Here's my timeline
- We received your application for a permanent resident card on May 3, 2018.
- We sent you correspondence acknowledging receipt of your application(s) on August 20, 2018.
- We started processing your application on August 20, 2018.
Decision made is ~August 20. I called today and they said my card has been sent for pick-up to the Montreal office, which apparently is taking its sweet time to send me an actual appointment letter. Alas, I live in California with my Canadian spouse (a fact that was made abundantly clear in my application), which is probably why CIC insists on being annoying.
This is the second time I've renewed my PR card based on the strength of accompanying my Canadian spouse, but in 2013 they just mailed it to the Canadian address... I'm actually going to Montreal twice before my card expires (Dec 4) so if I'm really lucky it'll fall during one of those visits... but I suspect I won't be so lucky and I may need to do a 24h round-trip (yay, more money spent on this stupid thing). Also, the CIC rep told me it's not clear if there'll be an "interview" or not (the letter will say so), and the office doesn't seem to take walk-ins (yay...).
<rant>
Generally, this is a relatively stupid process, designed to maximally inconvenience permanent residents like me. Yeah, some VIP member here will probably explain to me that I should just get a multiple entry PRTD, but the fact of the matter is that the PRTD process is also from some by-gone era:
- You can't apply for a PRTD if you hold a valid PR card. Mine expires on Dec 4, 2018 and I want to go visit my in-laws for Christmas, what do I do?
- The VAC in Los Angeles says it won't take any applications after Nov 1 (like at all). The CIC website is silent on how one will get a PRTD in the US after Nov 1 ("amazing" organizational skills).
- There are no published processing times for PRTDs: does it take 1 business day? 1 week? 4-5 months like the PR card renewal? ~12 months like a PR card renewal that goes to secondary processing? How does CIC expect people to plan their travels? Where does one even send questions like this?
- Also, a PR card is really convenient when arriving in Canada and using those automated passport checks (and with a restless toddler).
- Sure, I could fly to some Plattsburgh airport and rent a car and hope I don't get stuck at the border where some maybe-not-so-friendly CSBA officer questions me while my toddler asks him for a police sticker. But maybe I'd rather not do that for Christmas?
All in all, it's a bit sad that someone holding PR status has to go to significant lengths to just be able to easily travel to Canada and the entire process is designed to increase cost & uncertainty, while someone who has no PR status and just wants to visit Canada can get an eTA in a couple of days and be all set
.
</rant>
