Remember how we sent off our application to Canada on October 29th, 2020 (received in Canada on November 3rd, 2020)? Yeah, we do too. Remember how we heard nothing for ages? Remember how they finally OPENED our application on March 17, 2023? Remember how we had to go for an English test (😆), get biometrics done TWICE for no reason, FBI checks twice, and get medical exams done? Now, more than 3 ¾ years later, we THINK they have finally invited us, but we're not sure. They have a decision date on our online application portal and they emailed us asking for passport photos and copies of our passports for a permanent residence card. But they didn't come right out and say ‘You’re approved!'. Hmpf. (You can read more about the countries we researched here)
(Photo of our paper application for Canada)
Anyway, we are not going.
And on another note, for those of you who read our last blog post about the 2 houses, we have an offer accepted on House #1. You all seemed to like that one better and so did Scott! With a few changes to the downstairs bathroom/laundry, garden, and garage, it should be quite a nice house. It's got apple and plum trees in the backyard, and of course, the bar room! It does also have a hot tub outside, but I'm not sure how often (if at all) we'll be using that. Still close to the Sainsbury's but a bit more of an uphill climb to the ‘high street’ (main street).
The house buying process here is much different than in the U.S. Unfortunately getting an offer accepted doesn't necessarily mean you'll get the house. There are ‘chains’ here, meaning if the seller must buy a house and the owners of THAT house need to buy a house, there's a long wait. Luckily we have already sold our home so no waiting on our end, but the sellers are in the process of buying a house and that could take a few months. So if we're lucky, we might close on the house by December/January. But it could be February or March. And of course, there's gazumping 🤨
More later…