pauses for a minute and states, "I see you have no status currently. I will be calling and requesting a deportation order be issued."

I am at first stunned, but having had my fill of completely useless phone conversations with the paper worshiping Canadian government employees, it wears off quickly. I think that visiting my family back in the States would be a good thing for me and I wonder if I can now do this on Canada's dime. After all the fees I have paid, it should at least buy me airfare. I keep these thoughts to myself and respond, "Do what you have to do, but can you mail my copy of the letter please?" He says he will, the adds "Is there anything else I can do for you?" I think this to be an odd question at this moment, but reply, "No, I think you have done enough." and hang up the phone.

I do not know what elicited this action from CIC, or the threat of this action. I have never been rude to these people. I have never sworn at them, although I do think they deserve that and much more. Maybe they are just tired of hearing from me. Regardless, I follow up with Len at the MPs office and advise him of this conversation and his only response is, "Don't travel outside the country. The deportation process is long and it is only after a judge issues the order can you actually be deported, but they can keep you from re entering Canada." Well, thanks Len! That was a comfort. *rolls eyes*

I am secretly wishing that the deportation order process does get underway. I haven't had any substantial communication from CIC since they acknowledged receipt of my application over a year ago. Perhaps if I can stand in front of a judge and point out how utterly ludicrous my situation has become, I can win some sympathy and the judge can order CIC to actually process my application. Perhaps I am just dreaming. I do feel like I have fallen into an episode of The Twilight Zone.

Got to love the politians

Early July 2007 finds me in our Member of Parliament's (MP) office. A MP is an elected official to the lower house of commons, or Canadian House of Commons. For you Americans, it is equal to a U.S. State Representative. I had read that sometimes these officials can be useful in lighting a fire under CIC's arses, so we thought, why not? We don't have much to lose at this point.

My husband and I arrive hopeful as this is our last gasp of air in this process. If this doesn't go well, we might as well pack up and move to Mars. Anyway, our meeting is not with the MP directly, it is with the MP's assistant. I shall call him Len. Now Len, looks to be freshly graduated from high school, but my husband and I sit at his desk, with a copy of our applications, birth certificates, passports, 8x10 color glossies with circles and arrows and a paragraph on the back of each one describing what each photo is, etc., and prepare to spill out our sob story. Len nods as he listens. Len tells us he can fax the CIC Etobicoke office and request the status. (He has the direct number to call them, just as he has the fax number, but he chooses the fax.) He informs us that it will take about 2 weeks before the CIC office responds and for us to call him back then.

The 2 week period passes and I call Len. Len confirms that he does have a response from the CIC Etobicoke office and the office says they do have our file and that they currently have a 12 month backlog. Len says "We have to respect that office's time line, so if you don't hear anything, say, by mid November, please call me and let me know. I can't do anything until then."

*sigh* I am completely drained.

Gotta know when to hold 'em, know when to fold 'em

Late June 2007 has a flurry of activity, on my part at least. Through this forum, I learned about ordering FOSS notes. These are the electronic notes made by immigration officers regarding an immigration file. I quickly mailed off my request for them. Perhaps these notes can shed light on what exactly the issue is any why my application is still sitting, virtually untouched for 16 months. I hope that these notes do not take years to get, but I don't count on it.

Also, I investigate the idea of withdrawing my application in whole and reapplying an 'outside' application, namely through the Buffalo NY CIC office. The outside applications have a consistent history of being processed faster than the 'inside' applications. I believe this is due to the way CIC frowns upon 'inside' applications, but who really knows for sure. In order to make an informed decision, I contact the friendly paper worshiping Canadian government employees and the Call Center. You would think that we are on a first name basis now, but sadly, we are not. I inquire about the withdrawal process and getting a refund. If Nemo has shown me anything, it is like bailing the Titanic with a thimble, and not likely to be successful.

