It's a Christmas Miracle!

First off I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope that you all are able to spend time with your loved ones! I am lucky to have my family, friends, and hubby here for the holidays! YaY!

In my last blog I told you all about my new job and how I wouldn't be able to apply for Criminal Rehabilitation at the border due to not being able to take 3 continuous days off from work. Unfortunately, I got injured at work a couple of weeks ago and have been unable to work since then ( currently waiting to see an orthopedic doctor to decide when I can return to work). Well, since I've been off work and my husband is here visiting, we decided to take a chance and apply for Criminal Rehabilitation at the border. 

The official application for Criminal Rehabilitation can be found here Application for Rehabilitation for Persons Who Are Inadmissible to Canada Because of Past Criminal Activity. You will need to include the document checklist, the application, your FBI and state background checks, original court documents, proof of completion of sentencing, the Canadian Law equivalent to the law you have broken in which ever country the crime occurred, as well as any supporting documents you may have (i.e. letters of recommendation, proof of recent education, proof of volunteering, etc). All of this information can be found in the application link above. We pre-paid for the application processing fee online, but later found out that we would have to pay in person. ONLY SUBMIT PAYMENT ONLINE IF YOU ARE MAILING YOUR APPLICATION.

After receiving some advice from a member of the CanadaVisa.com forum, we decided to go to the Detroit - Windsor Tunnel border crossing to submit our application. This crossing is actually a shorter drive than the Champlain - LaColle crossing I usually go through. We left Virginia on 12/17 and stopped in Cleveland, Ohio to rest up before heading to Detroit the next day. On 12/18 before leaving Cleveland, we made a stop at the house from the movie A Christmas Story ( I highly recommend going if you ever have a chance!). 

Once our tour was over we made the 2.5 hour drive from Cleveland to the Detroit-Windsor Tunnel Crossing. This was the moment of truth. After having checked and double checked the application at the hotel, we were ready to take our leap of faith. When we arrived at the port of entry we told the CBSA officer that we were not seeking entry into Canada at this time, but wanted to speak to a CBSA officer to submit my application for Criminal Rehabilitation. The officer was very nice. He gave us a ticket and showed us where to park to go inside. When we parked another agent took our ticket and showed us where to enter the building. Once inside another CBSA officer was there waiting for us. He took my passport and driver's license along with my application and asked me to have a seat. He went over the application for the next hour. He read all the letters and made sure I had all of the documents needed. He then put everything in order and called me back to the desk. (I didn't include pictures of how I organized my application since the agent will put the documents in order there). He told me that since the DUI from 2008 was my only crime, it was non-violent, and that since I hadn't been in trouble since, he had no problem giving me a recommendation for approval. He told me that from this point he will send my application to his supervisor who will have the final approval. 

He said that since it is the holidays, we will probably receive something in 6-8 weeks. He said that we may receive a phone call if there are any other questions regarding my application. We were advised that our pre-payment online would not apply since we are applying at the port of entry and we would have to make another payment while we were there. We went to a payment window and paid the $200 (CAD) via credit card and were given a refund form for the online payment. The officer then made a copy of our receipt and sent us on our way. All in all it was a very easy process and the officer was very friendly. 

When we left the Canadian port of entry, we turned right around and headed back to the U.S. port of entry. The border patrol officer asked us how long we had been in Canada and we explained to him that we hadn't actually entered the country, we had been at the immigration office to apply for Criminal Rehabilitation. He asked us for proof, but all we had was the receipt from where we paid. Apparently this wasn't enough and he sent us inside to speak to and officer. Once inside we again attempted to explain that we had not entered Canada, but had only been to the immigration office to apply for Criminal Rehabilitation so that we could proceed with our application for Permanent Residency in Canada. We gave him the receipt to show where we had paid, but it offered little to no information. After about an hour of him interviewing my husband, the officer finally said he was "taking our word for it" and allowed us to leave. He said in the future we need to have some kind of documentation showing that we are going through the process for getting either myself status in Canada or for Pierre-Louis getting status in the USA. Apparently, it raises a red flag for the border agents because we do not currently live together in either Canada or the USA ( even though that was the whole point of us making this trip... to get Criminal Rehab. approval to be able to apply to get status). 

