The Wanderings of busman7

Once upon a time back in November 2011, having returned from Cambodia with no plans for future long term travel, I decided that it was time to apply for my Salvadorian residency.

Of course it goes without saying that one has their Canadian passport that cost $85.00

I had obtained the list of necessary documents from Migracion a year or so earlier

*note documents are only valid for 90 days

1) Resident application

2) Birth Certificate Quebec government $29.00

Canadian Embassy certification  $50.00

Salvadorian gov’t certification $20.00

Spanish translation                    $50.00

3) Marriage License       N/A

4) Photocopy all passport pages $ 1.00

5) Canadian Criminal Record check

I had ordered this from the Durham Regional Police before leaving for Cambodia in June but their incompetence resulted in a tilt.  $25.00 wasted

PNC finger printing  N/C

Canadian CRC $26.75

DHL Courier to Canada $63.53

Xpress post Canada to SV              $43.75

Canadian notary                         $20.00

Canadian Embassy certification $50.00

Salvadorian gov’t certification          $20.00

Spanish translation                        $50.00

* although it took nearly 90 days to receive my CRC due to delays on the Canadian end, Migracion viewed id as valid as long as I did not leave the country

** without this concession by Migracion it would be impossible for a Canadian to get residency

6) Health letter from Salvadorian doctor

Original letter November $25.00

2nd letter July                            $30.00

3rd letter correcting error             N/C

7) Salvadorian PNC Criminal Record Check $3.50

8) Certification of Pension funds + other monies received monthly

Due to the pathetic pittance provided by Canada (1/3 of Australia) then the 50% claw back when one has the audacity to escape Canada, OAS + CPP fall short of the amount needed so auxiliary income is required

Letter from Service Canada (one month) to receive  N/C

Letter from secondary income source                     N/C

Canadian notary to authenticate 2 letters               $55.90

FedEx Canada to El Salvador                                 $144.10

Canadian Embassy certification 2 documents            $100.00

Salvadorian gov’t certification 2 documents              $ 40.00

Translation                                                         $ 50.00

9) Salvadorian bank letter verifying monthly deposit

First letter                                          $ 3.39

Second letter including more info $ 3.39

10) Notarized affidavit verifying the documents are correct

Lawyer fee for document in Spanish            $ 50.00

Residency visa fee to Migracion                  $107.14

Miscellaneous expenses

Visa extension due to Canada’s tardiness               $ 25.00

Parking at Canadian Embassy 5 visits @ 1.00          $  5.00

*visiting a Canadian Embassy abroad one is treated like a criminal which shows the contempt the government has for it’s sheeple

Gas 12 trips to the city @ $10                             $120.00

Total Costs   $1,296.45

+ 9 months aggravation

From my experience & that of others relocating to CA/SA it is

apparent that due to that Canadian governments actions

towards it’s own citizens + towards Latin Americans wishing to

move to Canada, makes it nearly impossible for Canadians to

obtain residency abroad!

It is certainly much easier for citizens of the US whose

embassies treat them with respect and dignity. Must be nice!

F I N A L L Y !

Against all odds!

“It’s almost impossible for a Canadian to get a resident visa for El Salvador” says my lawyer when I approached him about getting residency so I wouldn’t have to do border runs every 3 months.

Always one to take such statements as a challenge to go into Don Quixote mode & tilt at the windmill, I went ahead with this one.

The anal retentive Canadian simple serpents threw their best curves & delaying tactics at me but with the help of their understanding (if a tad nitpicking) Salvadorian counterparts, their silly games came to naught. I salute the Canadian bureaucrats with their infamous prime minister’s salute

I am now the proud holder of a temporary Salvadorian

residency card! 🙂

Finally the last document has arrived from Canada, a mere 6 months after I started the process.

WAY TO GO CANADA!!  NOT!!!!

Of course Canada isn’t done jerking me around ... [Continue reading this entry]