Any one applying through Guatemala visa office?

[arlesoma]

Hi Arlesoma:

About communicating with CIC Guatemala, I really never being lucky truth is we are using a lawyer so every communnication is being trough them. Probably Zygurn could help you with that question.
About police certificates and court certificates they are send originals so they don't need to be notarized. Just translate them and certify the translation. With court certificates you take them to the supreme court in Tegucigalpa to be certify.
About the rest of documents to be send original DO NOT notarize just send certify translations. The rest of the documents to be send as copies DO notarize and send certify translations.

Hope to this was helpful.

Gigab

Gigab,
Really sorry for the next question but what is the difference between notarized and certified, my understanding is that they are the same thing?
In the CIC Guatemala Instructions it says:
Do not send original unless otherwise stated. Send notarized photocopies of all documents. If your douments are not in English or French, send a notarized (certified) translation with a copy of the originals.

With this I thought they were the same thing, am I wong? Thank you so much. :-[

 

[zygurn]

I had no internal contact with CIC Guatemala, I just used the inquiry email and I was told I didn't have to translate nor certify anything. If I remember correctly, I only sent originals of Birth Certificate and PCCs and sent to CIC as they were given to me, i.e. no translation, no certification, in Spanish and copies of my degrees, grades, etc (though this was to BIQ since I applied through Quebec). But to be sure, I cleared it before with them and I never had any problem. Always ask them and just to make sure, print a copy of their email response and send it with your package to avoid missunderstandings (though they might be anyway, they don't tend to follow their rules very well, take belize's case as an example).

 

[gigab]

Arlesoma:

When I sent full documents to Guatemala, I sent every copy notarized by a public notary and every document not in English (meaning copy or original document) with a certify translation. The only document I had in English was the IELTS results.

By the way Zygurn, I would like to ask about traveler's checks. Is it a long procedure to change them or isi t right away?

 

[zygurn]

Gigab,

I did not get traveler's check so I really don't know. I think you don't get the money right away when you exchange them here or at least that's what I remember reading somewhere so this detracted me of coming over with them. Unfortunately, for us, the only other way to bring money is in cash. You could open an account through HSBC but I tried and at least the office I went to (main office actually), didn't know anything on how to do it and well, the long line on waiting and their ignorance on the procedure, detracted me on trying this route.

 

[gigab]

This is so evryone from Guatemala can share timelines or ask any questions that way we can help each other.
jmboy3 how are your papers moving?

 

[gigab]

Hi everyone

I'm almost tired of waiting. I think that If I had at least a response of them stating the reasons of the delay I would be more relax. But I really can't believe an office to stay with your passports for almost 5 months now.
Can someone tell me If at this stage you could be denied a visa?
Please share.

 

[future2010]

hi gigab,

has your Ecas changed to decision made already?

 

[gigab]

No. My e cas hasn't changed since they ask us to send full documents in Sept. 2009. It didn't even change for medicals nor passports request. So I really don't pay much attention to it. I guess that my VO does not update information to Sydney.

Gigab

 

[alic]

I am also tired of waiting and no news at all! This can really wear down anyone's state of mind...
Gigab, till now I have not thought of the idea of a refusal on the visa.. NOW AS YOU I AM REALLY
STARTING TO WORRY !

 

[Osiris]

Hi There we are applying through Guatemala Visa office, My partner is in Guatemala, we also think that is kinda of faster because they already asked us for the RPRF and passport, we applied on Jun 24, 2010.

 

[gigab]

Hi There we are applying through Guatemala Visa office, My partner is in Guatemala, we also think that is kinda of faster because they already asked us for the RPRF and passport, we applied on Jun 24, 2010.

Hi Osiris
It seems your applicaton moved reallly fast. There are cases in Family Sponsor Class forum waiting for passports with visas for 9 months now. So find yourself lucky.

 

[gigab]

Hi
I sent an e mail yesterday asking for my passports since I have to travel due to a health problem with dad. I got a response from them today saying that "Unfortunately we will be unable to finalize your case for the next three months. If you need your passports back we will gladly send them to you and you can resubmit them later to this office."
Unbelievable 3 MORE MONTHS to go. Why are they taking so long? For me this means probably next year. There is definetely something wrong with this office don't you think so?
I guess nothing else to do but wait and have faith. Start planning a smooth landing. I was just thinking about my kids school. Will schools in Canada accept him let's say in March when the school year is almost finished?

Gigab

 

[jmboy3]

Wow Gigab, unbelievable that they are making you wait three more months, at least feel good that you got a response from them, I sent them an email a week ago asking about how my case was coming along and I still have yet to receive a reply from them. So I guess you will rough it out and not ask for your passports back. I know it must be tough not being able to leave the country esp. if you're father needs to leave for health reasons. But since you have made it this far I think you should let them keep your passports so that there will be no more delays with the issuing of your Visas. As far as my case goes, I will send them another inquiry email asking them if it is okay to request my passport and RPRF. I think it doesnt hurt to keep trying. I was reading about CAIPS, do you think its worth it?
jmboy3

P.S. Let's keep the faith and the prayers coming

 

[gigab]

Hi
If you e mail them sent it under specific inquiry. I'm telling you this because the first time I email them was under general inquiry and until now no response. But someone at this forum told me to reach them by filling out the form under specific inquiry and actually i got a response from them.
About caips note, I tried to do it but people at this forum advice not to, for what? due to the fact that I was at the last stage of the process. What I do know is that it takes about 5-6 weeks to get them.
gigab

 

[jmboy3]

Hi Gigab, I would like to ask you, what form are you referring to to find specific enquiry? Is it on the embassy website? There are only two email addresses on that website do you refer to using the second one? I have been sending my emails to the second one with no response from them.
General: gtmla@international.gc.ca
Visa requests: guatemala-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca