Attended the Citizenship function yesterday. It took place at the Pope John Paul center at Cawthra road in mississauga.

As usual another screw up from CIC. The notice mentioned 1.15 PM while the last page waiver letter mentioned it as as 5.45PM. Nearyy 400 people took their Citizenship and my casual head count was there were nearly 200 people from Pakistan, another 150 from India and the balance was from Poland, Caribbean and some other neighbours.

They collected the PR card, stamped the Immigration document as person is no longer a PR and collected the waiver document. The time to report at the centre was at 1.15 PM while the ceremony started at 2.15 PM. The internal speaker system did not work, the air conditioning could not handle the crowd along with crying/wailing desi kids coupled with an OLD Italian Judge whose english we could not follow. We had to take the Pledge of Oath both in English and French. We swore our allegiance to Queen Elizabeth, Prince Charles, Lady Camilla Bowles, Prince Harry, Prince William and Miss Kate Morrison the girl dumped by Prince William. I would have swore my allegiance to the two girls whom Prince Harry met at the Bar while visiting Canada and asked to see their tusshies. Long live the Queen/ King/Prince and their girl friends, keeps, concubines and the all the married ladies Prince Charles supposedly slept with.The CIC staff walked around and checked if people were repeating it along with the Judge.

The Citizenship card and the certificate was issued. We took photos with the Judge. There were other invitees who gave a bored look and shook hands. I think they get paid for doing this. They had a look on their face of why the heck these guys are landing up here.

Then we had to sign the application and then we had to sing the National Anthem. We were given a lapel pin, a small plant for rememberance and children were given stickers.

Eventhough the CIC clerk kept repeating that do not ask me questions about US travel many of the Desis kept on asking her that whether they needed a Canadian passport for US travel. She was really pissed off and red in the face but could not do anything.

The whole function was over by 3.45 PM and that is how we became Canadians. This gives me more power to bash Canada even further.

I would also like to declare just like George W Bush declared upon the US Navy carrier - \\\" Mission Accomplished \\\".

Came home and lord behold ! the movie on TMN was our Richard Attenboroughs "Gandhi". After watching the Jallianwallah bagh massacre really felt guilty about my newly acquired Canuck status.

Working on the Passport & OCI - will keep updated.

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Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....

"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"

UPDATE NO: 3

Applied for Passport at Mississauga Passport center at Central Parkway Mall on 7th July 2007, and went in at 3.00PM with token number 526, while 400 was running and my turn came in at 4.30 PM it took hardly 5 minutes to accept the applications which was prechecked at 3.00PM. They gave a receipt that I'll get the Passport on the 17th July by mail(10 days lead time).
Received the passports by mail today the 12th July 2007.

Quite Impressive response while looking at the amount of applicants at the passport office while across the border people are waiting for more than 4 hours to submit applications and the response is much longer.

When I went to get my guarantor signature from my Doctor(New rules for another passport holder signing your application kicks on October 15th 2007 , while the new short forms for renewal kicks on August 15th 2007) made it sound as if he was doing a big favor for me and then cooly got me and my family OHIP's card swiped and filled in the routine medical visit forms and made it look like a medical visit. A cool $120 in 5 minutes. I learn from some of my friends that some Doctors even go to extent of charging with OHIP card plus another 10 bucks cash per application signed.

In regards to the passport pictures, I found that Walmart charges 11.99 for 2 pictures while Zellers charges 9.99 for 2 photos. But Zellers stores your picture as a file and you can always go back to them and pull out the file and get reprints at the same price. For people with small children it makes life easier for taking the families up and down to the photo studio.

I just found that the photo place at the Mississauga Flea Market at the intersection of Mavis and Dundas charges 5 bucks for 2 pictures. This might be a cheaper option as you need 5 (35mm X 35 mm) photos for each individual for the OCI application.

One Question may be some one can respond:

For children if they apply for PIO it is 240 bucks and then upgradation to OCI is another 40 bucks this way the total cost is 280 bucks. While they go in the direct OCI route it is 421 bucks and hence it cost 141 bucks more. Is there a catch in the PIO to OCI route for children ?.

Will update with the OCI application as UPDATE NUMBER 4 which I promise will be my last post in this wonderful Website.

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Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....

"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"

Congrats ! SK,
Your time has come and you are set to move to USA soon and leave this land of factory shoes. We , In Canada, feel so happy for you that you will have a wonderful future in USA.
All the best. Please keep us posted about your acomplishments in USA which will help many CD's who feel that Canada is heaven on earth.

