Our Visa Journey

By far the most frustrating part of meeting on the internet and marrying someone in a different country is obtaining the Visa. However, when I look back on it really it has become quite simplified and didn't take that long compared to the horror stories I have heard. I have decided to outline our experiences in hopes that they may help someone else as I read things that were inaccurate and was also given some inaccurate information.

Step 1 - The initial paper work, I filled out all the forms on the computer and printed them out and mailed them to Josh for him to sign. We included pictures, phone bills, and emails with this portion. Whether or not that is actually required I am unsure but I kind of think that's why I didn't have to prove our relationship any later in the process. We initially filed around the end of May, it was received on June 9. The wait to hear something was long and excrutiating. I often checked the website to see where they were with processing. It was well updated and quite accurate. We finally heard that this part was approved on October 11th (I know as it was the day before my last official day at work).

Step 2 - Although we heard on Oct 11th we didn't receive the package till the end of November or beginning of December. I booked my medical appointment in London, ON and am thankful I did as I had no wait time and my appointment was actually my appointment time. Keep in mind this is NOT a physical like the army does, they are not checking to see if you are physically fit though you can not have high blood pressure from what I gathered. They are mostly checking that you do not have infectious diseases such as HIV, Other Sexually Transmitted Diseases, TB... etc. They do require to look over your entire body. As many know I am a large girl, my weight was not a factor at all as to whether or not I'd be approved. During this time we also were required to gather evidence that Josh could financially support me. While it said someone who is self-employed (which pastors in the USA technically are) they did not require my 1 year of tax returns or bank statements at the interview, however, I would definitely bring them! Both Josh & I are squeaky clean so the police check was not an issue. You do need your "long" birth certificate which includes your parents names on it.. I ordered mine and it only took a week to arrive. Just follow the list and you'll do absolutely fine! We sent this package from the USA while I was visiting Josh for Christmas on the day I returned, so that was January 3rd.

Step 3 - I received my letter with the interview time scheduled on February 2nd (again I know the date as it was the day after I moved to Brantford). My interview was scheduled in Montreal on March 12th. There is not anything that really needs to be done in the mean time though I did print out some more pictures, emails and phone bills just incase. Josh had to send me a letter stating that he still intended to marry me and his circumstances had not changed.

The Interview - I had feared this part sooo much and was quite nervous. However, a lady at the office told me that as long as you are not being fraudulent or have criminal records you are pretty much set provided you have all the necessary paper work. First you get a number and wait. They call you up (took about 2 hours for me) and collect documents from you. Affidavit of Support, Criminal Record, Birth Certificate (a photo copy but show the real), Passport, Letter from Finacee, and probably something else I'm not quite remembering. At this time I paid the 131 American and then they took my fingerprints. You then go back and wait. This took about another hour. They then call you in for the "interview". The only questions I was asked was why I wanted to go to the states and when I planned to be married. Then she approved it. She gave me a little yellow card to pick up my visa the next day.

That's all she wrote!

It really did go smoothly and I was quite impressed.

Sonya

Where have all the mild-mannered calvinists gone?

Some of you reading may remember the song 'where have all the cowboys gone' from 10 years ago. I am asking where have all the mild- mannered calvinists gone? It seems to me that those that are mild-manned calvinists are becoming fewer and fewer. I count Tim Keller, J.I. Packer, D.A, Carson, and Thomas Schreiner among those who are mild-mannered. I believe we need to defend biblical truth and the doctrines of grace. But I also believe that Arminian Christians will be in heaven as well as Calvinistic or reformed believers. Sonya reminds me of that from time to time. Many Calvinists are so hardcore they won't be in the same room with other Christians who differ with them on some things. John Piper is a great preacher and writer. I have learned much from him, more than any other modern auther on God's holiness and spirituality and qoute him from time to time from my pulpit. Check out his books Desiring God, The supremacy of God in Preaching, and Future Grace. He needs to remember that not everyone will agree with him. Not everyone agrees with me.I get criticized sometimes for using scripture too much in my sermons. And that's ok. John Piper, Mark Driscol, and myself need to remind ourselves to love others like Christ loves us even when they might not agree with us and disagree with what we believe. Piper and Driscoll have been used mightly by God and will continue to be used By God. I pray that we all would love others in Christ even when we don't see eye to eye on doctrine.
In Christ,
Pastor Josh Parrish, M.Div

Go out into all the world!!

Somehow, somewhere sharing the gospel has become something we only do in close and intimate circumstances. The idea of people turning away from us because we share the truth has become something that we will not allow. Many speak of "loving" someone to Christ, and while this is a great theory we ourselves can not draw anyone to Christ. We can give them the tools so to speak but ultimately Christ will draw those he has chosen. However, Jesus himself said to us to tell everyone of the good news.

"He(Jesus) said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation. Whoever believes and is baptized will be saved, but whoever does not believe will be condemned." Mark 16:15-16

What exactly is the good news of the gospel. Can it be good news if we don't know what the good involves? If you are walking along the street with nothing to harm you in your proximity and I come along and swoop you away will you be thankful that I have "rescued" you from this unapparent danger? Actually, you would probably be rather annoyed with me for messing up your perfectly good walk along the street and you would not see the good I did. Many approach the gospel like this, they tell of Christ's offer of salvation but they forget to tell the person what it is that they would be saved from. Even in the very message of our obligation to share the good news Jesus proclaims the consequence of condemnation. Yet in our world today to use a word such as condemnation is said to be a threatening message or a scare tactic. The gospel is indeed good news but it will never be seen as such unless we know what is so good about it, the good is that we are saved from damnation, we are no longer viewed by God as sinful wrath-stricken creatures but we are His Children whom he loves, we are taken from no relationship with God into adoption into His family. That IS good news and should be shared at all not just with those we've developed deep personal relationships with.

I have decided that it is pointless for me to have 400 + friends on facebook and to never tell them of salvation in Christ. I urge you to do the same, don't fear their removing you from their friend list because if Christ is indeed working in their heart your message can be that of eternal joy for them.

Sonya