Anyway, when we finally left the border we headed south and stopped in Columbus, Ohio for the night. We continued our journey back home the following day. Over the next couple of days we will be working on our application for Permanent Residency! We are hoping to be able to submit it sometime next month! I will keep you guys posted with updates on that whole process as well.

I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

 

Below is an updated list of costs and the current total amount of money spent on the process thus far. 

ITEM                                COST         SENT          DELIVERED     RECEIVED

FBI Background Check -- $18.00 --- 7/17/2015 ---- 7/22/2015 ---- 10/29/2015

VA Police State Check -- $20.00 --- 7/17/2015 ---- 7/20/2015 ------ 8/13/2015

Fingerprints (#1) ---------- $5.00 ---- 7/17/2015

Postage --------------------- $11.50 --- 7/17/2015

Passport Photos (4) -------- $27.36 --- 7/30/2015

Court Documents ---------- $2.00 ---- 7/30/2015

Passport (booklet) --------- $110.00 -- 8/7/2015 ----- 8/9/2015 ----- 9/15/2015

Postage/Money Order ----- $7.00 ----- 8/7/2015

DMV Driving Record ----- $8.00 ----- 8/7/2015

Fingerprints (#2) ----------- $10.00 ---- 8/10/2015 

FBI Background Check --- $18.00 ---- 8/13/2015 --- 8/17/2015 ----- 11/14/2015

Postage ---------------------- $5.75 ----- 8/13/2015

Criminal Rehabilitation --- $200.00 -- 12/18/2015

Application Fee                   (CAD) or $160 USD

Current Total = $402.61 USD

Thanks for reading!I hope you find this and future entries helpful!

Extra! Extra! Read all about it! I've got some news...

A lot has happened since my last update!

1. I finally received BOTH of my FBI background check requests!

 I mailed the first request on July 17th, my credit card was charged on October 20th, and I received my copy in the mail October 29th. I mailed the second (in case of emergency) request August 13th, my credit card was charged on November 7th, and I received my copy on November 14th. So, I'm pretty excited that the wait for that is finally over! I have also received a few more letters of recommendation from family and friends. So my application for Criminal Rehabilitation is basically complete.

2. I started a new job on November 2nd! 

I was super excited about this until I realized that I only get two days off per week and would need a minimum of 3 days to make the trip to the border to apply for Criminal Rehabilitation there. 

I won't be able to request time off from work for a while, so we have decided to submit our application for Permanent Residence and Criminal Rehabilitation together. From what I've read, this may cause the processing time to be a bit longer, but it seems as though this is our only option (unless we want to wait several more months just to attempt to apply for Criminal Rehabilitation at the border). I have mixed emotions about this. I'm happy because we will finally be submitting our applications and getting things rolling. I'm sad because it could potentially cause our process to be drawn out and take longer for us to be together.

3. Christmas is just around the corner! It's my favorite time of year!! This year is even more special because Pierre-Louis is coming to visit!!! In less than 3 weeks (2 weeks and 6 days to be exact) I get to see my sweet husband! We will also be celebrating our 2 year anniversary (not our wedding anniversary, but out relationship anniversary I guess you could say). He will also get a chance to meet more of my family and see some new places! I'm super excited. I haven't seen him in the flesh since March (it will be 9 months, but who's counting).

While he is here, we will be working on our application for Permanent Residence for Canada. I will probably post another blog while we work on it to provide you all with any important information we come across. 

Below is an updated list of costs and the current total amount of money spent on the process thus far. 

ITEM                                COST         SENT          DELIVERED     RECEIVED

FBI Background Check -- $18.00 --- 7/17/2015 ---- 7/22/2015 ---- 10/29/2015

VA Police State Check -- $20.00 --- 7/17/2015 ---- 7/20/2015 ------ 8/13/2015

Fingerprints (#1) ---------- $5.00 ---- 7/17/2015

Postage --------------------- $11.50 --- 7/17/2015

Passport Photos (4) -------- $27.36 --- 7/30/2015

Court Documents ---------- $2.00 ---- 7/30/2015

Passport (booklet) --------- $110.00 -- 8/7/2015 ----- 8/9/2015 ----- 9/15/2015

Postage/Money Order ----- $7.00 ----- 8/7/2015

DMV Driving Record ----- $8.00 ----- 8/7/2015

Fingerprints (#2) ----------- $10.00 ---- 8/10/2015 

FBI Background Check --- $18.00 ---- 8/13/2015 --- 8/17/2015 ----- 11/14/2015

Postage ---------------------- $5.75 ----- 8/13/2015

Current Total = $242.61

Thanks for reading!I hope you find this and future entries helpful!

