RV prep, Locations, and some thoughts

Well, after spending most of the weekend emptying, dusting, scrubbing, wiping, and sweeping the RV (or recovering from it, LOL), I can finally say it's almost ready for sale. I still need to do a couple of things, but it's looking very nice inside. There is no access to a water hose or anything there in the storage facility so I'll have to hire someone to wash down the outside. Here's hoping it will fetch a fair price!

Some good news: one manager of the RV storage facility called this afternoon and said he'd found the info for a guy who regularly does RV detailing there, and better yet, he might even make us an offer on it while he's at it. If he's willing to offer a reasonable amount, I can't think of anything more perfect than that!

We're still talking about where we're going to go. For one thing, it's very important to us to live in a gay-friendly area, something we unfortunately always have to consider.

By the way, is it annoying to have such restrictions on where one can live without having people feel it's their business to butt into your life and hassle you about something that's none of their *#@! beeswax, without living in fear that one day they're going to drag you from the back of their truck to the boonies somewhere and then beat you to death? You betcha it is! As I posted in one forum:

...if two people are happy in a gay/lesbian relationship and minding their own business, what gives you or anyone else the right to butt into their lives and start lecturing? You may call it "evangelism," but a lot of other straight people would call it HARASSMENT.

Catholicism condemns divorce, but you don't see Catholics picketing provincial courts and tracking down divorcees to lecture them that they're going to hell.

You don't see Muslims stopping female neighbours to lecture them that it's sinful for them to be going outside with no scarf over their hair.

You don't see Jews stopping people in supermarkets to lecture them that it's an abomination for them to eat non-Kosher foods.

Then why do you think it's okay to harass gays and lesbians in this way?

I don't get why people seem to think it's okay to run around judging other people and telling them how to live. But until they get a clue (or a life), we'd rather live someplace where tolerance is the rule and not the exception.

Anyway, Minneapolis has been looking the most promising as a geographical midway stop in terms of being very gay friendly and having a high quality of life in many ways. It looks like it's clean, has lots of jobs, highly educated people, low crime, lots of walking/bicycling trails, plenty of museums and things to do, etc. People from/visiting there seem to have great things to say about it. By the way one of my favo(U)rite places to check on U.S. cities is CityData.com . It would be even better if they'd also do Canadian cities, and I suggested this, but what can you do?

We've been talking, however, about the fact that it would likely be better and cheaper to just go directly through to Ontario and do an "inside Canada" PR application. Otherwise we'd have to pack up everything in boxes, move, get driver's licenses, license plates, and car insurance for the new state, then turn around and do it all again to go to Canada. As lovely as Minneapolis sounds, I still think it would be my second choice. Which is good to keep in mind, because one of the things I've heard that immigration asks you is what your plans are if your PR application was to be turned down. They want to know that you've discussed the possibility and planned for it. Minneapolis sounds like a truly great place, and a Plan B that we could be quite happy with.

To Do - first draft

This is a rough sketch of things to do. First, things that need to be done regardless of where we move to. Then mixed tasks including things that depend on circumstances, highlighted in blue. Completed items will be marked in red italics rather than deleted, so as not to remove potentially helpful information.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Finish cleaning extra stuff out of the apartment

Sell the RV (it's in an RV storage facility) - I'd like to get it on the market within a week of today

1. Finish emptying out RV including bedding
   
2. Clean counters, tub, sinks, floor
3. Ask management - where is hitch lock?
4. Hire someone for RV detailing - who does management contract with?
5. Take photos of inside and outside for posting in ads
6. Double-check Blue Book value
   
7. List RV online and in print publications - post pics where possible

If RV sale goes well, we'll put more weight into considering going directly to Ontario

File for Dad's Travel Document - Application for a Travel Document (Permanent Resident Abroad) (IMM 5524)

1. Finish polishing arguments for H&C
   
2. Gather documents to back up H&C arguments - Record of Landing (IMM 1000), driver's license and/or passport, mail sent to this address, etc.)
   
