Hi All,
been a silent observer and thought i'd share my experience. It can be quite overwhelming reading the forum discussions where some people have had progress and others have heard nothing with their application, receiving a AL etc and where your application is amongst all this and you start to worry.
- Initially COPR was approved pre march 18th 2020, in Jan 2020 and was due to expire in May.
- We were due to go in April 2020 for a soft landing but flights were cancelled by airline.
- Raised web form advised IRCC, who advised to update when ready to travel.
- May 2020 arrived, COPR expired as had my passport which I proceeded to renew.
- Renewed passport completed webform and advised IRCC ready to travel for summertime end of july.
- Received a request for arrival plan towards the end of july, which cancelled out leaving in summer due to notice required to leave work for my spouse, so we submitted the arrival plan to state we were due to arrive in december after xmas.
- From July to December we raised webforms asking for updates on AL and heard nothing.
- During this time my role was made redundant and i hadn't worked from April through to November when i secured a new job. And we decided to just enjoy xmas and chase up IRCC in the new year.
- In December i then secured another new job to start in Jan 21.
- In the first week of Jan 21 having started new role, we received the AL out of the blue stating our COPR and Medicals had been extended till end of March.
- The AL referenced my expired passport, despite having advised them of my new passport so unsure if this was valid.
- Logged a web form regarding the above and no response.
- Reached out to IRCC on twitter who provided a email to contact regarding AL. They then updated my AL stating both passports which was a relief.
- Then received webform response stating they can see issue resolved.
- Booked flights for the end of feb.
- Spent three hours getting through to book mandatory hotel which cost $1100 for two people.
- Checked in at airport in Heathrow no issue check in desk cross checked with Canada immigration team and approved to proceed ( currently standard process)
- Literally before stepping onto the flight we were flagged by canada immigration called the airline for extra checks to take place before we are approved to board. This was despite having the AL which no one seemed concerned about. Agent was asking where our counterfoils were amongst verifying other documents (UK passports are not issued with one, but they were not aware)
- It was the most anxious time waiting for the agent on the phone to conduct their checks and call back to confirm or deny us boarding, we were the last ones left to board and the flight was held until the agent called back.
- Agent finally called back and approved us, we landed in Toronto, no one really questioned about arrival plan, just where we were looking to stay
- The immigration officer on landing took our docs told us to go sit-down for 10 mins called us back and we heard the famous words 'congrats you're now permanent residents of Canada.
- declared goods to bring now and later and received a document to provide when we ship these over.
- Conducted a covid test at airport
- Shuttle took us to mandatory hotel, where we checked in with no issues.
- Hotel allowed us to roam the lobby when not busy and get fresh air, food was also decent. The process was not a daunting one at all.
- We received our results within 24 hours and checked out the next day, did not receive a refund but happy to leave
- Booked Uber to airbnb
- taken 10 day test where they come and collect the package from you and now awaiting results so we can finally go for a walk.
This may be a bit of a long winded post for some, but i hope it shows the highs and lows of the whole process, its a crazy time, we almost gave up on the whole thing.
Just have hope and belief and don't stop till someone actually says no you can't come. You will probably get your authorisation letter when you least expect it, we decided to continue as normal as we can and whatever happens, happens and we got our letter in the end.
The only people who can actually address if your documents are right or not and next steps are those at IRCC, seeking validation for what you need to do on here will only add to worries, if all you are waiting for is a response from them. The response will come in the end and you won't be penalised as IRCC have stated if impacted by covid. Wish you all well.