Just When You Thought You Couldn't Wait Anymore....

So it's been about 2 months since I last updated my blog. The main reason is because, well, there hasn't been much to update you on. 

When I last posted, I had just received a copy of my background check from the Virginia State Police and was waiting to receive my FBI background check. Well surprise, surprise... I'm still waiting. I sent my original request on July 17, 2015. It was received on July 22, 2015. I knew it was going to take a few months to get a response, so I patiently waited. I've mentioned previously that I am a member of the immigration forum CanadaVisa.com. Well there is a thread in the forum for FBI processing times. A few people, who had submitted their requests around the same time I did, recently posted that they were receiving their background checks in the mail this week. I started to get a little worried because my credit card hadn't even been charged yet! I decided to call the FBI processing center today and check my status. Good thing I did because apparently I wrote the wrong expiration date on the credit card form and they were unable to process my request. Fortunately, I was able to fax a new credit card form to them with the correct information. The bad news is that I go to "the bottom of the pile" of applications. I'm hoping that this doesn't mean another 3 months of waiting. While I was on the phone with the representative from the FBI, I asked if they had received my my 2nd background check request and if I had made the same mistake on that form. He told me that they have received it, but it has not been opened yet. He explained that it would likely be another 20 days or so before they start opening mail from mid-August (I mailed it on 8/13/2015). So, today was kind of a bummer. I plan on calling back tomorrow to make sure my fax was received and gets to the correct person.

Now onto some good news!

First things first... I received my passport!! YaY!! I mailed off my request on August 7, 2015 and received my passport on September 15, 2015! I can travel again.. well just not to Canada (haha!)... but I'm working on that! I opted for the passport book this time, instead of the passport card, because it allows me to travel anywhere and by any means of transportation. The passport card only allows you to travel to Mexico and Canada and you cannot travel by air with it. The book is good for 10 years, and hopefully I will be living with my husband in Canada by then :)

Other good news!

The application for Criminal Rehabilitation suggests that I get letters of recommendation from people in public office (city counsel members, mayor, governor, etc). So, I started emailing my local representatives one by one requesting their help! I did this on October 6, 2015, and have already received 2 responses!! Unfortunately, there isn't a lot of information available about what these letters should say, so we are kind of "flying blind" so to speak. I've been corresponding with my local representative from the House of Delegates about myself, my situation, and how he can help. I'm also going to schedule a meeting with a member of city counsel sometime this coming week (I'm a little nervous about this one.. sometimes meeting new people can be intimidating). 

I think that's all the news I have for now. Still playing the waiting game. Kind of feel like my life is on hold until I get all of this taken care of. Even after I apply for Criminal Rehabilitation, I have another "hoop to jump through" when I apply for Permanent Residency. I just hope that my husband and I can catch a break soon. Until then, we will continue waiting!

 

Below is an updated list of costs and the current total amount of money spent on the process thus far. 

ITEM                                COST         SENT          DELIVERED     RECEIVED

FBI Background Check -- $18.00 --- 7/17/2015 ---- 7/22/2015 

VA Police State Check -- $20.00 --- 7/17/2015 ---- 7/20/2015 ------ 8/13/2015

Fingerprints (1) ----------- $5.00 ---- 7/17/2015

Postage --------------------- $11.50 --- 7/17/2015

Passport Photos (4) -------- $27.36 --- 7/30/2015

Court Documents ---------- $2.00 ---- 7/30/2015

Passport (booklet) --------- $110.00 -- 8/7/2015 ----- 8/9/2015 ----- 9/15/2015

Postage/Money Order ----- $7.00 ----- 8/7/2015

DMV Driving Record ----- $8.00 ----- 8/7/2015

Fingerprints (2) ------------- $10.00 ---- 8/10/2015

FBI Background Check --- $18.00 ---- 8/13/2015 --- 8/17/2015

Postage ---------------------- $5.75 ----- 8/13/2015

Current Total = $242.61

Thanks for reading!I hope you find this and future entries helpful!