3. Gather Dad's information and fill out the application together
   
4. Get 1 passport-size photo, write name and date of birth on back
   
5. Get Money Order, Cashier's Cheque or Bank Draft - $45 USD or $50 CDN payable to the "Canadian Consulate General"
   
6. Mail application - contact info is:
   

   Consulate General of Canada
   550 South Hope Street, 9th Floor
   Los Angeles, CA 90071-2627

   Tel: (213) 346-2700, Fax: (213) 346-2767
   e-mail: lngls-td@international.gc.ca

   Territory: California, Arizona, Hawaii, New Mexico, Nevada

If the RV sale goes well *and* Dad gets a Travel Document, I imagine we'll go directly to Ontario

Take detailed inventory of all items; this will be needed for the Personal Effects Accounting Document (B4) form, needed by the Canadian Border Services Agency (link here) when you cross the border. There should be 2 lists; 1 for items you've brought with you and one for "items to follow" that will be brought or shipped later. Anything not on these lists will get TAXED so be thorough. Returning residents (such as my father and I) get a $10,000 tax exemption, presumably to assist with importing your car tax-free.

Pack up less-frequently-used items

Label all boxes clearly; better yet, number them as well and keep detailed item inventory on a separate list corresponding with the B4 document - i.e. "Box A, 12 books."

Check with the Registrar of Imported Vehicles at www.riv.ca to see if our cars are acceptable for import (Canadian auto requirements differ from those in the U.S.) - as of this writing, there is a document here - RESULT: yes our cars are ok, but always double check with RIV (see step below)

Call RIV at (888) 848-8240 (toll-free in Canada and U.S.), to confirm acceptability of our cars

Check on requirements for auto insurance in new location

Check on health insurance arrangements in new location (in Ontario, this would be just until we were covered by the Canadian healthcare system)

Look for work

Look for a new place to live in our chosen location

File "inside Canada" or "outside Canada" PR application for wife (breakdown of steps for this will be posted in the future)

Spouse - Outside vs. Inside Canada

As I mentioned earlier, there are two ways to apply for PR for your spouse/partner. One is from "outside Canada," and one is from "inside Canada," when your spouse/partner has already come to live with you in Canada. There is a different set of forms and requirements for each of these methods. This is a description of some differences I found on http://www.borderconnections.com/faq.html#in-out-canada

Q: What is the difference between In Canada and Outside Canada applications?

There are two different (but very similar) procedures when it comes to submitting a spouse/common-law partner sponsorship Family class application - In Canada and Outside Canada applications. In Canada application is often submitted by applicants who are already in Canada. Outside Canada application is submitted by applicants who are outside of Canada.

In Canada application does not have a right of appeal to IAD (Immigration Appeal Division) if your application gets denied. In other words, you need to reapply. Outside Canada application has a right of appeal to IAD and has an option to present your case before reapplying.

In Canada application allows an applicant to stay in Canada by filing for an extension. Outside Canada application does not have this option and an applicant may not be able to stay in Canada if he/she does not obtain a permanent resident visa before his/her temporary status expires.

It is important to analyze your case and submit the most advantageous application.

Retaining Dad's PR status, and getting PR for wife

We've been thinking about the fact that if we sell the RV, then between that and the money we have in the bank we may have enough to just move directly to Canada. However, my father hasn't met the residency requirements to retain his Permanent Residency status (you have to have been present in Canada for at least 2 of the last 5 years). So the only way for my father to make the move with us would be if he applies to the visa office for a Travel Document to re-enter Canada, they decide to retain his PR status despite not meeting the residency requirements, based on Humanitarian & Compassionate (H&C) grounds, and send him a Travel Document. Otherwise, we'd have to make a new application for PR status just as if he'd never been to Canada.

