Was I finally allowed to leave for Canada?

The whole process of applying is quite long. I was just checking how fast the time ran. There was is less and less time for receiving the visa and being able to leave Guatemala. Finally, I got to the point of confirming the payment and the application with all of my details filled in.

When I was applying for ETSA (also a kind of a visa, but this one would be for Canada), I received the permission within 2 minutes. It was incredibly quick. I expected this would happen even then when I was applying for the visa to the USA.

Instead, I received a message on the wall of the website about the fact that my application had not been approved and that I had to wait. It was written everywhere that when applying you should do it three days before your flight as latest. I did apply some 12 hours before my flight.

Night without a sleep

I, frankly, did not know what to do. I started to search some information about whether there is an exception for getting to the USA even without the document. Yet, I always found the same answer about the visa was necessary.

Now, imagine even another thing. I had some battery on my phone, but as I did not have any adapter which would fit with my chargers and the plugs, I needed to save the battery. I was about to go to Canada where I needed to contact the family I was going to visit. In that emergency, I kept the Wi-Fi on and waited whether I would receive an e-mail from the visa company.

I was exhausted, but still could not stop thinking of what my plan B would be. I have already had my ticket to and from Canada. I was invited to a wedding and one person was waiting there for me and I really desired to spend time with the person.

What if...

It came into my mind that in case I would not receive the visa, I would still go to the airport, just in case I would receive it right on time.

If I did not receive it, I would buy a new ticket to Canada (as I already had the ticket back home from there). I just hoped I could make it in time, so I could also be at the wedding.

And another thing was that I was left without any moneyin Guatemalan currency – Quetzal. I spent everything because I did not see a point in keeping money with me when leaving to a different country.

Picture: I did not feel that relaxed the last night in Guatemala.

The day of the flight

Well, finally I fell asleep for a little while but I kept waking up. Then I just went to check my mail box again. It had been already a morning and I still could not see anything but a message that the process can take up to three days!

I just decided to check a “spam” folder. Yes, it was there! I received the approval and I was allowed to enter the USA. So I started to cry! I was so happy. I did the online check-in immediately, packed some of the last things left outside of the suit and went happily towards the airport Aurora.

In Miami

The journey was long but I finally reached Miami. I knew I did not have much time for the trans-boarding. I tried to do everything as fast as I could. I had to go through some border controls and it seemed to take ages! There were too many people queuing.

Picture: I was finally on the plane!

At the end of it all, we finally had to wait longer for our flight. As everyone was ready at the gate, I noticed a guy who also flew from Guatemala. I started talking to him. You would not believe but the same thing with the visa happened to him. However, he decided to do the check-in only in the morning, so he had even less time for the application process than I had. But finally we made it!

Arriving in Canada

So there I was, finally. Canada – Ontario – Toronto. I left the airplane and went to the arriving hall excited about seeing a familiar face again. However, the familiar face went to the bathroom when I arrived, so I though I would walk a bit further and then check whether I just did not overlook the face.

Picture: Toronto tower was one of the spot I could see (after all).

There were two men running after me. These were uncles of my “familiar face” person. They wanted to ask whether it was me, but they forgot my name. Though, we realised we were talking to the right person.

The familiar face appeared soon, however his suitcase did not. He arrived on the same day but his luggage was lost. It took two days to get it.

To finish the story

As you can see, getting to Canada was not easy but it was worth it. I met many new, lovely people and I could explore Canada a little bit. The wedding was fabulous and I could go back home very satisfied.

Picture: There were beautiful adventures waiting for us in Canada.

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