TK A

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.

Quote:

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Originally posted by shankaracharya

One Question may be some one can respond:

For children if they apply for PIO it is 240 bucks and then upgradation to OCI is another 40 bucks this way the total cost is 280 bucks. While they go in the direct OCI route it is 421 bucks and hence it cost 141 bucks more. Is there a catch in the PIO to OCI route for children ?.

Will update with the OCI application as UPDATE NUMBER 4 which I promise will be my last post in this wonderful Website.

---

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Give free food http://www.thehungersite.com ||

Congratulations, shankaracharya. I just came back to wish you all the best.

I got my TN visa on April 28th in Port Huron border and started contract with New York City Mutual Fund firm on May 14th. Family is still here and I come here every weekend. Next year April, we will sell our house in brampton and go to Edison NJ

Please keep us posted about your OCI card experience. I need to go for one later this year.

Regards,

Robot

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Majic Robot
Web Architect
Toronto M1B 5J5

My penultimate post in CD:

Update NO:4 on OCI:

Downloaded the OCI application forms from the internet. Did not fill it in online as if you make any mistake it gets stuck.Filled all the information in duplicate and took stamp size photos at the Mississauga Flea Market(35mm X 35mm) - 5 copies. Stuck one on the main copy and another on the duplicate copy of Form A. I used the form for the family of 2 +2. Hence Form B was common. I had to take the copies of the Canadian Passport main page two sides, Copies of the Indian Passport of front page, the second page containing the ECNR not required and the last page, copies of the landing paper ALL in duplicate. Made separate drafts for $421 CAD for each with payable made to Consulate General of India, Toronto(skipped the word THE as it did not fit on the main Draft line). There is a xerox, Canada Post shop on the ground floor of the new Indian High Commission. It is located on the 7th floor of Bloor Street(East). The best way to go there is to take route 3 from Mississauga to Islington. Take the train to Sherbourne and get out on the Bloor Street(East)side. You need to cross the road and it is not left side with in a couple of minutes. I reached at 7.55 Am on Thursday on the 26th July 2007. I had chosen Thursday as it is one of the slowest time. The consulate opens at 9.00AM and only 45 applications are accepted per day. To my amazement I found atleast 4 Desi families waiting outside. The doors for the HC opened at 8.00AM.There was a PRO who checked our documents and sometimes asked us to make corrections add or delete(For Eg: I had also attached my Canadian Citizenship Certificate which he asked me to remove). I had to make 2 different sets in duplicate for each person in the family for Form A and 2 sets for Form B. I was no: 2 to 5 for OCI at 8.00AM as each member of family is considered as a single application for the accepted application process. The usual Indian style confusion/Entropy prevailed. The assistant Consul walked into the HC at 9.10 Am. The list for the number for OCI application made by the PRO closed by 8.30AM. The OCI people were bunched in 4's(I went alone taking all the documents and originals for my family)and were taken into the Vice Consuls office room at around 9.30Am.The documents were scrutinized individually by the VC and he checked the originals and accepted the documents with the Draft. His Secretary made separate receipts for each member of the family with a separate file number and gave it us. The receipt indicated it takes between 2to 3 months to obtain the OCI. I walked out of the HC at 10.00 Am. Periodically checking the Indian website with the file number. Learnt that our pictures were scanned on August 17th 2007. Our OCI application was approved and we were granted OCI on August 18th 2007. The document also has been printed on August 18th 2007. Once it reaches Toronto as seen on the same website, I need to personally visit the CGI between 3 and 4 Pm on a working day along with our Canadian Passports to collect the OCI document along with OCI sticker.

I'll update with UPDATE NO:5 once I receive the document on hand and I promise that will be my last post on CD.

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Speech by Thomas Friedman of The New York Times....

"When we were young kids growing up in America, we were told to eat our
vegetables at dinner and not leave them. Mothers said, 'think of the
starving children in India and finish the dinner.' And now I tell my
children: 'Finish your maths homework. Think of the children in India
who would make you starve, if you don't.'"

Shanlaracharya!
Congradulations on the OCI and thanks for update no 4. Will be waiting eagerly for your update no. 5.
All the best in your career (outside of Canada) and God bless !!!

TK A

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I am a Gents and not a Ladies.