Issue link: https://maltatoday.uberflip.com/i/1506448
2 maltatoday | SUNDAY • 27 AUGUST 2023 NEWS CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 The journey that was meant to mark a new beginning in- stead became a frustrating od- yssey, as authorities repeatedly omitted to provide the neces- sary permits, certifications, and legal documents required for a smooth transition. It all started last year, when Charles and Pamela felt Cana- da had become too expensive for them. "I had heard stories about Malta, I actually visited once or twice, and something inside me always told me I'd come back one day." "We started off by speaking to the Maltese consulate in Can- ada to see what we needed for Pamela and the kid, as I was pretty much in the clear given I had a Maltese parent," he said. The couple decided to swap Saskatchewan, Canada for Gozo's Għajnsielem, and want- ed to enrol their young son at the locality's primary school, who told them they need proof of the father's citizenship. Their child's enrolment into Għajnsielem Primary School was seemingly settled as the school administration granted approval. Inquiring about the necessary requirements, they were simply informed that proof of the father's citizenship would suffice. An email was sent to Komu- nitá Malta on 13 March 2023. Their correspondence was redirected to Identity Malta, which, in April 2023, request- ed the father's birth certificate. The journey then led them to the public registry, where a fur- ther twist awaited them – the need to legalize the birth cer- tificate. Amid the maze of bureaucra- cy, each step seemed to open a new chapter of complications. As the birth certificate was duly registered, the family returned to Identity Malta, only to dis- cover another hurdle: Charles Mercieca's absence from the system. Birth registration accom- plished, they went back to Identity Malta in Victoria, where the assurance was grant- ed. A visit to the public regis- try followed, with an estimat- ed three-week waiting period communicated. "Identity Malta and Komunita Malta failed to tell me, while I was still enquiring from Can- ada, that my birth certificate needed to be legalized in Cana- da before coming over. I didn't find this out until I went to register my birth at the Public Registry, in April, when I was already here," Charles said. "It was supposed to be a three- week waiting period to have the Public Registry register my birth." As the days edged closer to 11 May, a crucial date that marked a potential new employment opportunity for Charles, the family were faced with another problem. The opportunity to work slipped through Charles Mer- cieca's fingers due to the absence of necessary documentation. It wasn't until the end of July or early August that the crucial le- galized birth certificate, sent to Canada for processing, finally returned to him. After nearly four weeks had passed, he made a call to the Public Registry and was informed of issues with his certificate. His frustration apparent, the matter was resolved within an hour. With the corrected cer- tificate in hand, he collected it from the Public Registry and proceeded to Identity Malta, only to discover he wasn't pres- ent in their system. The realization that it could take up to 15 days to rectify this situation sunk in. This was de- spite previous assurances from Identity Malta that the pres- entation of a registered birth certificate would facilitate the same-day issuance of a Maltese ID. Charles found himself in a precarious situation, as the im- pending start date of his job loomed. The call to the Public Registry was directly related to this new job, one he risked los- ing if he couldn't start by 3 Au- gust, just a few days away. This marked a period of ap- proximately three months during which he remained un- employed while waiting for his documentation to be sorted. "It's ridiculous. There was no turning back, and we had to go through all this, it is exhaust- ing," he said. Customs and proof of previous employment When the family arrived in Malta, they brought with them belongings of sentimental value, including heirloom china dishes and cherished personal items such as their son's clothes and bicycle. Upon notification that their items had arrived in Malta, they were informed of an 18% VAT charge on the declared value, amounting to around 885 C$, which would be refunded after a year. Additionally, they need- ed to engage a courier and pay fees for the transfer of the items from the shipyard to customs, along with an extra €146. Engaging a courier opened yet another chapter of complexi- ties. The family found them- selves seeking answers and information, which proved elu- sive. The passage of 15 days car- ried the threat of a 3% surcharge on the declared amount. The demand for a deposit left the Mercieca family puzzled. To release their possessions, they were required to prove their prior residency in the country of origin. In response, Pamela submitted her 2022 income tax records from Canada as evi- dence, noting that any addition- al proof resided within the very items held by customs. Further complications arose when customs demanded 12 consecutive pay slips from the last year or a written declara- tion. The reason behind this request remained unclear to the family. Pamela's inquiry into the na- ture of a written declaration was met with uncertainty, as she lacked the requested pay slips due to a year of unemploy- ment. With a prospective resident permit application process tak- ing up to six months, their fi- nancial strain would likely per- sist. The looming deposit require- ment cast a shadow on their fis- cal stability. Charles Mercieca's frustration echoed the senti- ment of many entangled in sim- ilar bureaucratic mazes. This week, the family were told they will get their things next week, with the price reduced from 885 C$ to almost half. But the family still believe they made the good decision to come to Malta, saying they are draw- ing a clear distinction between the country's authorities and her people. "The people have been lovely, always trying to help us," they said. "Our boy absolutely loves Gozo and would never accept going back to Canada." The family said they want to make their story known to the rest of the country. "Maybe our ordeal will help others looking to make the move to Malta. This is not something anyone should go through, and maybe we can turn the situation a bit to the better," they said. 'There was no turning back' Charles and Pamela with their son