Canada Bashers, You DO Have Other Options...

[backcountry]

Computergeek recently posted in the LA thread an interesting tidbit. He shared that from from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012, according to the Open Data Project, CIC processed 41,458 spousal cases, 34,378 of which were Outland. Think about that. 41,458 spousal cases alone in one year, and that doesn't even touch on the tens, if not hundreds of thousands of other applicants in various other immigration categories.

While we'd all like to think we should be fast tracked or approved more quickly, that we're "special" somehow, there's this little thing called reality, and the reality is that a lot of folk want to come to Canada because it's an awesome country! That's why those of us who've applied to sponsor our spouses have done so, we could've immigrated to our spouse's countries, but prudence told us we'd be better off here.

I've said it elsewhere and will say it again, I wish like anything that my wife's PR application was approved, would that we'd have heard by now and everything was settled. I'm as impatient as the next guy. But unless you've hit some serious snag in the system, as Computergeek and a handful of others have, we should all just suck it up and put on our big boy and big girl pants. Some very legitimate complaints have been made, there's no doubt that some things could be assessed and changed in order to streamline the process, you'll get no argument from me on that, but some of the vitriol I've read here of late is absurd in the extreme.

 

[truesmile]

Plus one! (+1)

Just like another poster's husband told her before their long haul (of 14 months) . . . "Suck it up, Buttercup.!"

 

[fayzaan]

Computergeek recently posted in the LA thread an interesting tidbit. He shared that from from July 1, 2011 to June 30, 2012, according to the Open Data Project, CIC processed 41,458 spousal cases, 34,378 of which were Outland. Think about that. 41,458 spousal cases alone in one year, and that doesn't even touch on the tens, if not hundreds of thousands of other applicants in various other immigration categories.

While we'd all like to think we should be fast tracked or approved more quickly, that we're "special" somehow, there's this little thing called reality, and the reality is that a lot of folk want to come to Canada because it's an awesome country! That's why those of us who've applied to sponsor our spouses have done so, we could've immigrated to our spouse's countries, but prudence told us we'd be better off here.

I've said it elsewhere and will say it again, I wish like anything that my wife's PR application was approved, would that we'd have heard by now and everything was settled. I'm as impatient as the next guy. But unless you've hit some serious snag in the system, as Computergeek and a handful of others have, we should all just suck it up and put on our big boy and big girl pants. Some very legitimate complaints have been made, there's no doubt that some things could be assessed and changed in order to streamline the process, you'll get no argument from me on that, but some of the vitriol I've read here of late is absurd in the extreme.

I respect Canada, and I have lived here since I was a kid! but I don't like having this long wait. There are many other countries where the wait for Canadian Sponsorship is not as long, and I believe Canada should employ more and work harder to improve the wait times for Pakistan. Our spouses should be able to come to Canada and have the process continue from here if we become eligible as sponsor's.

If Canada's concern is about whether the sponsor is going to uphold their responsibility for the applicant, then they should be looking at the sponsor's history and how they have been in the past. Any criminal record? or bankruptcy? or not paying taxes etc? because that will show you a great deal of things.

If our spouses can come live with us, then it will show a great deal of information regarding the genuineness of the relationship. Its not right for us to be apart from our husband/wife for such a long duration. And my family (my father, brother and sisters) waited 8 years to become citizens here. So please don't ask me about patience. We've been patient, and I don't think I should have to wait another 8 years for my wife to become a Canadian citizen.

Ultimately this country should be more concerned with getting more people here than to be stopping them. More population means more buyers, more workers, more money, lesser cost for products because we will purchase larger quantities. That is the main reason why you see the difference in price between Canada and the U.S. its not because the U.S. dollar is better, its because we have such a tiny population that it causes cost per unit of product to go up (whether it be a car or a computer part).

And yes other options are available...but I don't think its in Canada's interest to tell everyone to go elsewhere. If that is the case, then tell your government to just say so. But you and I know its not in Canada's best interest. If it was, they'd just cut off all immigration. It's not hard to do that.

 

[tsjunx]

I totally agree backcountry, this is not a RIGHT, like many have said it is a privilege to be able to bring our spouse to this wonderful country, it really really bothers me when people start complaining about the waiting times etc... guess what? It is the way it is because of all the fraud committed by guess who? People in your country! I'm by no means pointing a finger at any country in specific but it happens in every single one!

I'm sure you've heard of the rent a guest scheme that CIC found out about, what do you expect to happen to waiting times when now they have to make sure that your guests and parents are real??

Yeah it sucks for real times but unfortunately that's reality, it's a decision we made.

 

[bagelbagel81]

Plus one! (+1)

Just like another poster's husband told her before their long haul (of 14 months) . . . "Suck it up, Buttercup.!"

