Mark (from Canada) and Pearl (from Washington state USA) met online in the fall of 1995. We chatted online and on the phone for almost 2 years before we met face to face. We fell in love at hello *big smile*. He came to visit me for awhile, then I went to Canada to visit for awhile. We became engaged then married July 14, 2001, after going through the immigration process. I am now officially & legally a landed immigrant as of April 27, 2001!
GOING ABOUT "ALWAYS & FOREVER" THE PROPER WAY
Unfortunately when I visited him in 1999, I overstayed the 6 month welcome (allowable visitation period in Canada), so I had to return to the states per an official departure notice. I tried to return to Canada a few months later so Mark & I could marry, but the officials wouldn't let me cross without certain criteria:
proof of ties to the states
proof of funds and/or employment
proof of health insurance
proof I would be returning to the states
(ex: letter from employer, rent contract, etc.)
a round trip ticket to prove I was "only visiting"
The immigration officer that interrogated me at the Sarnia border train station put me in an official car (with bars between back & front seats!). She wouldn't accept any of the proof I did have with me nor did it seem that she believed any of the proof I did have with me! I was literally dumped on the US side in front of the station! THANK GOD, and I mean it, there was a very nice US immigration officer that took me inside, let me use his phone to call Mark, then gave me instructions on how to get to the "hotel drag" in Port Huron.
After this, what I call "Nightmare on Hancock Street", I lived in Kansas with family & filed to immigrate to Canada (PR status Permanent Residence Status) per Mark's approved fiance sponsorship.
One thing I would like to stress to everyone filling out the forms & gathering information for the immigration process... take your time, read the instructions step by step so it doesn't overwhelm you; be as concise & thorough as possible; check, recheck, & check again EVERY spot of the forms (make practice aps & REMEMBER.. don't leave any spot empty, if it doesn't apply to you print "not applicable"), then have someone check & recheck it for you; make copies of the checklist & fax sheet; make sure you have copies of ALL the documents (even make copies to place with your practice ap).
It's a tough wait through the process, especially when you're apart from the one you love, BUT it is SO worth it! *happy happy joy joy smile*
01/21/00 - RECEIVED APPROVAL LETTER!!!� ( 9 weeks)
01/28/00 - Mark received & mailed THE Kit (my forms) (1 week)
03/28/00 - I mailed FBI clearance request to FBI
05/27/00 - I mailed application & documents to Buffalo... WOOHOO!!
06/03/00 - Received FBI clearance (10 wks after sending request)
06/06/00 - Sent FBI clearance to Buffalo
06/19/00 - I received confirmation letter from Buffalo (3 wks after sending clearance)
06/27/00 - Received "initial assessment" letter with medical info
(1 wk after confirmation letter)
07/31/00 - Immigration Medical Physical
08/04/00 - Doctor sent medical info to Ottowa
08/16/00 - Faxed "proof of funds" for me & Mark per Buffalo's request
08/18/00 - Mailed fingerprints & form to Ottowa for Canada background check
09/11/00 - 5 weeks after medical sent
Received sealed brown envelope from Ottowa requesting
additional x-ray & info to rule out active/inactive TB
10/06/00 - NO active/inactive x-ray & medical info sent to Ottowa
11/06/00 - Mark sent ROLF to Mississauga (THANK YOU EVERYONE)
11/06/00 - 4 weeks after last medical info I received ANOTHER SEALED BROWN ENVELOPE
from Ottowa requesting x-ray & results be done AFTER JANUARY 2001!
11/11/00 - Doctor sent recent x-ray + 1995 x-ray, past & present results to Ottowa explaining the condition was not threatening to Canada or Canada health; it's merely an extended diaphragm from a hernia
11/24/00 - Mark received ROLF receipt letter :)
01/08/01 - 7 weeks after LAST medical info sent = received yet another sealed brown envelope, rejected last results & requesting tests be done after January 2001.
02/01/01 - X-ray & recent results completed
02/02/01 - Doctor sent medical info to Ottowa
04/03/01 - MEDICAL CLEARANCE FROM OTTOWA! (8 1/2 wks after info was sent)
04/16/01 - RECEIVED LANDING PAPERS... THE BBE !!!
HALLALUJAH! PRAISE GOD.... 10 1/2 months after filing; 1 year 2 1/2 months after Mark sponsored me.
APRIL 27, 2001 --->> LANDED IN LONDON, ONTARIO CANADA !!!
I AM HOME !!!!!
MARRIED ------------>> JULY 14, 2001