Tinkerblue

It Costs More to Divorce than to Marry!

Did you know it costs a whole lot more to get divorced than it ever cost to get married in the first place?

I'm talking the court costs only that everyone has to pay. Not the option expenses like the wedding or splitting of assets or child support. Just the actual filing and registration costs.

To get married, at least in BC all you have to do is apply for a marriage licence.  That costs $100.00.

To get divorced you have to prepare a whole lot of paper work:

• Filing the first set of divorce papers $200.00
• Registration of Divorce $10.00
• Swearing of Affidavit $40.00
• Final Application $80.00
• Certificate of Divorce $40.00

The minimum cost to get divorced $370.00.

We filed our first set of paperwork back on March 12th, 2013.  

 

We just filed four more forms this week.  The requisition, the certificate of pleadings, the affidavit and the final order. Why so long? Because we didn't realise they hadn't been filed!   They have now.

 

 

The Courts are running about 6 months behind so we have that long to wait to see if our divorce is finalised or if it's rejected because we missed checking one measly box on a form. Keep your fingers crossed.

 

Travelling with Two Passports - The Joys of Dual Citizenship

I'm in the process of getting all my paperwork work ready for my next ship.

 

Can you see how faded the cover of my Aussie passport is? The Coat of Arms has completely worn off!

 I am Australian born and raised.  I am an Australian Citizen by birth.  In 2009 I became a Canadian Citizen. So now I have dual Citizenship.  I have two passports.  An Australian passport and a Canadian passport. I am however not a resident of Australia, I am technically deemed a foreign resident.  I am a Canadian resident.  In every day life it doesn't really matter which Citizenship I hold.  

For travelling and working on cruise ships it does matter.

For the longest time I was a Australian Citizen with Canadian Permanent Residency. I didn't really see the need to become a Canadian Citizen. As a resident I could do everything but vote, run for public office or join the Defence Forces.  Given that I didn't want to run for office or join the Navy, Army or Airforce I was okay with being a resident not a citizen.  

But back when Dave and I were still married and flying to the US lots in our plane it was an issue.  I had an Aussie passport with a US visa but I couldn't enter the US in a private plane or private boat only on a commercial flight, a cruise or at the land borders. We wanted to fly to the States a lot.  The San Juan Islands, the Oregon Coast, Everett, Seattle etc.  So I became a Canadian Citizen.

As a dual citizen the requirements for travel are that I am required to leave and enter  Canada with my Canadian passport.  I am required to enter and leave Australia using my Australian passport.  When I travel from Vancouver to Hobart to visit my family I use both passports.  I leave Canada and arrive into the US with my Canadian passport.

I can't leave the US for Australia on my Canadian passport because it doesn't have the correct visas to enter Australia.  I can't get the correct visas in my Canadian passport because Australian Citizens cannot be be issued Australian visas.  Doesn't matter if they are travelling on a passport issued by another country. 

So when I leave the US and then arrive into Australia I use my Australian passport.  Because I am leaving the US with my Aussie passport it has to have a US tourist visa in it. 

 

 

Working  on the cruise ships I use my Canadian passport.  I leave Canada to enter the US on my Canadian passport.  As a Canadian Citizen who is transiting the US for other countries on the ship I don't require a US visa. 

So I spend a fortune on passports and visas.  I have a Canadian passport valid for 5 years.  An Australian passport valid for 10 years. A US visa in my Australian passport also valid for 10 years.  

 

The Consulate cut the cover, that shows the passport is expired.

 I will be joining my next ship in Seattle in the US.  We will cruise in Alaska and Hawaii.  I will do that with my Canadian passport.  But then the ship will reposition to the Pacific and home port in Sydney, Australia. I have to enter and leave Australia on my Australian passport.  My Australian passport just expired this year.  I just applied to renew it.  

 

 

Holy crap is it ever expensive.  I had to have three sets of passport photos taken. Not because I needed three sets but because the Australian Consulate in Vancouver is really picky:

• The first set was 1mm too small or too large. I don't remember, just that it was 1mm out (the pair on the top right).
• The second set my face was too shiny (the pair on the bottom left).
• The third set was good (the pair on the top right).
• The single photo was for my medical, I was allowed to smile for that one.

 

 

At $15.00 per set, I'm already at $45.00. The renewal fee is $250.00.  Plus for the privilege of renewing it outside Australian I get to pay an overseas processing fee of $100.00. That's just under $400.00 for my passport!!!!!!

