Approved

As it happens, I have every reason to continue loving my country.

Following the situation we were in last week, Tamara and I have just heard from our lawyer, about an hour ago.  Following the receipt of the immigration landing fee, she is approved by the government to remain permanently in Canada.  The "interview" we have on the 25th is a rubber stamp.  We have to present ourselves together, to prove we're both here, but the result is a foregone conclusion.  She's approved to stay.

This has been a long 15 months, and a long nearly 18 years altogether.  As it happens, we still owe a thousand dollars to the lawyer, but on this there is no time limit (apart from being sure it does get paid in reasonable order).  After the ceremony on the 25th, Tamara will wait 2-3 weeks for her papers; and then we can begin moving ahead on seeing what we can do with the health care system regarding her vision and her diabetes.

We're all in a state of shock here.  Disbelief, I think, is the appropriate word.  We were told to go out and celebrate but we're having trouble letting go of the stick.  We were so sure this was going to end in a horrible wreck, the idea that it won't seems antithetical.

Still, here we are.  Happy.  Thank you, Canada.