Yesterday, I went to The Citizenship and Immigration Canada(CIC) office. I went there with my Thai friend. We wanted to ask if we can extend our Canadian visa. We got there around 3.45 pm. The office was closed at 4 pm. There were very few people in the office. My friend got a queue number before me so she talked to that person first. She asked about how to extend Canadian visa in Canada. That person just reply her shortly 'No'.
My friend wanted to tralvel to the USA after the day Canadian visa expires. She would not be able to come back here if she did that. She tried to ask if there is any ways she can do to travel to the USA at that period of time. That person replied angrily and impolitely 'There is no way you can do that'.
My friend stepped back from the window with a pale face. Then, she told me to try talking to the person because I have better English skill than her and I also have similar situation with her. So I reached the counter.
'Is it possible if we make a visa from inside Canada?'
'No'
I was curious and stopped talking for a second. I was thinking about the reason and the logic for this answer. The person didn't explain the reason or anything else except 'No'.
My friend interrupted 'What if...'.
'Don't you hear that? Visa is a permit'
I and my friend looked at each other's face. That person kept saying 'Visa is a permit' many times.
I was thinking 'So what?'
I asked her 'If we apply visa from Seattle, then we will pick it up in Seattle...' 'THERE.....IS....NO....CIC....office...in..Seattle' that person shouted at us at a very unusual slow speed and sighed heavily.
'You'll have to mail it and wait for them to mail back.Understand?'
'Yeah, thank you'.
We left the office immidiately. I was so disappointed with that person's beheaviour. She didn't look like government representative. She has quite a lot of tattoo.
My friend doubted 'Is it ok for a government representative to have several tattoos? It's very rare in our country for government people to have rude beheaviour.'
I agreed 'Yeah. If we faced this situation in Thailand, I would do something to revenge her.'
My friend curious ' Maybe because we are international students, people usually look down on us.'
'It could be' I said to her.
At least,I learned something from this situation. It will be one of my unforgettable experience in Vancouver.
I felt sorry about both of you ... it must be a terrible situation and I am sure I would feel exactly the same thing if I went through the same experience... I'v never been in their offices hmmm I thought they do not have any that is open to public and now I am very discouraged to show my face. I'll tell you something, for renewing my visa.. I mailed it to the Canadian Embassy in LA, U.S. and I am waiting for them to process it and mail it back to me. I guess you need to do the same thing... good luck
ReplyDeleteSuch a terrible experience. I feel sorry about you and your friends. I think you said everything politely even if I believe you were not in such mood; that means you are very kind and mature!
ReplyDeleteOh, I can imagine how you felt. Actually I have a same experience here. When we just arrived in Vancouver, we just thought Vancouver was perfectly nice, but we gradually come to find out bad aspects of Vancouver. But I still love this city!
ReplyDeleteToo bad.............how can she be so rude to her own customers that make her paid??? (I just assumed that it was woman... am I right?) Don't think much about it....Hey and you got something to write on complaint letter! Let's look on the bright side. :)
ReplyDeleteOh dear, Chanida! When I came back from a trip to Israel many years ago, I was happy to see people from CIC at the airport. When I returned from Korea some years ago after having been away for nearly three years, though, I was shocked at the changes in CIC personnel--none of them good. They were short to the point of rudeness, refused to smile, and in general came across as intimidating. I'm really sorry that you had this experience.
ReplyDeleteI can say, though, that we normal people are very pleased to have you in our country! ;-)
I just realized: I was confusing the Canada Border Services agency (which is what I was thinking of) with Citizenship and Immigration Canada. I should know whether they are from the same government department or not, but I'm too lazy to check right now. In any case, I'm sorry that you had this trouble, Chanida!
ReplyDeleteOhhhhhhhhhh.... I'm so sorry to hear that :( How did it go yesterday? Could you talk to a better person? I hope yes..
ReplyDeleteOh, what a bad experience, but I think don't worry about that, you know It can happen to everybody, not only international student. I've been confronted to such a rud person in France as well for example, the only thing is just to don't care. And maybe, did you try to write a letter of complain, to explain the situation to her superiors? It could be a solution.
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