Hurrah! After a thirteen month wait (and oodles of paperwork and supporting documentation) we received word today that Akemi’s application for permanent residence status here in Canada has finally been approved! There are still some signatures to be gathered and calls to be made but, for all intents and purposes, she is here to stay. I no longer have to worry that she will get confiscated the next time we travel to Japan.
In celebration, I asked her to list ten things she loves about Canada off the top of her head. She offered the following:
1. Easy-going country.
2. A lot of t.v. shows
3. Weather is milder (not super hot or super cold).
4. Bigger house means she can host a proper home party.
5. Doesn’t need to wear make-up every day like in Japan.
6. Can wear jeans everywhere.
7. Lots of different cuisines because of wide immigration.
8. Can practice English with her Canadian boyfriend.
9. Cheaper than Japan.
10. Restaurants here offer doggy bags, something restaurants in Japan do not.
Anyway, we celebrated the good news in traditional Canadian fashion: by going out for sushi and then coming home to watch the Gordon Ramsay Christmas special.
Thanks to everyone who took the time to leave a comment in support of Akemi here: July 26, 2012: Support Akemi! Leave a comment! We owe you one!
Today’s entry is dedicated to birthday gal Alisa Russell!
Congrats on the good news Joe, happy to see things worked out for yourself and Akemi.
@9. Cheaper than Japan.
No kidding, Tokyo is one of the most expensive places in the world LOL
Akemi – Woo Hooo!!!! Congratulations!
Congrats Akemi and Joe! (And Congrats to Canada!)
Yay! Akemi is asset to Canada and all of North America. Welcome home!
Yayyyyyy Akemi!!
Welcome to Canada!!
What? You’re here already?
Oh…
Well… welcome to somewhere you’re already at…
K
(So glad you get to stay)
@Alisa Russell – Happy Birthday.
CONGRATULATIONS!!!! To you both.
Woohoo! Congrats to both of you! I haven’t been posting in quite a while, but I’ve been reading, and this is great news.
Merry Early Christmakkah!
Congratulations Akemi and Joe!!! I am very happy for you (and us)!
congrats, akemi!
Woohoo! That’s great news, Akemi!! It seemed to be a long road for sure, but definitely worth it. It must be a great relief not to worry about being separated from the dogs! Oh yeah, and Joe. 😉
Okay, now you know I am a big Akemi fan— but shouldn’t YOU be the top of that list, and the dogs? 🙂
WOHOO glad she is official!
Hooray! Congratulations, Akemi!
LOL so I went to look at the posts, and mine wasn’t there. Since I REMEMBERED that I said no one not in a REAL relationship would post his girlfriend’s panties, I was concerned you were offended and didn’t post it. Then I found it, 2 days later, lol. Day late and dollar short. But since I was one of the first begging you to not let her leave, you know I am one happy camper for you both. 🙂
Btw, though, speaking of women in your life, past and present– how is your mom? How is your sister since losing her doggie? Did you decide not to add more doggies? And how is Fondy doing?
Congrats to you both! What wonderful news!!!
Congratulations, you two have fun. Happy Canadian Permanent Residency Status Day, or CPRS-Day for short.
We need those Gateworld graphics whizzes to whip up a nice banner to celebrate.
Yaaaaaaaaaay!!! Akemi gets to stay!! 😀 *hugs for Akemi and Joe* Joe…this is such good news! 😀 Are you gonna celebrate? You gotta throw a party in her honor. 😀
Congratulations Akemi !
Whew!! Finally!! Way to go you all. Thanks for sharing the great news with us. I bet Bubba was glad to hear it also. What a nice Christmas present!
So happy for you both!
Congratulations. That’s great news.
Congratulations Akemi (and Joe)!
Congratulations, Joe and Akemi, both! That’s wonderful news! And thanks for ordering EVERY SINGLE DESSERT ON THE MENU when we went out for dinner. I knew I liked you then. Akemi, welcome to Canada, and consider yourself welcome down here in the States too. 😀
YAY!! 😀
BTW, most of the Country *SHAKES* less, too!!
What a lovely early Christmas present. Congratulations Akemi as well as Joe, Jelly, Bubba and Lulu.
G’day Joe
Congratulations to you both, Akemi and Joe.
Bubba will be a happy boy, his girlfriend gets to stay for good 😉
yay!!!! omedetou!!!! 😀 more reasons to celebrate!!! and i agree with #9 lol. it’s crazy.
Congratulations that is fantastic news.
That’s fantastic news, guys! Congrats to you both. Jo
Awww…you make such a cute family. I am so happy for you both. What a relief…it’s too bad they make you jump through so many hoops…but I’m sure everyone would agree…she is special. Cute..and very sweet.
Congratulations 🙂
Congratulations!
