The paperwork RANT!

So if you choose to read this blog entry be committed to reading the whole thing- then and only then can you share my "pain" and increased patience. You will either cry or laugh- maybe both!

Today was a big event here in LV. Keith was able to FINALLY get license plates for his motorcycle- trust me this is big news! I'll start from the beginning and then you can appreciate the plates as much as we do!

Step 1. Get F1 visas for Keith to be a student in the USA. F2 visas for myself and the kids. Keith can only work on campus while we are here. These are precious visas- do not lose them! And have them signed before we come back to Canada- or else!

Step 2. Get across the border with passports, visas applications, letters from the school, a COMPLETE packing list of all items in the truck and trailer... but... FAIL to import Keith's motorcycle (that he bought in the USA and had imported to Canada in 2008) into the USA- really we did not think about that one- and the border guys did not say anything either.

Step 3. Get to Louisville and try to open a bank account. Well you need an address to do that- so we get a box at the school. Bank guy asks for proof that we have an address- I tell him that he could send us a letter and then we would have mail I could show him! The nice guy uses our Canadian address and passports to get us set up... We really need the account so we can buy a house and car and have money in the USA. Well the debit cards get lost and the cheques get sent to Canada.... AAHHHHH! After 3 tries we get the debit cards and finally get cheques to our house!

Step 4. Buy the house. This was actually rather easy- but we needed an address to get insurance for a vehicle that we did not yet own. While the process was not as nasty it was still quite stressful- I think buying a house is a big deal.....

Step 5. Get utilities to the house- without a social security number! Go to DOWNTOWN Louisville, get lost after the GPS breaks with 3 kids, pray like crazy, find both places, wait in line, plead our case, show ALL our documents and manage to get water, electric and gas... THANK YOU LORD!

Step 6. Get the driver's license. Well you need a social security number to get the license... we do not have a SS yet- so we have to get DENIED- officially. Keith and I went downtown again for this- we waited for 1.5 hours in the most bizarre place with the most interesting collection of people to get the DENIAL letter- after we showed the letters from the school asking them to deny us! Then we need a "blue letter"... from the county clerk office! We go to the wrong office to get the blue letter, but find the closest office. I went the next day but did not have my husband ... so the NEXT day we all went and got the precious blue letter with a number that is not an SS number but the guys at the driver's office want it! Then we went to the drivers license place and took the eye test, written test and booked the road test. I honestly do not know how my left eye passed that test- scary! Next day Keith and I took our driving tests (motorcycle for Keith too) and passed! We still had the truck so we borrowed a friend's van! I think the guy that gave us the test got minor whiplash- I had been driving a truck for 5 weeks by then! All this cost $20- this was the first fee we encountered.... go figure.

Step 7. Buy a van and get it licensed! We were able to get insurance easily- it is remarkable how easily people will take your money! We bought the van and managed to get the wrong type of money order. Miracles of miracles- Keith was walking back to the bank to meet the fellow that we bought the van from to get him the right money order while I was out with the van (and Keith's wallet and ID) trying to get license plates done- BUT I got lost and somehow drove down the road just as Keith was walking with Megan and Luke- so I pulled into the bank as Keith was going to call me to come! It still took another 2 trips to the license office to get the ownership finally transferred to our name... by this time I am getting to know Louisville quite well!

Step 8. Find out that because we did not import the motorcycle Keith cannot get plates for the bike! The official line from the border was- "bring it back to the border crossing you came through and have it inspected and imported!" Okay- that was not a good day- 2400 miles away from the Porthill crossing- we were not game for another road trip! Keith made MANY phone calls and after chatting with a helpful customs broker we found out that Keith just needed a customs guy to inspect the bike and import it- so he drove the insured but unlicensed bike to the Louisville AIRPORT! The fellow there did not even come out to look at the bike, but he got the precious papers! Then the whole process of the license office- again! This time it was a problem not having the social security number- the lady said to Keith that he needed a W7 number ??????? And she could give him the number to call to see how to get one and they could mail him a number in the next 3 weeks! AAAHHHHH!!! I had been driving Keith to and from school for a week and it was getting old for all of us- another 3 weeks?? But then- I remembered that a knowledgeable lady had written down a different number (from the blue letter that I did not have anymore) when I got the license stuff done before for the van..... Well Keith went back again and.. IT WORKED! So today Keith is back on his bike with Kentucky plates... sigh....

So another step behind us.. but I am sure that there will be more ahead! My poor fingers are aching after that rant! Are you laughing or crying? Maybe you quit half way through and skimmed.... no prizes for you! I'm going to go and get some chocolate....

I am still SO thankful for beds for the kids and a roof over our heads. I am thankful that God has given us the grace to see His good hand in all difficult things... even to be able to laugh at what all can happen in "ordinary" life.

Stay tuned.....