In the past year and previously I have been desperately trying to obtain a visa of residence to stay here with my new wife.

It started roughly 14 months ago, before the wedding, when we went to the immigration office to ask what I would need to do in order to stay in the country, the answer was nothing, simply pay 130 leva and show the marriage certificate and everything would be ok.

Well, after trips to Turkey, Greece, and a rather unsuccessful venture to Macedonia, several thousands of dollars, and countless amounts of time wasted, I am no further towards the process of staying here than I was when I started.

Each time I now go to the immigration something has changed, once for the better, but most of the time some surprise twist that has me going on a paper hunt that ends up taking months.

I understand the immigration people are just doing their jobs, and I understand lots of rules, regulations and laws have changed due to the EU, however the sheer idiocy of what is happening is nothing short of mind-numbing and now I believe not only is this country doing everything it can to keep me from staying, but also make sure my wife doesn’t remain either.

I am extremely curious who else has these problems, I can not believe I am the only Canadian trying to live in Bulgaria, but after the events that continue to transpire I suppose I shouldn’t be so surprised.

NZ