Congrats to you both. It’s been a long hard slog. Many life forms have died in the making of this relationship. Especially those weird looking poky things – spiny sea urchins….the poor little urchins! I’m sure their sacrifice was not in vain.
Please tell Akemi that Canada is only mild on the Wet Coast. She needs to visit Winnipeg in July and February if she believes Canada is mild. 🙂
Congratulations!
Congratulations guys! Having been through a similar process to get permanent residency here in the UK I can appreciate the stress of the application stage and eventual relief when final confirmation comes.
One more year to go and I can apply for British citizenship and then they REALLY can’t kick me out! 🙂
Congrats to you both!
Now – your next mission will be to revive the Stargate saga 🙂
Congratulations to both of you. Knowing Akemi can stay makes me incredibly happy for you both. After a sometimes frustrating journey, the outcome you both hoped for is here. Christmas came early!
All the best to you both,
Alexander
Congratulations to you both! What a lovely way to start to Christmas season!
Congratulations, Joe and Akemi! That’s great news!!
Congrats, Bubba! xo
Congratulations to both of you!
Ah! That is wonderful news! So happy for you both 😀
Congrats Akemi!
Welcome to your new country!
Elminster
Congratulations! Glad all of your hard work and “patience” paid off! I hope this news takes your mind off your recent disappointment(s) and that now both of you can relax and enjoy the holiday season.
Yay! Fantastic news!!!!!
Congrats to Akemi! And to you too, Joe. I know you are relieved. My older son is enjoying his Japanese studies so far this year.
Thanks to all for the birthday wishes, and for the blog dedication, Joe. Had a wonderful day which ended with a dinner at Chili’s. And then opened my presents which included: Bionic Woman, Season 1 DVD set, Amazon gift card, writing journal, and a book bag with two books in it. Yay!
Hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!
@あけみ: おめでとう !
Wonderful news, Joe! And now both of you can travel anywhere with no worries.
By the way, Joe. I watched the next installment in your superhero movies, thinking it was directed by Ivan Reitman (Ghostbusters): it has Uma Thurman in it – how bad can it be? I found out. More to follow.
Belated Happy Birthday, Alisa! I’m a little behind in my blog reading.
Congrats, and at least you made the list of the top 10 things she likes about Canada Joe, if only to help her with her English. 🙂
WOO!! Congratulations, Akemi! Now that you’re ‘Canadian’, you have to start wearing toques, drinking Moosehead, and saying stuff like ‘aboot’ and ‘eh?’. Oh, and flannel…wear lots and lots of flannel. 🙂
das
Congrats Akemi! Interesting facts about Japan vs Canada. Do you have to be more dressed up in Japan? Are food portions smaller in Japan (hence no doggie bags)?
Joe-Just got “Have you ever seen the Rain?” by CCR off of Itunes. I watched “Unending” lately and was in the mood for some songs from the 70’s. Got some stuff from Supertramp, Doobie Brothers, Queen, and Elton John, as well. What’s on your playlist? What was the best concert you had ever seen?
congratulations, you told her about the 5 year mandatory army service right?
Great news! Congrats!
Congratulations!!! This is great news – I’m so pleased for you both 🙂 Now the waiting is over you’ll be able to celebrate in style!
At last!!! Congratulations, both of you! ¡Felicidades!
Well, that is good news indeed!
Congratulations on the great news. But it is sort of ironic, given your considering moving to Japan. She must really really like you if she is willing to have gone through all of that to gain residency, then pack up to head west/east.
@Jennifer
@Do you have to be more dressed up in Japan?
Absolutely not, you can wear what you want. It’s the same as in 95 percent of countries in the world in that regard.
Congrats!! I would say welcome to Canada, but you’ve already been here for a while 😉
Will Akemi be applying for Canadian citizenship?
That’s awesome, congrats! Your hard work paid off. I love that better TV is the #2 reason Akemi likes Canada. I have the same priorities! 🙂
good news!
Congratulations! That must be a load off your mind not having to worry about immigration problems!
That’s awesome news, Congratulations! 🙂 🙂
Congratulation to you and Akemi. As I have often read on the Florida Turnpike, patients pays. I wish I could celebrate the same. Best to your future.
Akemi, I’m so happy for you and Joe! Canada’s lucky to have you 🙂
I’m a few days late….but congratulations!! Very happy news to hear Akemi can stay!
It’s belated, but congratulations, we love you Akemi! 😀
Congrats Akemi and Joe that is so great to hear.
What? You weren’t her favorite thing about Canada, Joe? (Just giving you a hard time Akemi). Congratulations!
Congratulations!
Playing catch-up on my blog reading — Yay! So glad to hear the good news for Akemi, oh, and you and the doggies too 🙂