The Outland Sponsorship Process

[m3anFl0w3r]

This forum is a lifesaver! Thank you for posting.

One note: I received my PPR yesterday, but there has been no mention of needing a "signed Annex A" to send in with the copy of my passport page etc. Maybe your instruction on that is only for some? I am immigrating to Ontario.

"You'll send your passport to the address listed in the email, along with two pictures and the document. If you're from a visa exempt country, they will request photocopies of your passport rather than the passport itself. Send this along with a signed Annex A to the address outlined in the PPR."

Your description of the rest of the process has been very accurate to my experience. Thanks!

I've seen many questions asked about the outland process and its various stages, so I created this post to try to provide a detailed breakdown.

The beginning of the process - AOR1

• Complete your application and send it in.
• CPC-Sydney receives the application. This is the start date for your application, you can input it on the google tracker if you like: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1Gm315tmNKWoywb7PwZBiE67fUmznYQrNhYVWXPXXJBw/edit#gid=2079961909
• CPC-Sydney then sends AOR1 as a PDF letter to the sponsor's email, this contains the application number and UCI:

  http://imgur.com/a/DydaI

• You can now check the progress of your application in ECAS using your application number. Using the Sponsor's details will show you both sides of the application's status:
  • https://services3.cic.gc.ca/ecas/security.do

Creating a GCKEY account

• You can then create a GCKEY account, this stage is optional and letters for biometrics and medical will come to your email if you don't create an account. It is, however, strongly advised to create a GCKEY account - and the rest of this process will read as if you did create an account.
  • Create a GCKEY account: https://onlineservices-servicesenligne-cic.fjgc-gccf.gc.ca/mycic/gccf?lang=eng&idp=gckey&svc=/mycic/start
  • Link your application to the account via the following guide (Credit to @alaria) : https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/how-to-link-an-application-to-cic-account-step-by-step-instruction.619724/

Sponsorship Approval

• Sponsorship approval will be sent as a PDF letter to the Sponsor's Email address.

  http://imgur.com/a/P0yOD

• ECAS will also show Decision Made under the Sponsor section:

  http://imgur.com/Cf4fZGU

CIC sends requests

• Biometrics and Medical request letters are then sent to your GCKEY account, where you can log in and download them. They can come in any order and in some instances can come after your application has been transferred:

  http://imgur.com/oTNo6O1

  • Your biometrics collection letter will need to be printed off and taken to your nearest VAC for processing, it's a good idea to search the forums for your local VAC to see other users experiences: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/where-to-give-biometrics.asp
  • Medical request letters need to be printed off and an appointment needs to be made with a CIC approved physician: https://secure.cic.gc.ca/pp-md/pp-list.aspx
• Once the medical and biometrics are complete/passed, your account will change to show: https://i.imgur.com/p4tYUJi

PA Processing

• Your application will then be transferred to your local VO, or in some instances CPC-Mississauga. CIC will send an email to the sponsor confirming which VO it has gone to.

  http://imgur.com/a/fjKRY

• Once the VO begins to process the application, they will send the PA an email to confirm they have receipted the application, this is known as AOR2. Not all VO's send this email, however. https://imgur.com/3KAwhoK.
• In some instances, for AOR2 you need to reply on ECAS to update to show when the application began to process under the applicant's details: https://imgur.com/Evp18Ca - this shows when your local VO began to process your application and is commonly referred to as 'Line 2 on ECAS'.

GCKEY Updates

• GCKEY goes through various changes during the final stages, again, this doesn't happen for everyone, unfortunately, and you may find your application show eligibility and background checks in progress from the moment you link your account. You'll see the following towards the end of the process: https://imgur.com/a/nSDvwQt
• This is the slowest part of the entire process as background and eligibility checks can take a long time to process. Some people get ghost updates on GCKEY as the application is worked on. This is shown when the status shows as Application/Profile Updated.

Checking ECAS

• ECAS allows you to check for updates on the application and during the final stages will show decision made under the principal applicant's section: https://imgur.com/F3yPtfD

Passport Request (PPR) & Confirmation of Permanent Residency (COPR)

• Once you've received 'decision made', you'll get a passport request emailed to you: https://imgur.com/a/RRL6H
• You'll send your passport to the address listed in the email, along with two pictures and the document. If you're from a visa exempt country, they will request photocopies of your passport rather than the passport itself. Send this along with a signed Annex A to the address outlined in the PPR.
• Once this has been processed, your GCKEY will update to show 'Approved'. You'll be issued with your COPR: https://imgur.com/a/f79qD
• COPR will then be mailed to the address you listed in your PPR: https://imgur.com/a/gTdTl

You're then free to land with your COPR.

