Well Alex finally got in touch with an immigration lawyer and got some info. I might be going back. Here's the story of my little bit of drama in Canada.

After I graduated university in August 2005 I went to Canada with Alex. We both got an apartment with our names on the lease, a bank account, car keys, house keys, credit card, everything together. We were about to embark on a new life together.

In Canada I applied for an open 6-month work permit. This permit is only for recent university graduates who can work basically anywhere in Canada except for medical or educational positions. It's some weird agreement between Canada and the USA. So within 3 weeks I was working for Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce as an investment representative on a contract. During my 5 months there the co-workers and my supervisors really wanted me to stay and the company even funded for me to take a couple courses in order to be eligible to trade securities on the Canadian and U.S. markets. Of course I was thrilled for opportunities like these to come up. So a couple months before my open work permit was to expire, I applied for a NEW work permit under CIBC. I even had the job offer letter from the company telling me they wanted to extend my contract, they wanted to keep me there and I was a good employee. Me and Alex totally didn't think this would get rejected, but lo and behold it did. The lovely rejection letter even said (and I quote), "We do not feel your position would have a positive effect on the Canadian marketplace." HUGE BLOW. I was upset, crying, bawling, everything. So CIBC didn't have any choice BUT to let me go, which they did at the beginning of February. My boss did tell me that when I got things sorted out with Immigration Canada to let them know, and maybe I could have my position back. But MAN being let go really sucked. I cried, even in the office. So embarrassing!!

So Alex and I decided I would head back to the States so I could at least work and not do NOTHING and wait for my PR status to come through while in the USA. The day my parents came to get me was the worst day ever. Me and Alex were both hugging and crying and telling each other we loved one another. Even his aunt and mom cried. Wow, it was a sad moment.

However.....Alex consulted with an Immigration lawyer today. The lawyer said that the best thing for me to do is to come back to Canada so Alex can apply to sponsor me as a common-law. Reason being, my name is still on the apartment lease and by August it will have been on the lease for a whole year. At that point, we can file for the common-law arrangement, then file for PR Status and the lawyer can get me PR status 4 months from then. Which means I could probably be working again by December. The thing is I actually have to be IN Canada and LIVING with Alex so the government will know that I am committed to staying and working there as a citizen.

So....I might actually be going back in a few weeks. It's a relief, god I miss Alex like crazy. And I have only been in the States for 2 weeks. The other half of me is literally gone. I'll feel bad if I have to turn down a position with JP Morgan, but Canada is where my heart is and I want to go back! I don't even have any friends left in the States.

Anyways, thats a little piece of the drama I had to deal with this past month and a half. Whew!