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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: Valmont on March 05, 2012, 07:16:07 pm

Title: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: Valmont on March 05, 2012, 07:16:07 pm
I wanted to share some really good news...  I just cannot believe it...  I´ve been given the permanent visa for Canada despite of having HIV...  I just have to send my passport to the Embasy...

At the beginning of 2010, I started an application for a permanent visa in Canada with my familly.

In 2011, in May, I´ve been diagnostized with HIV.  In January 2012, it was confirmed my wife has not been infected...

Also in January, I´ve done the medical examen for immigration and declared my condition and submitting some docs.  My situation in this moment was CD4 714, VL 95.000 aprox.  Not in treatment.  All the other parameters ok...

Thank you to the people here that inspired me not to give up with this...
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: jacken on March 05, 2012, 07:17:38 pm
Congrats!! Best to you and your family.
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: denb45 on March 05, 2012, 07:29:51 pm
I wanted to share some really good news...  I just cannot believe it...  I´ve been given the permanent visa for Canada despite of having HIV...  I just have to send my passport to the Embasy...

WOW Congrats  :D  we might all have to move to Canada if Santorum is elected president of the US  :-[
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: le_liseur on March 05, 2012, 08:35:03 pm
Félicitations, Valmont!  :D

I'm really happy this worked out for you and your family! When should we expect you over here? hehe
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: LiveWithIt on March 06, 2012, 12:57:08 am
Congrats, where are you moving from?
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: spacebarsux on March 06, 2012, 01:24:19 am
Congrats Valmont!  :)
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: LM on March 06, 2012, 02:50:27 am
Congrats, man!! And way to go, Canada!
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: Theyer on March 06, 2012, 06:25:24 am
THE very BEST news,
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: Ann on March 06, 2012, 09:40:45 am
That's great news Val! Congratulations!

Will your wife and son be joining you?  Will you be playing rugby? What part of Canada are you hoping to move to - Quebec perhaps?

I hope your move goes well and you find what you're looking for in your new life in Canada.

Ann
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: Raf on March 06, 2012, 10:52:50 am
felicitaciones valmont!!!!

I was wondering the same thing Ann posted, will your wife and son join you in canada? how are things working in your family? I really hope that these big news bring together your family.

And once in canada don't forget to keep monitoring this nasty bug, so don't catch you by surprise.
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: Valmont on March 06, 2012, 01:52:30 pm
Well, thank you so much everybody for your comments and good words.

Well to answer you...

To denb45:
For sure...  I do hope this won´t happen, I don´t think it may happen....

To Le liseur:
I have to make valid my visa within a year, just travelling to Canada.  I was thinking I could move a the end of this year maybe...

To LiveWithIt:
I´m now living in Ecuador, South America, for 6 years.

To Ann and Raf:
Thank you so much Ann...  Well, about my familly, things are really in a bad way.  I´m separated from my wife since 2011 August and our relationship has deteriorated in the time, not specially because of HIV.  So far I know she is not infected since 2012 Febreary and because of comments and actitude difficult to understand, I decided to divorce from her, it is a good decision at the end, I think.  I got tired to try to keep everything well when we have so deep difference since the beginning; I feel really good with it, but for sure, it is sad to see that our marriage did not work, I know I have a lot of responsability about it...  She does not want to go to Canada and this makes me a big problem because of my son and the distance...  For now I also have a new girl friend here, she is a medic, she is neg, she knows about my HIV and she is really supportive.  These last weeks have been really good for me...

About Rugby, everything will depend of my health, but I´m going to play there and I won´t disclose, it is a big and unnecesary pressure I think...  And definitively, infection risks for the others are really small...  Well, I also plan to play the season here, low profile and till nobody says nothing... 

I´ll go to Québec, probably in Montreal but nothing is sure...

Thank you so much for your good wishes.

And about the bug, medical attention I may receive will be always better in Canada than here in Ecuador...  I only make labs 2 a years (which makes me quite nervious because of my high VL) and despite there are good HAART meds, there is no many treatment possibilities, including having a good insurance, because pharmaceutical companies don´t bring last expensive treatment here...)
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: karry on March 06, 2012, 08:01:11 pm
Hi Val!
I am so happy for you!
So..see you soon in Montreal! Its a great place and I am very sure you will love it!