Landing in Canada

• Depending on your situation, there are multiple options for landing in Canada:
  
  • The most common is for PA's that have remained outside of Canada during their full outland process outlined here: https://britishexpats.com/wiki/Landing_as_PR-Canada.
  • Flagpoling - this is the act of going to the nearest land border to have your PR activated. This is commonly used when the PA is already within Canada under dual intent. https://www.immigroup.com/news/flagpoling-your-way-new-work-or-study-permit-or-permanent-residence
  • Land at a local CIC office: This method can take a long time depending on how busy your local office is. Again, this is suited to applicants that are currently living in Canada. To book an appointment once you have COPR, call +1 888 242-2100 and request an appointment, you will then be contacted by your local office to arrange a date. Or for anyone who’s worried about toll-free not being included on their plan.

Credit to @haXudon and @svilli for a few of the images.

 

[armoured]

One note: I received my PPR yesterday, but there has been no mention of needing a "signed Annex A" to send in with the copy of my passport page etc. Maybe your instruction on that is only for some? I am immigrating to Ontario.

Annex A is just height and eye colour. Write it up in a table, any form, with tombstone details (date of birth passport number uci) and include.

They'll accept in almost any forms and they sometimes refer to annex a or not, but will ask for hieght and eye colour.

 

[m3anFl0w3r]

Annex A is just height and eye colour. Write it up in a table, any form, with tombstone details (date of birth passport number uci) and include.

They'll accept in almost any forms and they sometimes refer to annex a or not, but will ask for hieght and eye colour.

Ah, understood! Yes, they did ask for height and eye color, but never called it Annex A. Thank you for clarifying!
I decided to copy my Driver's License, which has those pieces of data on it and I wrote it out in larger print next to the photocopy.

 

[Maryam_ahm]

Can someone please guide me today my gckey account update ase final decision approved but we didn't get our passport back yet our passport has been in process since 1st Nov 2021

 

[StellaArtois]

Can someone please guide me today my gckey account update ase final decision approved but we didn't get our passport back yet our passport has been in process since 1st Nov 2021

My husband received his documents the week after the final decision was made. There may be more delays nowadays due to the pandemic though. Hope that helps ease your mind. You're almost through the process!

 

[Maryam_ahm]

My husband received his documents the week after the final decision was made. There may be more delays nowadays due to the pandemic though. Hope that helps ease your mind. You're almost through the process!

Where was your passport submitted

 

[StellaArtois]

Where was your passport submitted

New York Visa Office. If you want to see the complete timeline, it's in my signature.

 

[Maryam_ahm]

New York Visa Office. If you want to see the complete timeline, it's in my signature.

Ohh ok

 

[rcene12]

Hi applied for Pr application, recenetly i got the following:
Can anyone tell me what step 5 could be? They haven’t requested any addition information.

1. We received your application for permanent residence on June 21, 2021.
2. We started processing your application on November 17, 2021.
3. We sent you medical instructions on November 10, 2021. To avoid delays, please provide us the information requested in the letter as soon as possible. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.
4. Medical results have been received.
5. We sent you a letter on November 19, 2021. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.

 

[Penny.a]

Hi applied for Pr application, recenetly i got the following:
Can anyone tell me what step 5 could be? They haven’t requested any addition information.

1. We received your application for permanent residence on June 21, 2021.
2. We started processing your application on November 17, 2021.
3. We sent you medical instructions on November 10, 2021. To avoid delays, please provide us the information requested in the letter as soon as possible. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.
4. Medical results have been received.
5. We sent you a letter on November 19, 2021. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.

Number 5 is PPR I guess

 

[scylla]

Hi applied for Pr application, recenetly i got the following:
Can anyone tell me what step 5 could be? They haven’t requested any addition information.

1. We received your application for permanent residence on June 21, 2021.
2. We started processing your application on November 17, 2021.
3. We sent you medical instructions on November 10, 2021. To avoid delays, please provide us the information requested in the letter as soon as possible. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.
4. Medical results have been received.
5. We sent you a letter on November 19, 2021. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.

You need to see what the letter says. IRCC is likely requesting something to continue processing your application.

 

[Canarrive]

Hi applied for Pr application, recenetly i got the following:
Can anyone tell me what step 5 could be? They haven’t requested any addition information.

1. We received your application for permanent residence on June 21, 2021.
2. We started processing your application on November 17, 2021.
3. We sent you medical instructions on November 10, 2021. To avoid delays, please provide us the information requested in the letter as soon as possible. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.
4. Medical results have been received.
5. We sent you a letter on November 19, 2021. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.

Its nothing to worry about. I had the same message on Line 5. I called them and they told me its the letter that tells you how to connect your application with GCkey. So no need to worry even if you don't connect it.

 

[Capt.Marcos]

Hi
We have received SA, but are unable check information on ECAS. Please guide.

 

[Julien Gao]

Amazing! Thanks a lot for this.

 

[Maher_mohamed4]

Hi applied for Pr application, recenetly i got the following:
Can anyone tell me what step 5 could be? They haven’t requested any addition information.

1. We received your application for permanent residence on June 21, 2021.
2. We started processing your application on November 17, 2021.
3. We sent you medical instructions on November 10, 2021. To avoid delays, please provide us the information requested in the letter as soon as possible. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.
4. Medical results have been received.
5. We sent you a letter on November 19, 2021. Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.

Any updates,