I found out today my wife will be home for Christmas so I thought I would share the news.

Let me give you a little background.

My wife is a Cuban national. We were married two and a half years ago when I was in the Cayman Islands.
I returned to Canada in 2002 and brought my wife with me.

According to Cuban law, all expatriated Cubans have to return to the country within one year to maintain residency.
We have a house and some property in Cuba which is, of course, in my wife's name. In order to maintain that property, my wife had to return to Cuba in September of this year.

She does not have permanent residency in Canada yet so we thought we would just apply for a tourist visa when she was ready to return.
We were wrong. Her visa was refused on the basis that she would not be a tourist because she is awaiting approval on a permanent residency application.

Essentially what the Canadian government was telling me was that I would be seperated from my wife for 18 months pending approval. Obviously this was unacceptable to me.

So now, after 4 months of wrangling and a personal petition to the Minister of Immigration for Canada, Denis Codere, we have received a special ministers visa that will allow her to return until her permanent residency is approved.
I expect her home on the 16th.

Merry Christmas.

Great news. Glad to hear that you'll be together for Christmas.

That's wonderful news! I wish you both a very Merry Christmas! :)

good job, dont take sh!t like that from the government, you tell them whos boss :D :stickout:

Great news, blue. You both must be thrilled.

So let's see. Dec 16. So I expect to hear the pitter patter of a little blue27's feet come Sept 16/04? :D

God, don't give him a WHT username. WHT will have to get another server to handle the excess posts... :eek:

2 blues??? :eek: :eek:

Seriously, congrats, Michael. This will no doubt be one Christmas you will remember...

Vito

Originally posted by JYC
good job, dont take sh!t like that from the government, you tell them whos boss :D :stickout:

Strangely enough, that's exactly what happened in this case.
I will say that the system worked exactly as it was meant to. There was an injustice and, even though it meant dealing with 3 layers of elected officials, the end result was just.

I really looking forward to her return. It's been a long and difficult 4 months.

Originally posted by vito
Great news, blue. You both must be thrilled.

So let's see. Dec 16. So I expect to hear the pitter patter of a little blue27's feet come Sept 16/04? :D


Thanks Vito. You can dismiss those thoughts of pitter and patter though. We have many things planned and none of them include tiny little mouths to feed. All those wild oats have been sown and reaped already.

When you have your first child are you going to name him/her blue28? :D

Originally posted by RHShawn
When you have your first child are you going to name him/her blue28? :D

I think blue27 Jr. would be better.:stickout:

You know, blue, on a side note, you should probably sue the City Of Toronto. They're ripping your moniker.

http://www.globeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20031113.walink1113/BNPrint/National/

And for what? A lousy rail system?

I say take 'em for all they've got... :smash:

Vito

Name him WiseBlue27 :) , That way when starting school, he gets all the attention :D

Michael, it is indeed the best present one could get! Mr. Codere was kind enough to help you and its all good news. You'll spend Christmas with your wife. What were your plans before though - spending it with friends or alone?

Just take it easy when you see her... :) Once again, congrats.

Originally posted by Artashes
Michael, it is indeed the best present one could get! Mr. Codere was kind enough to help you and its all good news. You'll spend Christmas with your wife. What were your plans before though - spending it with friends or alone?

Just take it easy when you see her... :) Once again, congrats.

It was indeed very nice of Mr. Codere, and he is now on my official Christmas card list.

As for my Christmas plans, I was going to spend 3 weeks in Cuba over the Christmas holidays to be with my wife. Now I can use that ticket in the opposite direction.

I remember girls in Cuba... ouch-hot. La Rumba night club in Varadero is absolutely the hottest club I've ever been to in my entire life!

How did YOU meat her by the way? You told us you were in Cayman Islands, but what the setting? How did you approach her? That is very interesting.

Best,

We got married while I was in the Cayman Islands. I used to travel to Cuba monthly for several years. My wife was a bartender at Marina Hemmingway in the Miramar district of Havana. I met her there one year when I was staying at the Hotel Acuario. I was there for the Hemmingway International Marlin Fishing Tournament.

I know La Rumba well. Cuban night clubs are amazing.

Congratulations, Michael! :beer: :love:

Good News! Warmest wishes to you both!
Glenn

blue, you have such an amazingly international life experience. I envy you, having travelled and worked in so many parts of the world. I'm waiting for the blue27lifeexperiences.com so that I can live vicariously through your experiences. :D

Vito

I'm sorry for being so detail oriented, but I was just wondering. While being in Cuba, I was not once informed that Cuban laws are extremely tough on Cuban women. Even a harmless kiss on the cheek could result in prostitution charges. First of all, I don't know if that is true at all. But if it is, I'm glad you guys are together without any problems.

As for Cuba, we gotta meet up there sometime. Maybe in late summer 2004 or depending on when you go there next time? I might go there either with my sis or some friends next year.

Best,

The laws tend to fluctuate, or at least the enforcement of the laws does.
It was a very long time before my wife would go anywhere near Havana with me for fear of being hassled by the police, even after we were married.
There is certainly a double standard. My wife has been unable to get a job since she returned to Cuba because she is married to a foreign national.

Wow... what a story. All the secret police in those hotels/resorts. It was so noticable. I felt like I was watched over by intelligence officers 24/7.

All the secrecy in Cuba makes me feel sorry for the people. Its not exactly a pleasure to live under such regime.

I hope she and everyone else would never have to feel like that ever again.

That's fantastic news! :D

Great news blue! It will make christmas even more special!

It's nice to hear that the authorities have a heart sometimes :)

You two have a great Christmas together :)

Great news Blue – Enjoy every moment ye are together :D :D

Very good news you have out there.

Like what SB-Host has said :

Warmest wishes to you both!
:banana: