I have no idea why the process was the way it was. I followed the exact process described on a forum and things basically happened exactly the way they were described. FYI this was the initial email that started the process and it was sent by CIC Abu Dhabi in response to our email letting them know that we are heading back to Canada.
Dear Applicant,
Based on the information you provided, you are a Permanent Resident (PR) who is currently residing outside of Canada and that you have a child[-ren] born outside Canada after you obtained your PR status.
Please note that a PR who does not live in Canada is not eligible to sponsor close family members for permanent residence from outside of Canada.
If your child is going to Canada for tourism or visiting purposes, you should submit an application for a Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) for the child.
If your family intends to return to Canada with your non-PR child to live permanently, you still must submit a TRV application for the child for initial review by a Visa Officer. If the Visa Officer is satisfied that you (yourself, your spouse and other PR child[-ren] – if applicable) meet the residency requirements and that your entire family is relocating to Canada to live permanently, your child will be granted a permit valid for a single journey to facilitate his/her entry to Canada . This process enables you to initiate a sponsorship application for your child from within Canada. Please note that this permit is not an immigrant visa and it does not give your child a PR status upon arrival in Canada. Further details of this permit will be provided once the TRV application has been assessed by a Visa Officer.
You must note that if you are traveling with your non-PR child to live permanently, he/she will be required to undergo a medical examination in one of our designated medical doctors in the Gulf before a permit is issued. This could add a minimum of 4 weeks to the processing time of the application. Please take note of this information when applying for a TRV.
You will also be required pay applicable fees and submit additional documents to support and demonstrate your relocation to Canada. As an example, both parents may be asked, among other things, to provide a copy of their resignation letters with a proof that the resignation has been accepted by their employers, if employed, and proof of cancellation of your entire family's Gulf residence visas.
This procedure applies only if the whole family (you, your spouse, and all your dependent children) intend to return to live in Canada permanently.
Do NOT undertake these procedures (resignation from employment, cancellation of Gulf residency) until we are ready to finalize your child’s the application. The application will be finalized after 4 weeks at the very least. We cannot guarantee the issuance of a permit if the application was not submitted in a timely manner.
We will NOT issue a permit for the child if one or more family members do not meet the permanent residency obligations.
We hope this information is helpful.
Sincerely,
Immigration Section / 71
