Canadian at last!

My work had been giving me greif about not having my correct papers in orders to work in Canada. Apparently even if I am a visitor in Canada working in Canada its a tax liability. Argh!

So last Tuesday I ended up after a conversation with several HR personnel emailing the Los Angeles and Buffalo Canadian consulate requesting status on my files as my company wanted to figure out a way to make me part time…however none of it would be possible without figuring out the whole immigration thing. They emailed me back in the afternoon indicating they had sent me a letter the previous day that my visa had been approved…When I saw the email my eyes welled up with tears. I was so happy!! I could find work in Canada. I wouldn’t have to worry about health insurance (G had indicated that not only would we have to buy health insurance for me but there were rules that I couldn’t pregnant within 10 months. G thought it would be fine – we could pay out of pocket and I was like – um, what if there are complications?…in any case it had stressed me out)….so now I just felt so relieved. At least now I would just have to wait three months for my socialized health insurance!! Woo hoo!.I could find work and recruiters wouldn’t turn me away for not having my immigration in order – woo hoo! my work would be willing to hire me part time right away- whoo hoo!

Okay so then I got the paperwork from them and started putting it all together. I sent it overnight immediately and it reached their Thursday however they didn’t start looking at until Friday. and then it turned out my passport photos needed more of my shoulders in them. IT was a real fiasco because I went to a professional and the professional was not so professional – thank god I am a particular and forced them to follow the exact specifications – they ended up redoing everything and gave it to me for free because of their mess up. Anywaz I sent in my photos overnight mail but they only reached today 20Jan because it was MLK Monday and everything was shut down. I don’t understand why they didn’t do a drop off Saturday. Whatever. I am hoping I just don’t have to reschedule my flight. We’ll see. I’m just happy I have my papers.

I do have some excitement – reading up on settlement.org, about being a landed immigrant. people go through things unimaginable for their progeny…and their progeny spit in their face but that’s another story for another day.

I am happy.  I am going to be with my husband. I accepted a part time contracting gig with Abbott today. I am going to be legal too. Obama is President today even if Roberts tried to jack him. Michelle Obama had a beautiful dress on by a newbie designer. Good things. There is hope.

Hello, is this thing on?

Change is the one constant in life.  Strange.

So we thought of capturing, of sorts, the changes in our march of life, love and laughter.

DnG.

The Journey to Canada

Being an American you think you can go anywhere, work anywhere, do anything. Its all false. You have to file for immigration.

Turns out filing for your permanent resident card takes a shorter amount of time than if you are in Canada (if in Canada already it takes over a year or two).  The amount of paperwork we need to fill is pretty intense – I don’ t know how our parents did it – they didn’t have english as their first language! I definitely appreciate now what they went through. I had to account everywhere I was and what I was doing for the last ten years. I don’t remember the addresses of all the places I stayed in college…thank god for the internet because I was able to google the apartment name and find the address.

So where are we?

Sent application package to the Mississauga Office: 09 Aug 2008

They received the package: 22 Aug 2008 (don’t ask me why customs is interested in documentation)
We had an issue with the payment – couldn’t be a money order and had to be done online.
Mississauga started processing the application: 28 Aug 2008
Mississauga finished processing the application for sponsorship requirements and sent the application on to the Buffalo Office: 06 Oct 2008
G received a letter saying he passed the sponsorship requirements: 09 Oct 2008

Buffalo started processing the application: 31 Oct 2008
Buffalo sent the application to Los Angeles: 03 Dec 2008

Now just waiting to see if they ask for an interview or it just jumps straight to a request for my passport. Tick Tock. Tick Tock. I keep looking to see on the following website if anyone has heard any word of a request for their passport (this is when you know you are approved to land…)

http://www.trackitt.com/canada-immigration-trackers/family-class/

Not being happy being so far from my husband I will be quitting my job to be with my one and only on Jan 31st and staying in Canada as a visitor. Turns out you can stay there for 180 days out of the year as a visitor if you are a US citizen…