In 1998, I came to Canada and could
legally stay for 6 months as a visitor. At the end of that time, I could be deported.
After those 6 months, had I left, even for a family emergency, I would not be
allowed to return until I received my approval paperwork. I know what it feels
like to wonder if I could stay with my new husband and step-children or fear if
I’d be deported. It’s not a comfortable feeling. But it was my reason to file
quickly on the very unpopular, “spouse in Canada” application. As part of this
application, I had to write an essay of why I did not follow the rules and
apply in my home country. Catch 22! Word it right and I would be accepted. Word
it wrong and I would be considered incapable of following instructions and thus
an undesirable and possibly deported.
In hindsight this is a good method;
it helps a person increase desire to fit into their new society; or makes them
want to leave. It’s similar to the last trimester of a first pregnancy that is
uncomfortable, can be fearful and yet increases the desire to deliver the
child. I think handing out legal immigration
status without a time for personal thought, struggle and doing the paperwork is
a disservice to the immigrant, and thus to the country.
I filled out 2 cm of paperwork for
immigration. My ex-husband said they asked everything except how many squares
of toilet paper I used in the bathroom. I had to prove my kids were of legal
age and I was not abandoning them. I had to prove I was legally divorced. I had
to prove I was self-supporting and would not be a drain on the Canadian
economy. I had to prove I was not a criminal but was in good standing not only
from the US, but each state where I had resided and the US military since I’d
served. I was fingerprinted several times. I paid for a full physical. Twice I
took the expensive flight from Labrador City to St. John's (about $1k each way)
for interviews and to prove I could carry on a conversation in one of Canada’s
national languages.
I am proud of myself for completing
my paperwork in a way it met all the criteria required and not having to resubmit
it. I’m glad I received my landed immigration status in 4 months during a time
most people I knew were taking 18 months to 2 years to get their work permit and
legal immigration status. After paperwork approval, I was entitled to
socialized medicine, job searching and working, some rights, a SIN (social
insurance number), paying taxes and this also eliminated the fear of
deportation as long as I didn’t commit any criminal acts.
After a specific amount of days in country
(It seems like 3-1/2 years at that time), I was eligible to apply for citizenship.
I flew to St. John’s to take my citizenship test, covering social studies. At that test, I met the group of people who
would be taking this step with me. A short social time while our tests were
being graded gave us a chance to meet; it gave those with elementary English or
French a chance to practice conversation in Canada. Finally, I met the
criteria and was ready to be accepted/honored with my new Canadian citizen status.
Several hours later, there was a mandatory social event where my group of new
citizens sang "O Canada" in French and English. We were new Canadians, but smiling citizens. The
Lieutenant Governor of Newfoundland and Labrador (the appointed representative
of Queen Elizabeth) shook our hands and handed us our citizenship papers. In a
receiving line we were given little Canadian flags and bookmarks and had
individual photos taken with an RCMP in her red uniform. This followed
by a finger foods and punch for us and our guests. It was such a big day my
sister and brother-in-law flew to St. John’s from Florida.
I applied before 9/11 so I presume
there is even more paperwork now. Including
flights, it cost about $7,000 to achieve my immigration my dual citizenship.
Had we not been able to afford that, we could have applied for grants to reduce
the amount. Current price for spouse to immigrate is $1050 ($840 US) and citizenship
is $750 ($600 US).
Being a legal v illegal (or
documented v undocumented) immigrant is similar to leasing or owning your home.
When I rented, I was evicted because the
owner decided to sell the apartment building. Now I own my home and can stay
here as long as I pay my mortgage and taxes.
Because I spent so much time and
money proving I would be a good match and not a drain on Canada, I find it
offensive when I’m lumped with people who chose to break laws by entering the
country illegally and refusing to do the paperwork. If money is the issue, they
can apply to get grants to assist or fully pay immigration fees. If an
immigrant can't read the French or English paperwork, they will get
interpreters to help. I know that is true in Wichita as my ex was trying to
apply for US immigration at Wichita and their only English speaking employee
was off that week. His schoolboy French was not adequate to work with the French
speaking employee.
I wish somebody would explain why in
this age of political correctness, that legal immigrant v illegal immigrant or
documented immigrant v undocumented immigrant are lumped together. I know the
knee-jerk reaction for that statement is often having people claim I’m a
racist. Huh? I've dated interracially and inter faith, so I have no prejudices.
So don't pull the bigot card trying to shut me down and not listen.
I'm not denigrating illegal aliens,
I'm just pointing out there is a difference that should be stated in how people
are classified. Anybody who went through the bureaucracy of becoming a legal
immigrant should be shown the dignity and respect of being called a "legal
immigrant" or “documented Immigrant” for following the country's
guidelines and jumping through the hoops.
If I'd call a person from India an
Afro-American, that would be wrong. There may be skin tone similarities, but
it's not accurate and is politically incorrect and offensive. Immigrants
have the similarity of being born with another citizenship, but that’s where
the similarities end. There is a difference of being in a new country legally
or illegally. It's politically incorrect and rude to lump them together. I
think most legal immigrants are offended when lumped together with illegals; but they are too
fearful to say anything because by being lumped with illegal immigrants, they
now fear the governmental powers might decide the two are the same and even
after doing the work and paying the money that they could be deported anyway.
I hope people wise up and speak of these two
segments with proper terminology.