And guess what the US visa in my old expired passport is still valid.  It doesn't expire until 2018.  It gets noted that my US visa is VIOPP.  (visa in other passport). When it does need renewing it's another $160.00.  Crap.  So I need to take all three passports with me.  

 

Good thing my Canadian passport doesn't expire for another three years.  A 10 year passport will only be $160.00 plus photos. Anyway it will be less than $200.00.  Half the cost of my Aussie passport.

But on a high note...I had my "interview" and submitted my application to the Australian Consulate on Monday August 10th. They said with 8-10 business days for processing, I would have it back by the 21st at the latest.  They phoned on Thursday August 13th that it was ready for pick up.  4 days! Awesome.

Gotta say I prefer my new passport.  Inside the pages are a pretty blue with gum leaves, Aussie animals and scenes from Aussie life.  The old one was brown pages with I'm not sure what.  

 

Also my new passport is the new (well new to me, it's been since October 2005) electronic passport. It's got a smart ass chip in it loaded with my biometrics. Or something. Kind a scary.

 

 

I will however miss all the stamps in my old passport.  I wish most countries still actually stamped my passport.

 

 

 

 

 

Serving it Right

I don't need Serving it Right for the job I am about to start, but it was listed as a requirement on several jobs that I had applied for.  It's an online course, I had started it, I figured I might as well finish it and take the exam.  The fee is only $35.00, that wasn't going to break the bank, and it might come in handy one day. I passed. 100%. I can't remember the last time I took an exam. Probably a first aid course. 



"The Serving it Right Course is intended to give you the knowledge that you need to provide responsible beverage service within your establishment."  Pretty much all servers and managers at bars, restaurants, lounges, on tours that serve alcohol, at liquor stores, etc need to have Serve it Right. You may also need one if you are holding a private function.

Serving it Right provides education on:

• understanding the effects of alcohol
• recognising signs of intoxication
• your responsibilities under the law and the consequences of not meeting them
• knowing how to ID minors to prevent underage drinking
• knowing how to develop and support appropriate alcohol service policies
• knowing how to handle typical situations requiring intervention

Did you know that:

• 40% of BCers admit to drinking in ways that could lead to falls, accidents or acts of violence?
• 20% of BCers admit to drinking in a risky way at least once a month?
• 35% of BCers report they have suffered physical, emotional or financial harm as a result of someone else's alcohol use?

 

Now I am Austranadian

Last Tuesday, January 20th I officially became a Canadian Citizen.  

J'affirme solennellement que je serai fidèle et porterai sincère allégeance à Sa Majesté la Reine Elizabeth Deux, Reine du Canada, à ses héritiers et successeurs, que j’observerai fidèlement les lois du Canada et que je remplirai loyalement mes obligations de citoyen canadien

I swear (or affirm) that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to Her MajestyQueen Elizabeth II, Queen of Canada, Her Heirs and Successors, and that I will faithfully observe the laws of Canada and fulfill my duties as a Canadian citizen.

Yep, we had to say the oath in French and English, because Canada is officially a bilingual country.

It was a long morning.  Hubby, my in-laws, my sister-in-law (Jen), my niece (Taylor), my friend (Steph) and I all arrived at the Surrey Immigration office at 8am.  

About 20 mins later they let everyone in.  I had to stand in a long line up to sign in.  

There were 91 people from 24 countries taking their oath of citizenship.  It took over 1/2 an hour to sign everyone in. 

 

Finally around 9:15am the Judge entered the room and the ceremony began.  The Judge thanked everyone for choosing Canada over everywhere else and then proceeded to almost insult every other country in the world.  I'm sure that wasn't how he meant to come across, at least I hope not.  

We had cookies and coffee afterwards.  Then Steph and I headed to work, and everyone else went out for breakfast!

Steph thought I needed moose ears.  

O Canada, I guess I passed!

Over two months ago I received a summons.  Actually a notice to appear for my Canadian citizenship test.  On Wednesday October 29th at 8:35am.  It was a tad unexpected.

I sent my application in at the end of May.  Sometime in September I received a letter advising my application had been received and would be reviewed, and that this step would take 12-18 months.  Then I would sit the test.  I certainly didn't expect to take it this year.  Let alone with a weeks notice.

I have not crammed for a test in 18 years! 

