I have included a scan of the letter (with some highlighting and framing of the oh so important part!
Baby Ticker
Monday, April 21, 2008
good news!!!
I got HAPPY MAIL today! I had an envelope from CIC(Citizenship & Immigration Canada) today and figured it was a confirmation of the arrival of my paperwork but it was SO MUCH BETTER!! It was a letter telling me that I have MET the requirements for eligibility as a sponsor and that Ronel's application for Permanent Residence has been forwarded to the Visa Office in Port-au-Prince. The letter is dated April 14th so that means that it was less than a month since the paperwork arrived and 10 days (not just business days!) since they started processing it! Praise the Lord!! Now if the next step can also go so quickly!
I have included a scan of the letter (with some highlighting and framing of the oh so important part!
I have included a scan of the letter (with some highlighting and framing of the oh so important part!
Saturday, April 12, 2008
ticker changes
Okay - so some of you will notice that the ticker at the top has changed. I did this so that I (and all of you) can see how long our file has been in process, and not just since it has been mailed. So the 36 days countdown for my approval process was only started 8 days ago and that means that IF all the paperwork was in order (and it should be!) that I should be approved to sponsor in just 28 more days - that is only 4 weeks!! Then the file will start the LONG process of getting approved at the visa office in Haiti.
waiting game...
Sorry it's been so long since I have posted anything!
Since mailing the paperwork there really hasn't been much going on. It is now just a big waiting game and I haven't heard ANYTHING from CPC-M (Case Processing Centre - Missisauga) and so I am just waiting to hear if I have been approved to sponsor. Once that has been decided, the file will go to the Visa office in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and Ronel's application for permanent residence will be assessed.
Okay - so while I was writing the above part I decided to go look at the CIC website and check out the application processing time. Well, there was a link to check your application process and so I went there and one of the ways you could log in was with your receipt number from the application payment. YEAH - so I logged in and this is what it says
So the process has started and it says that the current processing time is 36 days for applications received up to March 13, 2008.
We have received your application and will review it in order of receipt. We will send you an acknowledgment letter.
Documentation Verified by CIC
We are reviewing your application to make sure it is complete and that no documents are missing. We will return incomplete applications for resubmission.
So, now with a little more info that before I started this post, I am still waiting and trying to listen to what God has to tell, show or teach me during this time. (And also counting down the days till I see Ronel in July!!)
Since mailing the paperwork there really hasn't been much going on. It is now just a big waiting game and I haven't heard ANYTHING from CPC-M (Case Processing Centre - Missisauga) and so I am just waiting to hear if I have been approved to sponsor. Once that has been decided, the file will go to the Visa office in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and Ronel's application for permanent residence will be assessed.
Okay - so while I was writing the above part I decided to go look at the CIC website and check out the application processing time. Well, there was a link to check your application process and so I went there and one of the ways you could log in was with your receipt number from the application payment. YEAH - so I logged in and this is what it says
We received your application to sponsor on March 13, 2008.
We started processing your application on April 4, 2008.
So the process has started and it says that the current processing time is 36 days for applications received up to March 13, 2008.
I looked at the link they provided about what this all means and my file is IN PROCESS - the following is the explanation given - to me this means that there are two steps in the "in process"
Application Received by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)We have received your application and will review it in order of receipt. We will send you an acknowledgment letter.
Documentation Verified by CIC
We are reviewing your application to make sure it is complete and that no documents are missing. We will return incomplete applications for resubmission.
Friday, March 28, 2008
snow.....
that's right - we got snow?!?! It was hailing on Wednesday when I went to work but it turned to rain, then apparently yesterday we got some snow and then today it snowed for most of the morning, it wasn't sticking to the roads but was sticking to the grass & buildings. I can't believe that we are getting snow at the end of March!! I hope that the sun & warmth come out soon and that they stay around!!
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Guess what!
I met Mike McCardell from Global TV! and was on Global News last night! We were on our fieldtrip yesterday and were flying kites outside the Planetarium and he & his cameraman came up and asked if they could video the kids. I had to call and check with the "boss" and she said yes, so he talked to the kids and got some footage of them flying their kites.
And we made the evening news! You can go HERE to see our time in the spotlight! The kids were so excited to see themselves on TV - we even watched it this morning at work as one of the staff had taped it last night!
And we made the evening news! You can go HERE to see our time in the spotlight! The kids were so excited to see themselves on TV - we even watched it this morning at work as one of the staff had taped it last night!
Thursday, March 13, 2008
hello....
Anybody out there??