I mentally prepare myself for the lack of information I am about to receive from the Call Center. Imagine my surprise when I reach a *gasp* helpful agent! His name is Phillip. I quiz Phillip for almost 45 minutes. He researches all my questions and takes at look at my file. He informs me that based upon my file, he thinks I should be eligible for a complete refund (less $75 processing fee that CIC keeps in any circumstance). He says that nothing has been processed on my file. He sees no notes on the medical exam either. I find this rather disturbing, that my file has been there for 16 months and some paper worshiping government employee took it out of one pile in Alberta and stuffed it into an envelope and whisked it away to another CIC office in Ontario where it sits unopened. I inform him that I had recently ordered my FOSS notes and I was curious if those notes would indicate the reason for this dreadful delay. He states frankly: 'No, the FOSS notes won't help you figure that out.' Phillip also kindly states that any request to withdraw and subsequent refund takes about 12 weeks. (I ponder this and come up with the formula of 12 weeks in CIC time equals about 1 year in Earth time, based on my experience.)

At this point, my husband and I have to determine what kind of gamblers we are. Do we withdraw an application that is, perhaps, ~5 months (November 2007) from being looked at in Ontario or do we withdraw the whole thing and start over in Buffalo which also seems to be running at about 5 months initial processing time? Other factors include the fact that the medicals would have to be redone ($600) and new fingerprints ordered from the FBI ($40 but at least 3 months of waiting time), and we would be out the application fees until CIC refunded the original fees, if they ever do. We mull this dilemma for a few days and elect to keep the original application going. Emotionally, I want to wrestle my file from the wretched, cold hands of the Alberta and Ontario CIC immigration officers while beating them with a wooden spoon, but we can't always have what we want, can we?

Me and Mr. Harper

Time goes so slowly now. I stalk the postman. Although he doesn't seem to appreciate it very much; I find it highly entertaining in my drab little world.

On this day in June 2007, I am just plain frustrated. There has been no contact from CIC and when I contact them, I still receive the 'your file is in process' crap. I decide it is time to vent. I sit down and hastily pen the Prime Minister of lovely Canada a letter. It reads:

The Right Honourable Stephen Harper:

My name is XXXX XXXXX. I was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree from a prestigious university in St. Paul, Minnesota and have several years of experience working in my field of corporate tax for both publicly and privately held businesses. I have no criminal record. I have paid my taxes and voted in every election in the United States since I was eligible. I have literally worked my fingers to the bone every day of my life to raise my two children as a single parent and see that they have every opportunity possible available to them. My older child is currently in college in the U.S. training to be a registered nurse. My younger child just completed grade 10 in Toronto.

In 2000, I met and fell in love with a man who lives in Toronto. In 2004 we decided our lives were finally in position that one of us could relocate and we could marry and continue our lives together. In 2005, I sold my house, packed up my belongings and my younger son, and moved to Toronto. We married within a few months and began the immigration process believing the guidelines posted on CIC's website and on their forms. They advised that the process would take no more than a year. CIC's 'listen to this while you are on hold' recordings still advise to this day that if a person is in Canada legally and married to a Canadian, CIC will contact you within 30 days upon receiving your paperwork. Needless to say, it has been 2 years and I have received no contact from CIC other than one letter in 2006 saying my file was transferred to a local office.

I, being naive, and believing what CIC says in print on their own forms and on their own website, thought at first that they must of just miscoded my information and I contacted them several times. Every time I contact their 800 number, I receive the same no-information answer, regardless of my question. Even when I inquire about my over paid processing fees (I am currently over paid by $485 due to a change in fees), I received the response and I quote "You could receive your refund in 3 days, 3 weeks, or 3 years. We can't tell you." I do not know where else to go for help with my situation.

I have used up all my funds that I arrived with, and a portion of that going to pay GST/PST. I have changed from a comfortable middle class life in the U.S., complete with health care and other social services at my disposal to a life just below the poverty line with no health care and little hope for the future. My husband who works in the construction industry and who was previously attending university part-time, has had to leave school and put in 14 hour days to support us while we wait for CIC. I cannot even register my car that I drove here to Canada in due to my lack of status although I still have to pay insurance and make my monthly car payment. I have and numerous job interviews here in Canada, all of which seem eager to hire me, but are reluctant to sponsor a temporary work permit for me.