The Waiting Game

So it's been about 3 weeks since my last entry (I was actually really shocked to see that it had been that long! sorry for the delay!). I've been making some progress on my journey for applying for Criminal Rehabilitation for entry into Canada. Last time I posted I had just mailed my requests for Virginia criminal history and FBI background check. The Virginia criminal history was received on July 20th, payment was processed on July 31st, and I received my copy in the mail on August 13 (so just about 1 month from sending my request to receiving it). As far as the FBI background check goes... it was delivered on July 22nd. I'm still waiting for the payment to be processed and to receive a copy of my request (I've read that this process will take anywhere from 2 to 4 months). Also, I decided to send in a 2nd FBI background check request. My first request only had one fingerprint card and I was worried that one or more of the finger prints may have been unreadable. So, I got two additional fingerprint cards made and mailed off my second FBI background check request on August 13th. I decided to be proactive about this issue to potentially avoid having to wait an additional 2 to 4 months in case the first request gets rejected. Best case scenario I will get both requests back and I can use one for my Criminal Rehabilitation application and one for my application for Permanent Residency!

I've also been busy getting other documents that I need for my application. Here's a list of what I've obtained or requested in the last 3 weeks:

Passport: Since I was married earlier this year and changed my name, I have to get a new passport with my new name. It's a pretty simple process. I had to  get new pictures taken and I killed two birds with one stone by getting two sets when I had them made - 1 for passport application and 1 for Rehabilitation Application. Once I had the pictures and the completed passport application, I mailed the pictures, application, old passport, and a money order for the application fee. I sent the request August 7th and it was received August 9th. Current processing times are 4 to 6 weeks. So, just another item I will be waiting on.

Court Documents: As part of my Criminal Rehabilitation I need to have documents from the court showing things like the date of my DUI and date of conviction, what I was sentenced to, and when I completed my sentence. This was pretty easy to obtain. I simply went to the courthouse and told the court clerk what I needed. She was able to locate the documents for me while I waited. I had to pay $1.00 per page, so ended up paying a whopping $2.00!

DMV Driving History: I decided to get a copy of my driving history to include in my application to show that my driver's license was reinstated and is currently valid. This was probably the easiest thing I've ever done at the DMV! It only took about 5 minutes and cost $8.00. The document shows my driving history for the last 11 years.

Probation and VASAP Documents: I wasn't sure how to go about getting proof that I successfully completed my probation and VASAP class, so I had to do a little digging. I looked all over my house to see if I still had any documentation from where I originally completed everything, but I came up empty handed! So, I called the local probation office and they were able to provide me with documentation showing that I completed everything. Best thing about that, they did it for FREE!! YaY for free stuff!

 

Letter from my Doctor: I thought it would look good if I had a letter from my doctor stating that I no longer drink alcohol or use anti-depressant medication, so I got one! I simply emailed my doctor's office and asked them if it would be possible to get such a letter and they said no problem. I didn't even have to go pick it up! They mailed it to me! More FREE stuff!!

Canadian Criminal Code: Another part of the application includes finding the Canadian criminal code that is equivalent to the code in which I was charged here in Virginia. This was slightly difficult and I'm not even sure I have the right information. I found this website that seems pretty official and legit with a lot of information on Canadian Criminal Code . I searched for information on driving while intoxicated, I opened this information in PDF format (there is a link at the top of the website page that allows you to do so), and I printed off what I needed for my application. I ended up printing off about 22 pages of information because I wasn't exactly sure which codes I needed for the DUI since they had about 10 different ones that could apply. I figured it would be better to have too much information rather than not enough.

So that's what I've been up to. I still need to write my letter of explanation about my DUI charge and explain why I feel I am "rehabilitated". I also need a couple more letters of recommendation from friends, family, teachers, etc. to go with my application. So that's what I will be doing while I wait for my Passport and FBI background check to arrive!

Below is an updated list of costs and the current total amount of money spent on the process thus far.