I can tell by my site meter that you are there but I'm beginning to wonder if it is all in my imagination!
I would love to have you leave a comment - let me know that you are alive and well and that I haven't bored you to death or scared you away with my lack of regular postings!
Have a great day!
I can tell by my site meter that you are there but I'm beginning to wonder if it is all in my imagination!
I would love to have you leave a comment - let me know that you are alive and well and that I haven't bored you to death or scared you away with my lack of regular postings!
Have a great day!
Monday, March 10, 2008
done, done and done...
As of 12:30pm this afternoon, Ronel's immigration paperwork is on it's way to Mississauga, Ontario to the Case Processing Centre. It should arrive by Thursday. So, this now means that the countdown is ON. This starts the process that will bring Ronel here, to me.
Dropping the paperwork at the post office was quite the emotional event. This has been such a HUGE process and we have hit many stumbling blocks and I have had many personal struggles with the whole thing as well. Struggles that I apparently hid very well, even from those who I can't normally hide anything. Last week at minichurch was the big breakthrough. The sermon the week before had been about how nothing is impossible for God and that God is not a liar so if He says it is possible, then IT IS POSSIBLE. Well, at minichurch we discussed that some people have fears that seem impossible to them and how we really needed to come together and pray for each other. While they were talking about this, I was crying. A few weeks ago, a girlfriend asked me how the paperwork was going and I said it wasn't done yet and she said "Don't you want Ronel here?" It was a HUGE wake-up call for me, I did (and do) want him here, more than I can express in words, but I was also terrified about sending off the paperwork and taking it out of my control. As of today, I have NO CONTROL whatsoever over the paperwork and the result. I can't make them say yes and I also have no control over how fast or slow it is. Now, I do know - in my head - that God has COMPLETE CONTROL over all of it, but that doesn't always make it to my heart. On my good days, I am happy that God is in control of the paperwork and that it is now all out of my hands, but on the not so good days, that terrifies me. This is really the only thing I have been able to have control over and now it is out of my control.
Friday was a hard day, there were a couple of times where I thought I had - once again- missed things and that it would delay things but each time it was only a misunderstanding and everything was fine. I had all the paperwork I needed, all our communications and photos were added and there is NO reason why anyone should deny our claim for Ronel to be allowed entry to Canada. When I was finally done everything, I called my friends (and also minichurch leaders) to share the good news and then went over to hang out with them & celebrate (after 10 hours of working only on my paperwork I needed out of the house!) It was a great feeling to know that I had overcome my fear and finished the paperwork!
Sunday in between services a few of my friends & I gathered to pray over the paperwork (and also Ronel & I) and then today I sent it off. Even now, part of me wants to cry and part of me wants to get up and dance with joy! This is such a big step in the whole process and it has taken SO long to get here. Tomorrow marks 16 months that we have been married and 15 months & 1 week that we have been apart. The big prayer on Sunday (and still) is that the paperwork would be done before Ronel's medical expires on Nov, 5th 2008. And even more, that it would be done in time that I could make changes to my ticket for July and Ronel could come home with me then. That thought makes me shake - with joy and anticipation. I leave for Haiti in 135 days and it could be possible that Ronel could be home in that period of time. It would require a God sized miracle but it is possible. Current timelines for CIC is 35 days for the approval of my sponsorship application and then 7-18 months for the approval of Ronel's permanent resident application which take place at the visa office in Port-au-Prince. 10% of files are approved in 7 months in Port-au-Prince. We're asking God to have them done in less than 5 months!
Please keep this in your prayers! I'll keep you updated on the progess
Dropping the paperwork at the post office was quite the emotional event. This has been such a HUGE process and we have hit many stumbling blocks and I have had many personal struggles with the whole thing as well. Struggles that I apparently hid very well, even from those who I can't normally hide anything. Last week at minichurch was the big breakthrough. The sermon the week before had been about how nothing is impossible for God and that God is not a liar so if He says it is possible, then IT IS POSSIBLE. Well, at minichurch we discussed that some people have fears that seem impossible to them and how we really needed to come together and pray for each other. While they were talking about this, I was crying. A few weeks ago, a girlfriend asked me how the paperwork was going and I said it wasn't done yet and she said "Don't you want Ronel here?" It was a HUGE wake-up call for me, I did (and do) want him here, more than I can express in words, but I was also terrified about sending off the paperwork and taking it out of my control. As of today, I have NO CONTROL whatsoever over the paperwork and the result. I can't make them say yes and I also have no control over how fast or slow it is. Now, I do know - in my head - that God has COMPLETE CONTROL over all of it, but that doesn't always make it to my heart. On my good days, I am happy that God is in control of the paperwork and that it is now all out of my hands, but on the not so good days, that terrifies me. This is really the only thing I have been able to have control over and now it is out of my control.
