I received my papers in the mail yesterday, retroactively legalizing me to the anniversary of my date of entry into Canada. I'm very pleased about that.
To explain: I have a NAFTA visa, which allows me to work in Canada for a Canadian employer. The visa only lasts a year, but is renewable. About a month before the expiry date is when you're supposed to send in your renewal papers. I sent in my renewal papers. The month passed. My status expired.
Four more weeks passed, and on Tuesday I received a phone call from Immigration Canada.
"Is this Samuel Mikes?"
"Yes."
"I have before me your application to renew your NAFTA visa."
"Yes?"
"You forgot to sign it."
He allowed me to digest that for a moment.
"Did you keep a copy?"
Yes and I'll just sign that and fax it right to you. Thankyouverymuchsir.
And then my papers came in yesterday's mail. So: they're so backlogged that a simple form-review sits in a hopper for 8 weeks -- 4 weeks longer than they predict -- and then a guy looks at it for an hour and it's approved. Amazing.
But I am happy that I again enjoy the right of leaving and re-entering the country.