I read a statistic recently that said that new immigrants arrive with $50,000 - $100,000 each which is in line with the funds I brought. CIC advises that there are ~250,000 new immigrants every year, making the total over 1 billion dollars. I am beginning to believe that it is Canada's intent to lie to new immigrants and make the country appealing to migrate to only so the immigrant can spend all their money here to lubricate the Canadian economy before turning the new immigrant into a destitute, frustrated individual and force them to return to their home country with nothing but a large gap in employment on their resume to show for all their efforts.

On this upcoming Canada Day, I hope that you think of the thousands of skilled, educated, eager to work individuals who are in my position and consider if it is in line with your own mission statement and what you hope to make Canada during your tenure.

Sincerely,

XXXXX XXXXXX

cc: Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

As I mentioned, it was hastily penned and probably not my best piece of work. I hope I did get my point across though. I emailed this letter to The Prime Minister's office just to feel like I have actually done something. I did get a response which reads:

Dear Ms. XXXXXX:

On behalf of the Prime Minister, I would like to thank you for your
e-mail, in which you raised an issue which falls within the portfolio of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration.

Please be assured that the statements you made have been carefully
reviewed. I have taken the liberty of forwarding your e-mail to Minister Finley so that she too may be made aware of your comments. I am certain that the Minister will give your views every consideration.

L.A. Lavell
Executive Correspondence Officer
for the Prime Minister's Office
Agent de correspondance
de la haute direction
pour le Cabinet du Premier ministre

Apparently, Mr. Harper's paid letter readers don't read letters or they would have seen already that Ms. Finley has a copy.

It's No Fun Being An Illegal Alien

May 2007 brings me closer to all out carpet bombing in my war for immigration. My ECAS still hasn't changed since November 2006. My calls to CIC still yield the same response: my file is in process. Now, however, CIC has changed the processing time of the local office where my file sits in its rapidly accumulating dust. The time now for the Etobicoke office is at 12 months. I protest this vigorously with the Call Center agent and point out to him that when I called a few months ago, I was told it was going to be a 9 month wait. He explains that the office has updated its delay and now nothing will be done until November 2007.

I have run out of new and fresh ideas in this campaign, so I turn to the web. I do random google searches on immigration to Canada. Most of what I find is sites for 'immigration consultants' and immigration lawyers all shouting about Canada's virtues and how easy the immigration process is. Then I found this forum and was amazed at what I read. There were others on this planet that were finding Canada not all it was cracked up to be. They point to the blatant racism and the double standards applied to immigrants. I read on, intrigued, and trying to fill myself with as much knowledge on the topic as I could to continue my personal battle with CIC.

Eventually, I landed on this forum. This site was intended to help individuals get through the CIC processing, and I found it invaluable for bouncing ideas off other 'in-process' individuals from all over the world. I read all the posts every day. It became an obsession. I would wake up in the morning, check my ECAS, then check the forums. After 'lurking' for a month, I started posting myself. I posed my situation and asked for feedback. There wasn't much response and people were generally not in my situation. I did learn some interesting facts though. Things such as: it is faster to apply from outland than inland (from the U.S. instead of going directly to CIC in Alberta); getting AIP does not give the applicant the right to work; health care is different from province to province, etc.

One of the more frightening things I discovered, was that I was, technically, now an illegal immigrant in Canada. According to CIC rules, a visitor (even if from a visa exempt country such as the U.S. and the U.K.), has a time limit imposed on their visit: 6 months. After 6 months in country, the visitor has to renew that status or leave the country. For a U.S. citizen, it is technically feasible for them to drive their car to the U.S. and turn around and re enter Canada to restart the 6 month period. The other option is to apply for a visa extension and pay the appropriate fee. The visa extension must be applied for prior to the current visa expiring, or you are just SOL. Since CIC is holding Nemo (my overpayment refund) hostage, I refuse to give them one more penny.

