No news so far - but we are trying to make our plans for the New Year! Both having crazy schedules and working looooong hours - means that we barely get time to make calls and research plans! But we are trying our best - and hope to have some plans and updates soon.
Keep checking back! :)
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Friday, November 11, 2005
What do you know about Canada?
Test yourself on your knowledge of Canada....
How much do you know about our future home?
http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/symbols_facts&lists/quiz.html
How much do you know about our future home?
http://www.craigmarlatt.com/canada/symbols_facts&lists/quiz.html
Links to Exploring Vancouver
Here are a couple of links where you can explore Vancouver, Canada in detail. Using the first link, I suggest clicking on Vancouver photos on the right hand side, then clicking on "photo tour of Vancouver." There you can go through a slide show of the many parts of Vancouver. There is also music playing and poetry being read aloud, so you may want to turn your volume down.
1. http://www.see-vancouver.com/
This second link has a great interactive map of Vancouver. If you click on the icons on the map, you will get a virtual tour of that part of the city.
2. http://www.vec.ca/English/4/vancouver_360_tours.CFM
1. http://www.see-vancouver.com/
This second link has a great interactive map of Vancouver. If you click on the icons on the map, you will get a virtual tour of that part of the city.
2. http://www.vec.ca/English/4/vancouver_360_tours.CFM
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Why Not Live in the U.S.?
We thought we would try to explain the main reasons we are no longer aiming to live in the U.S. since, most people do ask us. We will try to put this in as simple terms as possible.
First of all, it has been five years since we first started seeing each other, and during that time, we have both really tried to find a way for Tanya to come to the U.S. There are almost 42 different types of work visas for the U.S. Most work visas to come to U.S. are dependent on work experience and/or the degree and qualifications an applicant has. If you happen to have specialized training in a field such as computers or engineering, for instance, you can qualify without too much trouble, for a visa designed just for your fields. If you marry a U.S. citizen, or have direct relatives that are U.S. citizens, again there is a specific visa program for you, and then even more likely , residency options and possibly even an opportunity to change your citizenship. However, if your work experience is in a field that there are a multitude of already qualified individuals for in the U.S., or your degree is too general, then there is a much more complicated process ahead of you.
Many times, and this is true in Tanya's case, you must prove that your degree is specific to a particular job's requirements, and/or find an employer that says they are unable to find the right qualifications amongst U.S. applicants. Then you must go through an application process, with sponsorship of your application from your prospective employer. If you can not prove that your degree (yes, there is a process to do that) is specific to a particular job, or that there are no qualified applicants within the U.S. with the help of the U.S. employer, then you can not apply for the type of visa that would enable you to work for 2 years in the U.S.There is always the route of having a very wealthy sponsor, who can help you with your application process, but it would still only be for two years.
So let's say that you found a sponsor, either an employer or wealthy individual, who is willing to help you apply for your visa. The application process can take 2 weeks to a few months. Supposing you werew successful with your application, once you have completed a two year stay in the states, your sponsor must apply for a renewal of your visa. The renewal is again, for two more years. At the end of those two years, assuming that your employer is still happy with you, or your individual sponsor is still feeling very generous, you can then apply for yet another renewal. This time, it would be for three years. Now let's say that you were able to do all of that, and were actually approved to stay for a seven year term. Now with the help of your sponsor, you can apply for permanent residency in the United States. That process an take longer than a year.
I know someone who has done all of these things and has already waited over a year to find out if she will gain residency. Knowing that her employer has already laid off many of her co-workers, she is hoping that she can stay long enough to get approved. One of the hardest things about this whole process, is not only that you may not get approved at any of the renewal points, but also that you pretty much have to stay with the same employer that whole time. Now we all know, that there are many jobs out there that you wouldn't want to keep if you were very unhappy with them.
So..... in other words; we decided that we want to start a life in a place where we know we can stay. A place with much more certainty. A place with no limitations on what we do career wise, as well as a place that will grant us the rights of marriage. For all of these reasons, and more, we have chosen to immigrate to Canada, and not to focus on the U.S. any longer.
First of all, it has been five years since we first started seeing each other, and during that time, we have both really tried to find a way for Tanya to come to the U.S. There are almost 42 different types of work visas for the U.S. Most work visas to come to U.S. are dependent on work experience and/or the degree and qualifications an applicant has. If you happen to have specialized training in a field such as computers or engineering, for instance, you can qualify without too much trouble, for a visa designed just for your fields. If you marry a U.S. citizen, or have direct relatives that are U.S. citizens, again there is a specific visa program for you, and then even more likely , residency options and possibly even an opportunity to change your citizenship. However, if your work experience is in a field that there are a multitude of already qualified individuals for in the U.S., or your degree is too general, then there is a much more complicated process ahead of you.
Many times, and this is true in Tanya's case, you must prove that your degree is specific to a particular job's requirements, and/or find an employer that says they are unable to find the right qualifications amongst U.S. applicants. Then you must go through an application process, with sponsorship of your application from your prospective employer. If you can not prove that your degree (yes, there is a process to do that) is specific to a particular job, or that there are no qualified applicants within the U.S. with the help of the U.S. employer, then you can not apply for the type of visa that would enable you to work for 2 years in the U.S.There is always the route of having a very wealthy sponsor, who can help you with your application process, but it would still only be for two years.
So let's say that you found a sponsor, either an employer or wealthy individual, who is willing to help you apply for your visa. The application process can take 2 weeks to a few months. Supposing you werew successful with your application, once you have completed a two year stay in the states, your sponsor must apply for a renewal of your visa. The renewal is again, for two more years. At the end of those two years, assuming that your employer is still happy with you, or your individual sponsor is still feeling very generous, you can then apply for yet another renewal. This time, it would be for three years. Now let's say that you were able to do all of that, and were actually approved to stay for a seven year term. Now with the help of your sponsor, you can apply for permanent residency in the United States. That process an take longer than a year.
I know someone who has done all of these things and has already waited over a year to find out if she will gain residency. Knowing that her employer has already laid off many of her co-workers, she is hoping that she can stay long enough to get approved. One of the hardest things about this whole process, is not only that you may not get approved at any of the renewal points, but also that you pretty much have to stay with the same employer that whole time. Now we all know, that there are many jobs out there that you wouldn't want to keep if you were very unhappy with them.
So..... in other words; we decided that we want to start a life in a place where we know we can stay. A place with much more certainty. A place with no limitations on what we do career wise, as well as a place that will grant us the rights of marriage. For all of these reasons, and more, we have chosen to immigrate to Canada, and not to focus on the U.S. any longer.
Saturday, November 05, 2005
We realise it has been a long time since we posted anything on here - but things are moving slowly!!
If you are reading this - it means that you received our announcements - and you have come to investigate! Soon you will find a FAQ section, and all kinds of other fun and exciting things - so keep checking back! We will try harder to update it more often!
Take care
If you are reading this - it means that you received our announcements - and you have come to investigate! Soon you will find a FAQ section, and all kinds of other fun and exciting things - so keep checking back! We will try harder to update it more often!
Take care
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