Under the Family Class, processing time for new PR applications differs for each type of family member. Spouses, common-law partners, and conjugal partners get priority (read CIC's website for details). Applications for parents take a lot longer.... looks like at least 2 years and could well be a good deal longer.

He is living with us now to be close to me (I'm his only child) and reduce cost of living. Our arguments for H&C considerations would be along the lines that (1) he stayed abroad because his only child and his only grandchild were here, (2) we are both leaving the area for areas in/near Ontario so of course he no longer feels the need to stay in the U.S., (3) if denied we would either have to cancel plans to immigrate or he would have to move out and pay separate rent somewhere for 2+ years while waiting for a new PR application to process, (4) as a result, we would suffer unnecessary and disproportionate emotional and financial hardships if he was to lose his PR status.

I have no idea how that will go and while other things within the immigration process seem pretty clear-cut, H&C is gray area and there are few guidelines as to what information or documentation you can/should provide to help your case. Guess all we can do is give it our best shot.

Another thing worth noting is that unlike most other immigration-related applications, there are no processing times posted on the Canadian websites for Travel Documents, never mind for a case like this where H&C factors would be involved. It took some digging to even find out how long these documents are good for. It looks like it's up to the officer reviewing the case, but that they are almost always less than 6 months and usually between 1-3 months. So if he does get it he's got to haul bootie over there or else probably lose his PR status for good.

Regarding my better half, a quick basic explanation of spouse, common-law partner and conjugal partner is in order. A spouse is defined as being someone whom you have legally married in your current country, where the marriage would also be legal under Canadian law. A common-law partner is someone whom you have committed to and lived with for at least 1 year. A conjugal partner is someone whom you have committed to, but don't live with due to immigration residency restrictions or legitimate fear of getting attacked or harshly persecuted (i.e. your partner lives in a different country, or a same-sex couple in, say, Iran).

Under these restrictions, even though in spirit and commitment she is my wife of many years, and regardless of whether we got legally married in Canada or not, we still can't file as spouses because of the fact that our same-sex marriage wouldn't be legal here in the U.S. Therefore, we have to use the common-law partner category. By the way, it's important to note that none of these categories have restrictions on whether you are a same-sex or opposite-sex couple.

There are two ways to apply for PR for your spouse/partner. One is from "outside Canada," and one is from "inside Canada," when your spouse/partner has already come to live with you in Canada. There is a different set of forms and requirements for each of these methods.

It is with these things in mind that I will begin formulating To-Do lists and such to help organize my thoughts and hopefully provide a rough guideline to others who are (thinking of) doing something similar.

Background

I'm a dual citizen, having been born in Canada to a U.S. father and a Canadian mother and all the proper residency requirements having been met. As a citizen I have the right to live and work in Canada, but since my wife and father are U.S. citizens, there is some paperwork and such to do for them to be able to do the same. They need Permanent Residency status. My father had PR status back when I was a kid, but it's debatable whether he can retain that. That's a story for another day. There are several ways to get PR status, called classes. As a Canadian citizen I can sponsor my wife under the Family Class, which involves "sponsoring" her for 3 years. Sponsorship means agreeing to ensure that her living needs are met so she doesn't need to apply for social assistance (welfare). In other words, they want to ensure you're not creating a burden on the system by bringing people to Canada and then just expecting the government to support them.

The best place to start for more information on Canadian immigration is the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website at http://www.cic.gc.ca . It's pretty well organized and they also have all the forms you'd ever need, in downloadable Adobe Acrobat (.pdf) format. Saves them from mailing them and you from waiting for them. :)

It's worth mentioning that we are pretty desperate to move, regardless of the destination. We stay here for free because my mother owns the property and I'm managing it on her behalf (also another story for another day, and one reason why we've stayed as long as we have), but this area is infested with gangs and it's positively nervewracking to live here. After more than 2 years of watching the gangs move into our neighborhood, and putting up with more and more of the helicopter/car chases, gunfire, crime, graffiti, habitual trespassing on this property doing who knows what, and other problems they bring, we're ready to leave this place by hook or by crook - yesterday if possible. What a cesspool! Why anyone sane (who isn't rich enough to insulate oneself by living in the well-to-do areas) would ever choose to live here voluntarily is beyond me.