Love it!
In the big scheme of things it's a speed hump on the highway of life.

 

[Fencesitter]

And I'd add that it's not always so slow. We were finished in 2 months with a possible processing time of 17 months out of the Hong Kong VO. Moreover, the HK VO has been extremely professional (always replied to my e-mails within a very short period of time - one reply was less than 24 hours!).

The waiting sucks, no doubt...but it's something you have to be prepared for...

I love my country, even if there are problems with our system...

FS

 

[canadiangirl78]

Bravo, OP! People have a hard time looking outside of their little world to see the BIG PICTURE.

 

[rachiy]

Agree!!

I know I am in a different situation than many that are doing the complaining, but the negativity and posts that say "F you Canada" or something similar are ignorant and need to stop. It is beyond a joke. I take offence at the statements that have been made that CIC is racist because some VO's are quicker than others and that some countries are visa exempt. This is not racism!!!! It is down to basic economics. If there are thousands of applicants for one particular VO then that VO is going to have more resources allocated to it and will develop efficiencies which mean that applications are processed faster. If there is little demand for CIC services in another VO then that one will have fewer resources allocated and those human resources will be processing all types of applications and will not be able to focus solely on spousal sponsorship.
The Visa exempt countries all have reciprocal agreements and allow Canadian citizens the same courtesy for whatever reason the governments have agreed to. This has nothing to do with racism. I am from a visa exempt country yet I had to jump through hoops to get a visitor visa to many other countries that I have travelled to. Not once did I think that I was being discriminated against or on the receiving end of racism.

And who is to say that family class PR should have priority at the expense of other classes such as Canadian experience or Federal skilled worker? In many of those cases the applicant has been living and working in Canada for years - paying taxes and contributing to society. Why should they be bumped down the line?

I am sympathetic to everyone who is separated from their families especially when it is for many months, but bitching about it on here is not doing them any favors.

 

[parker24]

Let me put it this way.

I don't think anyone is really BASHING Canada. I think it's more towards CIC. And I can understand how people are pissed off with CIC. I am. I could post my views about CIC down to the last censored word I know, but I also know that would come back to bite me in the butt, plus there's no point in verbalizing/typing it all out. So I'll just say this. I'm not fond of CIC, I'm not impressed with CIC, I'm a Canadian citizen and I hate the government and what it's doing to my amazing country. The time-line for countries that we are so called ALLIES with, is insane, ridiculous, whatever you want to call it.

And. I agree that it's a privilege. I don't doubt that. But it has become a "right" for some people (generalized) to be able to skip over here and get everything handed to them. THAT. I do not agree with.

Long story short, Kenney, please look into CIC a little closer.

 

[canadiangirl78]

Well I have had no problems with CIC at all. It is easy to criticize from the outside when you know about 3% of what is really going on.

 

[parker24]

Well I have had no problems with CIC at all. It is easy to criticize from the outside when you know about 3% of what is really going on.

True. But I hate waiting. And it annoys me that they make people from UK, USA, Australia etc (Places where English is fluently spoken and where we are allies with) are having to wait months/years. It's pointless. It's annoying.

I agree I don't know what's going on, and I know it all depends on the load of applications going through. I just think it would be more efficient if, maybe they had more offices or more employees instead of laying them all off.

Just my two cents.

 

[Fencesitter]

True. But I hate waiting. And it annoys me that they make people from UK, USA, Australia etc (Places where English is fluently spoken and where we are allies with) are having to wait months/years. It's pointless. It's annoying.

I agree I don't know what's going on, and I know it all depends on the load of applications going through. I just think it would be more efficient if, maybe they had more offices or more employees instead of laying them all off.

Just my two cents.

When you mention allies, you are talking about governments. Perhaps some of the people feel that way (certainly not all), but your point is mainly to do with agreements between governments. With that in mind, it is still CICs responsibility to ensure that each applicant has met the requirements (security, background, health, genuine relationship, and so on). How is being from an English speaking country relevant?

I totally agree that the waiting time is ridiculous, but not because of the reasons you mention (English and allies).