Friday was a hard day, there were a couple of times where I thought I had - once again- missed things and that it would delay things but each time it was only a misunderstanding and everything was fine. I had all the paperwork I needed, all our communications and photos were added and there is NO reason why anyone should deny our claim for Ronel to be allowed entry to Canada. When I was finally done everything, I called my friends (and also minichurch leaders) to share the good news and then went over to hang out with them & celebrate (after 10 hours of working only on my paperwork I needed out of the house!) It was a great feeling to know that I had overcome my fear and finished the paperwork!
Sunday in between services a few of my friends & I gathered to pray over the paperwork (and also Ronel & I) and then today I sent it off. Even now, part of me wants to cry and part of me wants to get up and dance with joy! This is such a big step in the whole process and it has taken SO long to get here. Tomorrow marks 16 months that we have been married and 15 months & 1 week that we have been apart. The big prayer on Sunday (and still) is that the paperwork would be done before Ronel's medical expires on Nov, 5th 2008. And even more, that it would be done in time that I could make changes to my ticket for July and Ronel could come home with me then. That thought makes me shake - with joy and anticipation. I leave for Haiti in 135 days and it could be possible that Ronel could be home in that period of time. It would require a God sized miracle but it is possible. Current timelines for CIC is 35 days for the approval of my sponsorship application and then 7-18 months for the approval of Ronel's permanent resident application which take place at the visa office in Port-au-Prince. 10% of files are approved in 7 months in Port-au-Prince. We're asking God to have them done in less than 5 months!
Please keep this in your prayers! I'll keep you updated on the progess
Friday, March 07, 2008
drumroll please......
The immigration paperwork is
DONE
DONE
There is a LONG story that goes with this all but for now I will say that I took the day off and all I did ALL day long (10 hours) was work on completing all the needed paperwork!
It is such a great feeling to have this all done and now the hard part comes - waiting for the government to approve our application or not! The current wait on the approval of my sponsorship application is 35 days, once that is done, Ronel's application for Permanent Residence gets sent to the Visa office in Port-au-Prince where the decision is made. The current wait there is anywhere from 7-18 months! Please be praying that it is decided quickly! Ronel's medical exam expires Nov 5th, 2008 and if we aren't approved by then, he will have to redo it and that will delay the whole process!
Ok, off to shower and then am taking the paperwork over to get prayed over by some good friends of mine!
I'll try and be a good girl and post more of the back story soon!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
in only...
5 months from today I get to see Ronel's face.
Just thinking about it makes me smile!!
I have lots to catch you guys up on but life has been busy so I will have to post that later. I just had to come let you know how soon I get to see Ronel!!
M'ap vini mari'm!!
Just thinking about it makes me smile!!
I have lots to catch you guys up on but life has been busy so I will have to post that later. I just had to come let you know how soon I get to see Ronel!!
M'ap vini mari'm!!
Saturday, February 16, 2008
a new toy!
I received a MP3 player today - I was talking to my youngest sister, Leslie, and asked her what this thing in her room was and she said, "oh that's a MP3 player I got at (work's) Christmas party. Do you want it?" I said "Sure, I've thought about them but didn't really know it I would use it" She has an Ipod so she didn't really have a use for it.
Well, I LOVE it! I set it up and put all the songs I had on my computer on it (only 55 songs) and I've been listening to it all night while I've been stamping. I can't wait to add more songs!
I think it will come in really handy on my trip to Haiti! It is A LOT smaller than my CD player and I won't have to lug all my CD's with me! I can have all my favourite songs and all on one little player! I also enjoy that I can walk around with it and it isn't in my way or cumbersome. It has a neck strap and it is so handy to have it just hanging there! (I've always kind of laughed at people who wear their mp3 players around their neck! To all of you - I apologize and I've joined you!)
Well, I LOVE it! I set it up and put all the songs I had on my computer on it (only 55 songs) and I've been listening to it all night while I've been stamping. I can't wait to add more songs!
I think it will come in really handy on my trip to Haiti! It is A LOT smaller than my CD player and I won't have to lug all my CD's with me! I can have all my favourite songs and all on one little player! I also enjoy that I can walk around with it and it isn't in my way or cumbersome. It has a neck strap and it is so handy to have it just hanging there! (I've always kind of laughed at people who wear their mp3 players around their neck! To all of you - I apologize and I've joined you!)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)