I was also very ecstatic in 2007 when I got my permanent residence into Canada with an HIV diagnosis. I know what you went through with regards to immigration, and I genuinely share your joy like someone who has been there!

Happy hugs to you!
Karry
p/s not sure if there is a great rugby team here, but knowing your adventurous spirit, you will love Mont Tremblant and the other skiing resorts here!
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: Assurbanipal on March 06, 2012, 10:43:11 pm
Congratulations, Valmont. 

Thank you for sharing this news with us -- it is wonderful to hear.

A
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: Valmont on March 07, 2012, 09:43:43 am
For sure, we are not here only for bad news...  The most important is not to stop projects and dreams because of HIV...

Thanks a lot Karry, you´ve been very suportive to me for the beginning...  Rugby level cannot be badest than here in Ecuador but mmmm I´m not playing so good...  I´m sure I´ll love Mont Tremblant !!!!
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: Ann on March 07, 2012, 09:57:11 am
Hey Val, sorry to hear about the end of your marriage, but if neither of you are happy, you're better off apart.

Can you keep in touch with your son through Skype on a computer? Even quite young children can be taught how to use it, so get him a computer and an internet connection before you go and teach him how to use it. I keep in touch with my daughter on Skype and it's nice to be able to see her instead of just talking on the phone.

How does your new girlfriend feel about you going to Canada? Will she be able (or willing) to go with you? Congrats by the way. Sounds like your life is really going well for you these days. And I'm glad to hear you plan on playing more rugby. I know how much it means to you. :)

Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: Valmont on March 07, 2012, 10:34:03 am
Hola Ann

Well, sure, many things in a short moment...

About my son, your advices are great, and I thought about them.  It is the way we communicate with his gran fathers in France.  Really, I´m still wondering if it is a so great decision to go so far from my son, this was not the inicial plan...

My girl friend is also something to think about.. Well, we started a very little time ago, we knew us a the end of 2011...  From the beginning, I knew she had plan to go outside for a postgrade, she also knew about my VIH and my plan to go to Canada and she supported me...

We started together without any special projection, but well, we hare really happy.  When I told her about Canada visa acceptation, she was very confused.  She support me and think it is what it is, and that I should do it.  She is also frightened about us, she don´t want to suffer in the future.  About me, I´m now living in the present and I don´t want to stop this relation that make us having very good moments...  It is very soon for thinking she can come with me, but I think it is completelly possible...  I want to give some more time to know us better.  Anyway, I don´t think I will move till the end of 2012...  She has the possibility to go and study to Canada, I don´t want to presure her so much, she is confused, I think she needs a little time, but she knows exactly what I think and want.  I take the things quietly, without desesperation...

Yes, Ann, my life is going in a good way, despite of everything...
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: le_liseur on March 07, 2012, 02:06:45 pm
Hi Val!

Just to let you know, it's always easier to move in Montreal in the summer, around July 1st (the unofficial moving day hehe) Most leases are renewed or changed then, so it's the best time to look for apartment. It's obviously possible to do it anytime of the year, but it's just easier then. The weather can also make things complicated in other times, like in the winter... hehe

Also, it seems it's better on the mood for people moving here to do so in the summer, when the weather is wonderful. I've known many people who moved here for school, who came at the end of summer/beginning of fall, and they thought their first year here was more difficult because of how the weather affected their mood hehe But if you are a winter person, then there's no problem! And the city is doing more and more to adapt its lifestyle to the winter time! (festivals, winter parties, ice resort, scandinavian spas, etc.)

Why I'm talking about this is in the case your new girlfriend wants to come over. If you get to come together to visit before the big move, during summer, she would see how warm it can be (I imagine she's not very used to cold seasons, right? hehe) My brother's girlfriend also comes from South America, and the first time she came here during winter, she really thought it was "too cold" ! hehe

Again, if she decides, with time, by her own decision, to come study here, there are some really good medschool in Montreal (McGill, UdeM if she wants to work in French, etc.) There are important project going on right now to make a "health neighborhood" here, with the university hospital centre and other new research centres, and public health centres, so she could find places to study/work for. :)

And as Karry said, you'll enjoy Mt-Tremblant hehe But even closer to the city, there are really nice nature parks. I love Mont Saint-Hilaire, during the colour season, it's all red and yellow and orange!