FS

 

[Tipha]

Im not a patient person myself and waiting for something that you really need and want, sucks, thats true. But it is what we have to do, we decided to be in a distant relationship, we decided to go through this process.....then you just have to deal with it the best you can even if theres flaws at the moment with the system, but no one even thinks how hard it is to make everyone happy and develope a good system that works out, its always hard when theres dishonest people and the honest have to suffer for it. But also its hard to see (and some dont care to see) the whole picture, how it is for someone going through this, cause they dont go through this themselfs. For all those reasons and more the system is what it is. Either you already know it before you apply, then you dont even start it or get to know it while being in it, then you either suck it up as some already said or give it up. But i also believe theres usually a solution to everything, this is just one way to be with the person you want to be, if it doesnt work out you need to find a back up plan, for some thats harder to do then for others, i know, but still before you start this, think everything through and then dont complain afterwards when you didnt really think of all consequences and came up with some kind of plan incase its not working out. Also the children issue, i choose to wait till we are together before having kids, i think thats the best option if its possible, if theres already kids before going into this, then think this through well and make a back up plan. For people that just get kids while in process, cause they think it speeds up things or cause they cant wait, doesnt show a lot of responsibility, sorry.

True. But I hate waiting. And it annoys me that they make people from UK, USA, Australia etc (Places where English is fluently spoken and where we are allies with) are having to wait months/years. It's pointless. It's annoying.

I think its bad if you immigrate to any country without speaking the language, i wouldnt even do that, i would hate not being able to communicate, its also in my own interest, but as long someone can speak the language pretty well, its no problem and it shouldnt matter from which country they come from and theres no point in that reason that countries with fluent english should in any kind of way be prefered. It only matters that the person that wants to immigrate is preparing proberly for it and at least is able to communicate in a way that helps to get arround in the new country and at a job.

Basically we all should know what we get into when we start this or by lastest will hear of the flaws in the system while being in it, its frustrating, yes, but it is what it is and have to make the best out of it. We can discuss the problems and point at them but complaining (especially in bad laguage) about something we decided to do with all that comes with it, doesnt help, even if i understand the complains and did it myself between. But we make our own choises that leads the way we go in life and theres always bumbs on the road and sadly this is one of them, a big one, but it was a choise to go that road in the end.

 

[scos]

I had a pretty good rant written about this but decided to limit what I had to say. Basically it comes down to this. If you think marrying who you want is "a priveledge, not a right" then you should read the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The government has no right to tell me who I can marry. The limiting of entry is really an issue of security and public safety.

Most people are bashing CIC, and rightly so. They are a government "service". We are taxpayers and as such pay for these services. We are customers and yet we are often made to feel like we have no rights and have to do as we are told and accept terrible service because it is a priviledge! The whole process is designed poorly. How can you expect people to provide proper information when half the time CIC doesn't adequately tell you what that information should be?

So Canada bashing? No. I love my country. I was born here, raised here, and I want my wife to come here and raise my family here. But that doesn't mean I want to get screwed by CIC and have to say that I enjoyed the priviledge!

 

[Tipha]

I had a pretty good rant written about this but decided to limit what I had to say. Basically it comes down to this. If you think marrying who you want is "a priveledge, not a right" then you should read the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. The government has no right to tell me who I can marry. The limiting of entry is really an issue of security and public safety.

Most people are bashing CIC, and rightly so. They are a government "service". We are taxpayers and as such pay for these services. We are customers and yet we are often made to feel like we have no rights and have to do as we are told and accept terrible service because it is a priviledge! The whole process is designed poorly. How can you expect people to provide proper information when half the time CIC doesn't adequately tell you what that information should be?

So Canada bashing? No. I love my country. I was born here, raised here, and I want my wife to come here and raise my family here. But that doesn't mean I want to get screwed by CIC and have to say that I enjoyed the priviledge!

Youre not really wrong, but i dont think that anyone means to say its "a priveledge, not a right" to marry who you want. Of course its everyones choise and right, but the point is, you know the system has problems! But as i said before, its hard to develope a system that works perfectly, i dont want to be up there and make this system, everyone has good ideas to improve it and wish they could do something, but still it isnt that easy to do. I agree there are things between happening were CIC oversteps the limit and as backcountry already said "Some very legitimate complaints have been made, there's no doubt that some things could be assessed and changed in order to streamline the process, you'll get no argument from me on that, but some of the vitriol I've read here of late is absurd in the extreme.". But still you always need to ask yourself questions like "what do we do when it takes longer than expected?", "what do we do if we get denied?" etc. even if you havent researched all about it or know all about it, you have to discuss questions like that with your spouse before applying. You need to think it through and ask yourself what to do when the worst case happens. I did all that with my husband, we had limited posibilitys, him coming to my country to live could have been an option, but we had things that spoke very much against it (not cause of the country), we knew when we get denied for any reason, its going to be very very hard to find a better way, still we tried and said we are going to deal with whatever comes up. If a person is treated bad in any way by CIC against their rights, its awefull and shouldnt happen! And those matters need to be complained about and set right but all other things like waiting times or what you need to do to meet the conditions/rules, are things you have to go with even if they need improvement and are frustrating at times, the system isnt perfect, its still your choise if you want to do this or not.