ITEM                                COST         SENT          DELIVERED     RECEIVED

FBI Background Check -- $18.00 --- 7/17/2015 ---- 7/22/2015 

VA Police State Check -- $20.00 --- 7/17/2015 ---- 7/20/2015 ------ 8/13/2015

Fingerprints (1) ----------- $5.00 ---- 7/17/2015

Postage --------------------- $11.50 --- 7/17/2015

Passport Photos (4) -------- $27.36 --- 7/30/2015

Court Documents ---------- $2.00 ---- 7/30/2015

Passport (booklet) --------- $110.00 -- 8/7/2015 ------ 8/9/2015

Postage/Money Order ----- $7.00 ----- 8/7/2015

DMV Driving Record ----- $8.00 ----- 8/7/2015

Fingerprints (2) ------------- $10.00 ---- 8/10/2015

FBI Background Check --- $18.00 ---- 8/13/2015

Postage ---------------------- $5.75 ----- 8/13/2015

Current Total = $242.61

Thanks for reading!I hope you find this and future entries helpful!

Applying at the border? Who knew?

So a brief update to what's going on with my applications journey:

1. I sent off the requests for FBI criminal history and Virginia criminal history on Friday 7/17. They were both delivered earlier this week ( VA on 7/20 and FBI on 7/22). As of today the payments have not been processed, so I can only assume that they haven't been picked up from their post office boxes yet (let alone processed). ALSO, I am slightly nervous because I've read about people who have sent their FBI request in with only one fingerprint card and their request ends up being denied due to the prints being smudged or unreadable. Others have suggested submitting 3-4 cards with the applications for criminal history to avoid having the request denied because of smudged/ unreadable prints. The logic behind this is that if one card has a bad fingerprint they can possibly get it from one of the other submitted cards. So, now I am considering getting more fingerprint cards made and sending off a new request to the FBI, just in case my original request gets rejected. After all, the current waiting period is 2-4 months to get the FBI request processed. I would really hate to wait all that time just to get a rejection letter, have to submit a new request, and end up waiting another 2- 4  months. So.... yeah still thinking about what to do; take my chances or be proactive?

2. I have submitted a few questions about the Criminal Rehabilitation and Permanent Residency processes on a couple of immigration forums  ( Applying for Permanent Residence and Criminal Rehabilitation - RoadtoCanada  and Criminal Rehabilitation and Permanent Residency Applications - Canadavisa.com ). I've been told a couple of different things by forum members. A)  You can send both applications together. This may or may not increase processing time by months/years. B) You can complete the application for Criminal Rehabilitation and physically take it to a border crossing for processing/ approval. This can take as little as three days for approval. WHAT?! SERIOUSLY?! 3 DAYS?!

Everything I have read up to this point says that it can take months to years to get approval for Criminal Rehabilitation (when it's mailed in). Even if it took 3 months to get approval, I would gladly make the 10 hour drive to the border for that!! So, my husband and I are attempting to find out from Canadian Border Services if this is actually still possible (I say "still possible" because the most recent approval story I read about was from a year ago). 

So that's where we are now. Not much has changed or progressed, but just wanted to give you a little update.

Oh, I almost forgot. I decided to post dates/prices for everything we have done on each post just to give you all an idea of what things may cost for the application process. I will do this each time we complete a new task and all costs will be in USD (America dollar).

ITEM                                COST         DATE           DATE RECEIVED

FBI Background Check -- $18.00 ---- 7/17/2015 ---- 7/22/2015

VA Police State Check -- $20.00 ----  7/17/2015 ---- 7/20/2015

Fingerprints --------------- $5.00 -----   7/17/2015

Postage -------------------- $11.50 ----   7/17/2015

Current total = $54.50

Thanks for reading! I hope that you find this and future entries helpful! 

Together or Separate? That is the question!

First things first....

Since we decided to apply for criminal rehabilitation, I've been doing some research into the process. The application and instructions can be found here:

Application for Rehabilitation for Persons Who Are Inadmissible to Canada Because of Past Criminal Activity

Two forums that I have found helpful tips and information from are:

Road to Canada

CanadaVisa.com

I've been trying to figure out if I need to apply for criminal rehabilitation before I apply for permanent residency or if I can just send both applications together. I'm not sure which process would be quicker. I have read that applying for criminal rehabilitation first may make the process of applying for permanent residency go smoother and quicker. However, I've also read that you can just send both applications in together because they are processed in the same processing center; this may save some time in the beginning of the process. I'm really not sure what to do at this point.

