This past week, I have begun filling in my visa application. Checking off the boxes if I have had or have intentions towards criminal activities was the easiest thing on the form. Even writing my name was DIFFICULT!

I have to prove my name change with a CERTIFIED copy of my marriage certificate, a CERTIFIED LONG form of my birth certificate (not wallet size), and CERTIFIED passport. It got even trickier on the next line when I had to list John's name. You see, John's adopted so proving his identity is even more cumbersome. To get his long birth certificate in Toronto, we had to list some facts so they can research and see how much of it matches to his birth records. If anything should not match, it will "delay the process" as stated over and over again in bold red letters after each line we didn't fill in on the application. Let me ask you, do you know your birth weight, the hospital address, physician's name, mother's maiden name, her age at time of birth (not just birthdate, which can't be calculated on their form????), their address, father's name, etc. Some will know such info but John doesn't! Adoption papers are closed. We don't know John's birth mom's name, DOB, physician, etc. The only reason we knew his birth name is from a handwritten letter his birth mom wrote to the adoption agency to give to his new family. However, we do know some facts that will be helpful for the Toronto vital stats departement ... his birth certificate number and registration number. BUT THEY DON'T ASK FOR THOSE ON THE APPLICATION! Doh.

Continuing on with the visa application, everything needs to be certified. I have learned that I can take all photocopies of my required documents and head to a bank to get a stamp certifying it all. Interesting. I think I will be extra prepared but getting them to certify utility bills, bank statements, mortage bills, credit card, etc. Sounds crazy, eh??? Nope, not overboard at all!

In Aus, in response to people and companies trying to hide finanical statements, the gov't has issued a point system to prove your financial stance. For many situations involving money (e.g., buying a car, opening a bank account, gambling account, etc.) you need to have a 100 points. For my passport, that's worth 70 points. If I produce a certified utility bill, that's 25 points. An international driver's license counts for 25 points. Mortage bills are special at 35 points! Whooooo. Of course, I don't think I will produce my mortgage statement if I want to buy a car but perhaps it might be important to open a bank account. I don't know but it doesn't hurt to have a ton of CERTIFIED documents. (Have you gotten the hint that I can't just have a plain photocopy or even an original bill / statement? Good thing it doesn't cost me to get things stamped and certified. Whew.)

How I feel for my poor colleague who is also applying for a teacher exchange in New South Wales. The school system there wants an intense amount of paperwork from her ... mostly all ridiculous from our standpoint. It started with an online 10 step Eligibility criteria process to determine if she is qualified as a teacher. They want her university transcript as one document. (Um, I don't think a 20+ year transcript is going to prove her teacher excellence?!? ) But, LOL, it counts as 10 points!!! She's also being asked to provide a month's worth of lessons for her counterpart when she arrives. WOW! There's more requirements but it's like opening a can of explosive worms when I ask her about her visa application. Fortunately, since I'm in Victoria, I haven't had as much issues .... or perhaps I just have gotten to her stage yet. Ignorance is bliss!

I've joined a Facebook group, Canadians on Exchange 2014, to hook up with other fellow teachers on this crazy adventure. We are all in the same situation right now ... sorting out everything on the visa application. What does line 9 mean? Does Form 80 refer to me as well as my kids? Do our docs have to be in color? Same type of questions over and over.

I have discovered that there is quite a difference between boards in terms of their committment to our exchange. Seems like some of us are having to find outside health care coverage for the duration we are in Aus because their boards are not covering it. Luckily, my school board has said that they will cover our emergencies and dental for both John and I. Whew! Some boards are covering 3 or 5 days of Professional development. Interesting.

Many of us are missing paperwork from either our coodinating organization or the Aus education department. Many are filling in charts that I have never heard of it. There are new rules now to NOT send in our passport to the Australian High Commission and they'll just simply send the approval papework to us instead of a the large visa 'sticker'. on and on. The frustrations are endless over this application!

Sigh. I can't wait until Dec 22nd when we have passed those borders and start our new life!