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.