One thing that I do know that I need to do is get my criminal history from the FBI and Virginia state police.  So that's what I did yesterday. I completed the applications for each request (the FBI request can be found here: FBI- Identity History Summary  state request can be made through your state police agency) and then went to the local sheriff's office to get finger printed. This was a very simple process. It cost $5 per card and only took 5 - 10 minutes to complete. After I was finished I mailed the requests at the post office. Now the waiting game begins. In the mean time I am going to start gathering the other documents needed for the criminal rehabilitation application. I'll also try to find out if I should apply for PR and criminal rehabilitation together or separately. Wish me luck!

Thanks for reading! I hope that you find this and future entries helpful! 

When the past catches up with you

Past mistakes make the future difficult

In my first post I spoke about having planned to get married in Quebec in May of this year, but being unable to do so. This was due to a mistake I made several years ago. In August of 2008 I was arrested for DUI.

This was both a blessing and a curse.

 

The blessing.

 I call it a blessing because if I had never been arrested I would probably be in a completely different place in life; maybe even dead. I was very depressed, going down a dark path, and was using alcohol to self-medicate. Getting arrested was a huge wake-up call that things needed to change. Since then I've stopped drinking and stopped hanging out with my enablers. I've pursued a career in the medical field and met my wonderful husband. 

The curse.

This brings us to the curse. When I arrived at the Canadian boarder in March, as I had done several times before, I was asked to park and come inside for further questioning. I assumed this was because I was planning on staying for several months on this visit, so I wasn't very concerned about the request. Once inside, I was questioned about my history and had a background check run. This of course brought my criminal history into question. At the time I was unaware that my DUI from 2008 would prohibit me from entry into the country, especially since I had visited several times before. So after about an hour and a half of interrogation, the boarder patrol agent denied my entry into Canada. I was deemed criminally inadmissible and would not be allowed entry for several years. 

However, there was a small silver lining to this devastating blow. Since more than 5 years had passed since the completion of my sentencing, I would be able to apply for criminal rehabilitation. 

Criminal Rehabilitation?

After being denied entry my husband and I decided to come to Virginia and get married. After a very brief honeymoon he returned to Quebec and I to Virginia. We began the decision of what comes next? After months of deliberation and a few bumps in the road, we decided to pursue getting my permanent residency in Canada. In order to apply for PR (permanent residence) I have to be deemed "criminally rehabilitated".  This basically means that I'm no longer a danger or a risk to society. I've read that this process can take up to a year to a year and a half or longer! YIKES! But if we don't try we will never know, right?

Thanks for reading! I hope that you find this and future entries helpful!

My journey... the beginning

Where to begin? 

I suppose I can tell you a bit about myself and why I've decided to make my way to the Great White North. This is my first time blogging, so please be gentle :)

My name is Cindy Gauthier. I'm a thirty-something southern belle living in a Virginia city where I have lived my entire life. I met my now husband (who is from Quebec) online in the fall of 2013. We connected instantly and three months later I was making my first trip to Canada. I remember making the 10 hour trip and finally reaching the boarder. I was so nervous. This was my first time leaving the country and I had no idea what to expect. After a brief interrogation I was in! I was filled with so much excitement and nervous energy that I was literally shaking! It made the three hour drive to my destination seem like a mere hour. Anyway, this was the first of three trips I made, each one more exciting than the last. Not only was I falling in love with my husband, but I was falling in love with Canada too. 

Our first picture together

Fast-forward to January 2015- We decided to get married! I was so excited! We originally planned to get married in Quebec in May of 2015. I planned on leaving Virginia in March to plan the event. Unfortunately that didn't work out. Some unforeseen events occurred so we ended up getting married March 14, 2015 (which is ultimate Pi day if you didn't know). After a very short 2 weeks together, and an even shorter honeymoon, my husband had to return to Quebec and I to Virginia. 

Our wedding day

This brings us to the present. We are finally starting the process of applying for permanent residency in Canada. I've attempted to research the process as much as possible in an attempt to get guidance from those whom have been through it already. So far I have only come across a couple of message boards. After countless hours of searching the web I decided to create this blog to document my journey. I hope that it may be helpful for others who are going through the same journey in the future. I plan on blogging about each step in the process as we take it, as well as any helpful hints I come across.

Thanks for reading! I hope that you find this and future entries helpful!