Since I did visit my daughter in Minneapolis in June 2006, my visitor visa technically expired on December 2006. Then, I was under the mistaken belief that my processing was nearing an end anyway, so my legal status in Canada wasn't forefront on my mind. It is there now, but now I do not have the means to fix this little problem. I could drive to Niagara, cross the bridge, spend the day 'shopping' and come right back. For now, I sneak around my neighborhood and run behind trees and bushes when I see the Immigration Police driving down the street. Actually, I have never seen that, but I am prepared for it when I do.

The Prized Canadian 'Free' Healthcare

Fortunately for everyone, I have only needed to see a doctor once since my arrival in Canada. Same goes for 'The Kid.' When I did come down with a bladder infection that just wouldn't go away and started working into my kidneys, I finally broke down and decided I needed some antibiotics.

First, I spent about an hour researching the OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan) on the web. I didn't have any medical coverage and everyone around the world has heard about Canada's free health care. I read, right there in black on white, that all I needed to be eligible for the program is:

You must have Ontario health insurance to use Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care funded health care services. You are eligible for the Ontario Health Insurance Plan (OHIP) if you are included under one of the following categories :

• you are a Canadian citizen, permanent resident or landed immigrant, convention refugee, or are registered as an Indian under the Indian Act
• you have submitted an Application for Permanent Residence or an Application for Landing and have been confirmed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada as having satisfied the medical requirements for landing
• you are a foreign worker who holds a valid work permit or employment authorization which names a Canadian employer situated in Ontario and your prospective occupation and is valid for at least six months
• you are a foreign clergy member who will be providing services to a religious congregation in Ontario for at least six months
• you hold a Temporary Resident Permit or Minister's Permit with a case type 80 (for adoption only), 86, 87, 88 or 89
• you are the spouse, same sex partner, or dependent child (under 19 years of age) of a foreign clergy member or eligible foreign worker who is to be employed in Ontario for a period of at least three consecutive years
• you hold a work permit or employment authorization under the Live-In Caregivers in Canada Program or the Foreign Domestic Movement
• you have been issued a work permit or employment authorization under the Caribbean Commonwealth and Mexican Season Agricultural Workers Program administered by the federal department of Citizenship and Immigration
• and you make your permanent and principal home in Ontario
• and you are in Ontario for at least 153 days of the first 183 days immediately following the date you establish residency in Ontario (you cannot be absent for more than 30 days during the first 6 months of residency)
• and you are in Ontario for at least 153 days in any 12-month period

Read that second bullet again. I got excited. I called OHIP and asked what they needed from me. I was advised I needed a 'medical pass' letter from CIC. I turned around and immediately called CIC to get one. The friendly CIC agent tells me "I cannot issue that as your medical results have not been reviewed." For some reason, I am just not surprised. They have had my medical results since November 2005 and I guess I must be rushing them thinking that by May 2007, they might have reviewed them.

Ok, so no OHIP for me or The Kid. I go to a walk-in clinic, pay $150 cash, wait for about 3.5 hours and finally get in, get my prescription, and leave.

My previous encounter with the wonderful health care system was a few months prior when my husband injured his neck. He is a OHIP benefit recipient. We spent 4 hours at the emergency room basically moving from one waiting area to another waiting area without ever seeing a doctor. My husband informs me this is how the program works. You can go to a family doctor, but they don't have x-ray machines or even labs for the most part, so you end up going to the hospital anyway. Some people must think this is a great system, but I think it is horrendous. It is a case of you get what you pay for. Unfortunately, all of us pay for it in the form of GST. I pay for it every time I venture to Walmart and purchase laundry detergent.

To add insult to injury, OHIP by its own rules only requires that ' you have submitted an Application for Permanent Residence or an Application for Landing and have been confirmed by Citizenship and Immigration Canada as having satisfied the medical requirements for landing.' In reality, OHIP additionally requires that you have received AIP as well. I searched the OHIP site thoroughly and couldn't find that requirement of AIP, but if you call them, that is what they will tell you. AIP + medical pass letter from CIC gets you access.