Good Evening Everyone... I have finally returned with a landing story!
I know, I know it has taken me far too long to get to write this and I have likely put this story together in my head about a million times but I am finalyl here to write it done. WOW I truly can't believe this immigration thing is completely behind us.
So, my husband landed at Pearson on Friday October 11, exactly 10 months after submitting our application to the VO in Mississauga. From day 1, we knew this journey would be long and take a lot of strength and we are so thankful we have finished with this. For anyone that is starting this process, my advise would be to think you are in it for the long haul and when it happens sooner, you will be pleasantly surprised. It was only a year ago that I took my husband to Pearson and he went back to Trinidad on a 1 year exclusion order.
Anyways, my husband's flight left Trinidad at 235PM Friday and was due to land at 840PM. I arrived at the airport at exactly 840 and saw his flight landed at 828. I was so excited and had butterflies in my stomach, just like that first time I met him and fell in love. I pretty much paced around for 45 minutes and then I let my mind wander to "what if he doesn't come out" and "how long do I wait before I become concerned". I was feeling cautious because this whole process seemed much too smooth.
I just kept waiting and any black man that came out the door, I jumped up thinking it was husband. I think there were flights coming in from Antigua and Guyana around the same time. FINALLY after an hour and 10 minutes of waiting, I see my husband come through the door. He was all dressed up and I just stood there staring from afar. He was looking around for me but couldn't see me and I eventually got over the shock and moved to him. He spotted me and pretty much ran over a person trying to get to me (the person was blocking the path). Tears rushed to my eyes when I felt him hug me (tears are coming to my eyes now thinking about it) and the thought of this is the first day to the rest of our lives together. We hugged and kissed for the longest time and just looked at each other. Being reunited with him is something I will never forgot. Our daughter had made a welcome home card for daddy and I brought him a gift and cupcake with a Canadian flag on it. He was thankful for that. We had dinner out in Toronto and drove 2 and a half hours back to where we live. Amazingly I wasn't even a tiny bit tired.
So now that I have told you all the sappy stuff I will tell you about his actual experience landing. He said it was pretty flawless. I was likely more nervous about it than him. He did his declaration and told the person he was sponsored by his wife and was landing for the first time. They pointed him to another booth (he said it was different and has changed since he came up on the farm workers program) and he did his landing with a man. The man had him sign his name in 3 places, discussed his previous experience in Canada and confirmed his mailing address for his PR card. My husband said it was fairly busy and the wait was a little long because planes were arriving from China and Philipines as well. The officer said "Welcome to Canada" and he was free to go. He handed him back his passport and a copy of his COPR. He wasn't given any package (some friends said he would) and he wasn't advised anything about SIN, OHIP, etc. I think perhaps this wasn't mentioned because he has already been in Canada. All in all, this was a very easy process. I thought they would ask him questions about the sponsorhisp but really nothing. They did ask about him bringing dependents and had him sign saying he didn't have dependents (only his daughter in Canada already).
The last few days have been a huge adjustment for us, even though he has been in Canada before and we lived together for years. I think he had feelings of sadness and just trying to find his place amongst everything. I wonder if I kinda pushed him into coming too quickly before he got to wrap everything up in Trinidad. I just can't imagine being in his place and leaving my family. I briefly looked over at the JA forum today and someone was speaking about the difficultly in saying goodbye and the transition. Regardless, he is happy to be here. Our daughter recognizes him and calls him daddy but typically looks to me at times when she needs comfort and this is hard for him when he can't comfort her. It takes time for sure. He applied and was given his new SIN today, opened a bank account, applied for OHIP and is looking into options for school and work.
It is really amazing how quickly the thoughts of immigration leave your mind and we keep saying this really wasn't that bad (10 months is very fortunate and blessed in my mind, especially when I figured it would be a year or more). We are glad we applied outland vs. inland and everything worked out very smoothly for us. We are fortunate to have gotten through so quickly. I am not going to take up anymore time I think this is fairly lengthy already. If I have forgotten to mention anything, ask away. I will still be coming around... I couldn't have done this without the supports of this group. THANK YOU EVERYONE! :-*
MILLSLU... your time is coming. Passport will be there soon. Your landing story will be next.
FAD: Congrats again on the PPR.
MissD/ Dadzin: Your interviews are coming up... I look at the calendar and my mind drifts to the 24th. Keeping you both in my prayers for a successful interview.
CdnandTrini: Only about 2 weeks until you will be with hubby and your journey is soon coming to an end!
doc.lady: Travel plans yet?
LouisFam: PPR is coming! Hold on you are almost there!
And all the JAM FAM... I don't know why you guys aren't hearing good news but when it rains it pours so expect many PPR all at once. You guys and girls are a wonderful group of people and amazingly positive all the time.
Thanks again for all the support... stay positive. Everyday is one day closer to the end and you just never know when the end will be be. Goodnight!
I am actually taking a suitcase within a suitcase as he has never had the need to have a big suitcase before. And the price of luggage these days? 
