We're finally home

At about 4pm, Nisa and Jamie received their immigration passes to remain here and with that, any doubt (or risk) was removed; we're all able to stay and set up a home. This journey started many years before, at the cusp of our marriage where I went to the authorities to ask if permission would be granted for Nisa to live in Spore. She is after all, a foreigner. Equally importantly was that my son was to have a father by his side, so he turns out proper and adjusted. Things going awry happen right before my eyes.

The authorities I spoke with said it was not the policy to break a family apart. On that informal assurance, we built our entire dreams and hopes. A house was bought, the family relocated, Nisa left her job and Jamie went to school. We sat around a little before putting on our application. Typical of authorities the world over, they only tell you what submission documents are required but don't tell you the qualifying criteria. We had to go back to KL to get some, have them translated at the High Court and furnished them altogether. There was doubt whether Nisa and Jamie could return to spore with the documents but we somehow did. After the submission, we were told we would hear back within 24hrs; one day became two, and it became four. Apparently, there was a problem and when I went to see them, the authorities refused to tell me what it was, only speaking in their code.

Many rejections can be handled via financial expenditure or physical burden. If Jamie had to pay the foreigner's rate for school, then so be it. If we can't buy a house and need to walk up stairs to our flat, that's ok, even in the long run. As long as we're all home together. But if the passes were rejected, they leave Spore and what becomes of our lives? Something so simple as a pass brings such dire consequences.

Well, the passes were granted and we're finally home.