Looking forward to hear more on your move!
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: Valmont on March 11, 2012, 04:26:35 pm
Thank you, Le Liseur, but I cannot go before because of money....  I was also thinking in sharing an appart for the first months till I find a job.

I know how raw can be winter there...  In the case of my girl friend, maybe she knows better cold than I because she studied in Sweden...  and for sure I know how good are universities there, but I let her deciding...  all is so quick but this is how I´m living my life now, anyway I don´t want to presure her and be sure...
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: Bluetoe on May 03, 2012, 07:35:46 am
Congratulations Valmont! Am new here! My husband positive is also applying for canada and in 3wks he has 2 go 4 his interview so am wondering, did u go for one and what did they ask you??! Am freaking out for him! Our visa has taken a year so far and had to do medicals twice! Thanks, any help on your process is appreciated!
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: Valmont on May 03, 2012, 10:18:24 pm
Hi Bluetoe, welcome here !!!

I´m not sure I undestand (sorry).  In the process, there are some interview taht are directed from the Quebec or Canadian immigration officer (depending of the type of application), their objective are to be sure you are managing languages 8such as french or English), about your education and working experience and your capacities for integrating canadian society.  In this interview, you never talk about anything regarding with health.

In regard with health, at the end of the process, Federal ask for a medical examination, with a meeting with a doc authorized for CIC.  They ask you for some labs tests (including ELISA) and depending of the results, they can ask you for more.  Everything is sent to canadian authorities and they can deny the visa, ask for some examen, or asking for passport for stamping the visa.

The problem in regard with HIV for Canada is the relationated cost for society that it means.  Anyway, it is not because your husband has HIV that visa will be denied.  Some of us in this forum, with HIV could have a permanen visa there...

In my case, I choose to be really honest with the doc during the interview, we did not waste our time to make an ELISA and wait for the "surprise, it is positive !!!".  I told him immediatelly about my condition, he has been very kind, then I add al my examen to demostrate my health was not (so) bad, CD and VL, and other examens, and we sent everything...

Your husband can choose his doc (from a list), it is always better to try to have info about who is going to receive him, f he can, try to find one kind and open...

I hope this could have helped you, don´t hesitate to send me PM (after 3 mensajes in the forum...)
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: LiveWithIt on May 04, 2012, 12:02:37 am
Congrats.
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: randym431 on May 05, 2012, 01:12:58 am
Good luck. I have been considering the same. Or maybe France.
People down here have collectively lost their minds. I suspect Mitt will get elected, another great depression will follow, and as distraction Mitt will start rounding up the less desirables and load us up on trains heading for camps. The sad part is I'm actually serious.

But anyway, good luck.
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: Valmont on May 10, 2012, 10:49:56 am
Right now I´m in Ecuador, not in so bad situation, but here nothing is sure (well till oil price are hight, thing won´t get wrong...)...  I´m worried about access to a good health care and better life quality; or what may happen if I get sick...

About France, with Hollande as a president, what should be expected?.........

Anyway, there is always place for people who works hard anywhere... 
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: David in Toronto on May 11, 2012, 08:19:13 am
Great news and congrats!!!

There are great programs here for treatment. Idk about Quebec but in Ontario we have a program called trillium which gives you access to meds and your premium is based on your income. For example, I am on truvada and kaletra and 2 other antibiotics as a precaution. If I was not in the trillium program, those meds would cost around $1800/month. I pay a premium of 2000/year paid quarterly. I'm sure that Quebec has a similar program. Also testing up here is conducted more than 2x per year. My loads are tested monthly, although I've only started in February as I was diagnosed in late January 2012. Goodluck with your relocation.
Title: Re: Immigration application to Canada - Accepted !!!
Post by: OneTampa on May 11, 2012, 08:19:14 pm
Congrats Val!