I apologize for not having posted in a couple of weeks, but here is why:

The Affects of the new Visa requirements for Mexicans, on a 1 Year old Canadian Boy

This has also been sent to the Prime Minister of Canada, with ample time for his office to respond. They have not.

Prime Minister Stephen Harper c/o Michelle Trembley

July 16 2009

Almost two years ago, my boyfriend, John and I moved to Mexico to experience a new way of life and expand our horizons. Not long after we arrived, we realized I was pregnant. We had the child in Mexico, Joseph Freeman Simmonds, named after his Canadian-born paternal grandmother and Canadian-born maternal grandfather.

A year goes by and John and I decide to move back to Canada. Making it here was hard with our small internet business and being unable to work in this country. John left on July the 15th so he could attend a friend's wedding an start his new job. I purchased my ticket for Sept. 12th, 2009 direct to Calgary, even though our final destination is Vancouver. We needed a direct flight to bring home our beloved family pet, Rocky, who I adopted 9 years ago in Richmond, BC. We booked our hotel in Calgary and John was to come and pick us up in Calgary and we would all drive home to Vancouver. We told all our friends and family and were very excited. We were told by Canadian immigration on the phone that it would be easier for us to get Joey's Canadian citizenship in order after we arrive home.

Then on the 14th we hear news that Canada has suddenly, with no notice, implemented a new rule, that Mexicans need a visa to come to Canada. Under all circumstances.

So we went off to the Canadian consulate on the way to dropping John off at the airport. We needed to know that we could still travel with little Joey. I mean, surely they didn't expect us to believe that a 13 month old, blonde-haired blue-eyed boy born to two Canadian-born parents, 4 Canadian-born grandparents and even Canadian-born great grandparents, was going to be turned away if we take him to Canada in September. Add to that, the fact that we already purchased our ticket with no knowledge of this impending new rule, and the fact that Joey's father and I both are on the Canadian Embassy in Mexico's mailing list that sends out alerts to Canadians registered in Mexico and we received absolutely no information about this. We were sure they were going to tell us there was a grace period for people who had already bought tickets or who were clearly Canadian, with photo ID that has both Mom an Dad's name on it, and both Mom an Dad have Canadian passports. We were absolutely sure of this. But we needed to hear it from the horse's mouth.

So is that what they said? No. They said that in order to bring our son, who is 11 months old, to his home country, we need to get a visa or a temporary passport, both of which regularly take longer than 3 months to get done in Mexico City at the Canadian Embassy. That's longer than we have.

We did not purchase travel insurance. We are not wealthy people. In fact, we were moving back to Canada for economic reasons. We cannot afford to cancel all of our tickets, our hotel and repurchase them all again. But it is looking as though we have to. Add to that, that finding a direct flight that will take dogs is difficult and as any dog-lover would expect, leaving Rocky behind is not an option.

I have given my landlord here in Mexico (also a Canadian) notice that I will be moving out in September. I have no money to buy another ticket or to pay an extra month's rent here, as John is going to be getting us an apartment. We can't afford to pay for a home here and a home there. We absolutely cannot afford to not make that flight.

My father and I have spoken to as many people as we can think of. My Dad even got ahold of someone in the Prime Minister's office. We faxed them our situation as they told us to do, and they have not responded.

I was once proud to be a Canadian, but how can I be anymore if this country, because it cannot see that some circumstances require individual attention, forces my one-year-old boy to be homeless and stranded in Mexico?

Courtney Heard
Email: courtney@abalone.ca

To my blog readers: any help or suggestions are welcome! Will get back to posting regularly when this is all cleared up!

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