That said, we've been rather undecided whether to make the move directly to Canada and apply for PR after we're there, or temporarily move someplace else in the U.S. and apply for PR while continuing to save money for the "big move." I suppose we will probably do the latter, but if we do, then where? We'd like to cut costs to save money faster. We have an RV but it's not equipped for cold, so we can either live in the RV someplace temperate (we don't mind it, and it's cheaper than renting an apartment) or sell it and live someplace with a lower cost of living. Ultimately, for our Canadian destination, we'd like to end up somewhere in Ontario between Toronto and Ottawa. Some considerations for the meantime, so far:

• local suburbs - "known evil," may be quickest way out, not great but at least significantly better than here
• Oregon coast - wonderfully peaceful and beautiful, but is also tsunami hazard zone, and finding work could be a real challenge
• Minneapolis - very nice place in many regards, jobs seem plentiful, much closer to Ontario, but we'd have to rent an apartment because the RV wouldn't withstand the winters
• Colorado somewhere - beautiful area, don't know much else so still doing research, RV wouldn't withstand the winters

Introduction

Hi there,

I am a Canadian-born Canadian citizen, currently living in the U.S., and this is my ex-expat page.

I was raised in the U.S. and have lived here for the majority of my life. For many reasons, I've decided that I want to move back home.

My wife and I have traveled across most of Canada and I can't stress enough that it is fantastically, unequivocally beautiful. We completely fell in love with Canada and feel it is our home. There is wide geographical and climactic variety. There is a deep commitment to preserving wild places, and carefully planning urban areas accordingly, that is just not seen here in the U.S. Gorgeous unspoiled forests, mountains, rivers and lakes abound, within a few minutes' drive of even the largest cities.

With (for some reason) the exception of downtown Vancouver, we found people all over Canada to be exceptionally friendly, helpful, and polite. I can't stress enough what a refreshing change this is from the "I got mine, so screw you" mentality so frequently seen here in the States. Most places here in southern California, if you encounter someone on the sidewalk and say "Good morning," you're most likely to get a suspicious look or no answer at all.

No major city is entirely free of crime and/or grime, but it's widely known (statistically as well as empirically) that Canada's cities are generally *much* cleaner and safer than U.S. cities. From what we've seen, this definitely continues to be the case. Mind you, I'm not big on living in major cities and would rather live in the suburbs or maybe even the boonies. But if I had to do it, say, in order to get work, I can't think of any U.S. city I would consider nearly as liveable and hospitable in so many ways. And I've lived in 3 states, visited several others, traveled across the U.S. by train, and done a load of research on crime rates and other statistics in various cities.

Canadian government seems more dedicated to upholding civil rights, separation of church and state, and ensuring that the poor have more resources to pull themselves up. People don't worry about getting sick or injured and then losing their entire life savings and maybe even their home, due to not having health insurance or because an insurance company uses the to stick it to them in the end. People don't have to choose between food and the overpriced medicine they desperately need (this situation is not an exaggeration; I personally have been in this situation). They don't suffer it out for months or even years without treatment for medical problems, simply because they can't afford to pay for it. An HMO health insurance company, if you can get health insurance, will do just enough to keep you alive and nothing more... and sometimes, not even that.

We realize no place is perfect, but Canada has a better quality of life in many ways, and we believe this is a much better fit for us than anywhere we have seen in the U.S. or elsewhere.

These are a few reasons why we are preparing to immigrate to Canada. This blog will be dedicated to documenting the experience, making the preparations, dealing with Canadian immigration (I am a citizen but my family is not), and other such topics in the hope that maybe it can be of help to someone thinking of doing the same thing.

Happy travels!