Well here goes. In spite of repeated heeds from various forum members that be there early in the morning, I reached late. Not exactly my fault, as the hotel reception gave me incorrect timing assumptions. Anyway, I would repeat what everyone else said, be there early. In fact, try to be at the HSBC Center around 7:30 AM. Anyway, I reached there at around 8:10 AM. On entering the building, you take the Escalator up to the lobby. There as soon as you enter, there's a guy who would keep saying "Get your passport scanned and motion you to come to him". At the beginning, I was a bit surprised as to how, he could make out that I was not there for any other purpose (I mean Canadian Consulate General is not the only office in the HSBC Center). But, I guess, all others had employee tags and typical visitor visits could be to the CCG. Anyway, he scanned my passport and gave me a Visitor sticker with a number. He then asked me to proceed to the elevator past a security guard to his front and take it to the 30th floor marked with the Red Canadian flag. I did that. Upon reaching upstairs. I was greeted by the good security guy (being referred by Honolulu
) who just asked for ehich type of visa and then asked me to shut off my cell phone. He then motioned me as to which queue I should join. It was 8:15 AM and the queue for PRs was considerable. I was 12th in the queue and by that time a few had already been catered too. The waiting area was full, with no seats left. I was cursing myself for being late. However, I joined the queue. The queue to the left was for Visitors / Students. They were being handled by Booth 4. PRs by Booth 5. There were 2 other booths. No. 3, where some interviews were being taken. No. 6 where the Cashier was stationed. Anyway, I calculated that the officer at No. 5 was taking about 5 minutes on each applicant and so it would take until 9:15AM for my turn to come. Again I was concerned that 5 minutes ?? Is some sort of an interview being taken. However, the process fastened up a little later. My turn came at 8:50 AM. By that time, she made an announce,ent to return the stamped passports for 2 applicants already. The only questions she asked me was if I was the last person in the queue and I said no, there are 4-5 people behind me and she sighed "Ah, the line that never ends". She didn't ask me for the Authority Letter for my spouse, asked for only 2 photos each and the PPR e-mail and the passports. She entered some information for 2-3 minutes and then asked me to wait saying that I will be called by my Visitor number. I then waited in the seating area for around an hour and then was called to give me my stamped passports ;D She asked that I verify all details vefore I leave and then I am good to go. Congratulations and you are welcome to land anytime till 19th July 2010. That's it and I was off for the day.
Avayalenovo, hoping to hear the good news from you tomorrow. Just be on time, if you want to get done sooner.