8:00 - 8:30am arrive at the test centre, join the line up to have my ID and my notification letter checked

8:30am doors open, the line moves forward slowly as each person is given a number and told where to sit

8:45 - 9:00am wait patiently for my number (5) to be called.  Wait patiently while a citizenship and immigration officer checks over my application to make sure nothing is missing.  I sign the back of the answer sheet, so she can check my signature matches the one on the appliction.  All is good, so

9:00 - 9:30am take my assigned seat for the test.  Fill in my name and number on answer sheet.  Wait patiently for everyone elses application to be verified.

9:30am - 9:45am citizenship and immigration officer explains test - don't talk, don't look at another person's answers, make sure top half of form is filled in correctly etc etc

9:45 -9:50am - test is handed out.  I have version C.  There's 6 versions.  Make sure to note which version you have on the answer sheet. 

9:50am start test.  There are 20 questions. Questions 1-15 are general knowledge about Canadian history, geography, economy and people.  I think you need to get 12/15 to pass.  Questions 16-18 were about Canadian government, and you had to answer at least 1 of the 3 correctly.  Questions 19+20 were about elections and voting and you had to get both correct.

10:15am I'm done.  Hand in my answer sheet.  Now I have to wait 4 months to find out if I passed.

Here's a practise test.  See how you would fare.

Over the holidays I received another notice to appear. On January 20th 2009 at 8:30am to take the oath of citizenship. I guess that means I passed the test. I have to show up with the above notice, 2 pieces of ID with photo and signature, all my original documents including record of landing, confirmation of permanent residence and permanent residence card, a holy book for my choice and finally all my passports (current and expired). I'll lug them all there and they probably won't even look at them. It says I can bring family and friends. Hubby and my friend Steph are coming. Do you want to come too? Or you can come for a celebration party that evening. Hubby and Steph are throwing me a welcome to Canada party. (they seem to forget I've already been here for almost 12 years!) It feels kinda weird. Everyone here is excited for me, yet I feel bad. Why? Not really sure, but it feels like I'm giving up my home. I'm not. I get to keep my Aussie citizenship and passport. I hope my family is not upset or insulted.

Decision 08

Today is election day in the US. 

Are you a US citizen?  Did you vote?  I hope so.

Just under a month ago a federal election was held in Canada.  Barely 59% of eligible voters voted.  The lowest turnout in Canadian election history.  I couldn't vote, I'm still not a citizen.  But I'll be voting in the next election.  I'm not overly passionate about politics, but I am passionate about voting.  About having my say.

replica of a 1968 Herb Lubalin poster

The televised debate between Canada's party leaders was outrated by the US debates.  And tonight the US election is all over our TV channels.  I'm not complaining, I'm watching.

History in the making.

The thing about being an Aussie in Canada...

Is that it's costing me a fortune.  Both time and $$ wise.

I have an Australian passport. 

In Canada I'm what is called a landed immigrant or permanent resident.  I became a Canadian resident in 2000. The application fee was a few pennies under $1000.00.  I had to have a full medical including lung xrays, blood tests etc.  That was $100.00+.  Then I had to have a criminal record check for every country I had lived in for 6 months or more.  That meant Australia, Japan, The UK, Mexico and the USA.  Each country charged me $85.00 - $100.00.

Now that I am a permanent resident I have to have a PRC - permanent resident card.  It has to be renewed every 5 years.  It's only $50.00. Plus a set of passport photos.

When I travel to the US on my Australian passport I have to get a visa waiver.  It costs $6.00 each time.  But I can't enter into the US in a private plane, or boat only on commercial flights.  Which sucks when we live so close to the Washington State border, and Seattle is only an hours flight away as opposed to a 4 hour drive.

To be able to fly to Seattle in our plane I have to have a US visa, not a visa waiver.  A US visa is $131.00.  It's valid for 10 years - I think.

I spend a lot of time standing in queues or sitting in waiting rooms.  For visa applications, to have photos taken, to get a guarantor's signature, to pay fees, for interviews, to drop off or pick up the approved document etc etc.

My applications for renewing my PRC, US Visa and Canadian Citizenship.

For the longest time I refused to apply for Canadian Citizenship.  It seemed so final.  My family are in Australia, lots of my friends are in Australia, I'm Australian and in my head and my heart Australia is still home. 

So finally this year I did it. I applied to become a Canadian Citizen.  I will still be an Australian Citizen and I get to keep my Australian passport. 

I haven't heard anything about my application yet. So far I've filled in lots of paperwork. You know the thing.... list all the addresses I've lived at in the last 5 years, all the jobs I've had, every time I left Canada and for how long, all my medical details etc etc.  If they approve the application I have to sit a test and go for an interview.

Are you one of my Canadian friends? Can you pass the test? 

Wish me luck.