GCMS shows 'PNP Secure Outstanding' and waiting - get together here!!!

[Blanka]

Encouraged by some posts that secure outstanding changed to PNP is a good sign, having s.15(1) in a corner means end of this agony is coming to its end and holding on to some other straws of hope, I called call centre today to confirm my hopes that my PR is on the way.
It is not. Security check is still ongoing, secure outstanding group name is still there even though I don't see it in my notes. It can take one more month or another 11, no one knows.
I guess it is time to say goodbye to Canada, we extended our vistor visas already 3 times, last ones are still not approved as they have backlog for that too of 2,5 months. I had enough of it.
I hope that everyone will get their PR's soon enough not to experience the disgust I am currently feeling about this country and the whole immigration process.
Good luck to all of you!

 

[Matt-NL]

What the heck are they investigating so long! It is bullying, nothing more! They are able check all information even at the border control and find out EVERY SINGLE DETAIL about you. Besides, all of us have received/extended more than one time our permits/visas before and after entering Canada, which means CIC knows damn good every relevant data about our past 10 years and more. I repeat again: there is nothing wrong to conduct reasonable security screening before providing people permanent resident status in Canada, no doubt, BUT there has to be a limit of processing time of this screening process. This process what we have to face is 1) Non-transparent, 2) takes too long, 3) irrational if not schizophrenic (considering we are in Canada and have had background checks already at least a couple of times), 4) doesn't contribute to Canadian security at all, 5) alienating already established and adapted immigrants and their families from Canada, 6) creates unreasonable extra-costs for Canadian taxpayers (due to invested financial sources into personnel and procedures), 7) jeopardize the stability of inland-applicants' and their children's life, 8) creates many human tragedies because people lost their jobs etc. This is nothing but annoying. Again, I repeat, in today's level of technology a reasonably good security screening can be conducted within hours. They find everything about you even in minutes.
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What we can do is that 1) we can write a generic letter explaining what we are facing and send it to the immigration minister, 2) we can contact a journalist who can make a story about this problem and publish it in a daily newspaper / on internet, 3) we can contact immigration minister, CIC, parliament, Trudeau etc. and provide them information about our unique case. I think this is way important to move something because this black-box bureaucracy is a joke and according to the high standards of Canada in-acceptable for many people here in this country. People should know what is going on in the immigration process. Many Canadians think Canada lets everyone easily into Canada when they criticize Trump's US. This is an important issue, guys. We should do something. I am tired of waiting!
---
Please share your ideas.

 

[Blanka]

Our main problem is that our WP expired long time ago. We thought we would somehow survive till we get the nomination, and that took us 6 months. Then another shock, province won't provide us support letter for new work permits. Then we thought, ok EE can not take us longer than 6 months in worst scenario, there is no reason for any delay. And here we are, 11 months and counting, without light at the end of this tunnel.
We tried every possible thing to push things faster, different MP's, to get the WP, you name it. Nothing worked.
Now we need to make a decision to stay or to go back to EU, and I'm not sure which is less harm.
I was even thinking to try to share my story with Go Public news segment on CBC-TV, but I'm not sure is it smart to expose myself that way. I know that Minister won't get my letter if I try to reach him, everything just seems as a waste of time and energy right now.
I agree that something has to be done, but I am not really sure that our voice will be loud enough to be heard by the right people.

What the heck are they investigating so long! It is bullying, nothing more! They are able check all information even at the border control and find out EVERY SINGLE DETAIL about you. Besides, all of us have received/extended more than one time our permits/visas before and after entering Canada, which means CIC knows damn good every relevant data about our past 10 years and more. I repeat again: there is nothing wrong to conduct reasonable security screening before providing people permanent resident status in Canada, no doubt, BUT there has to be a limit of processing time of this screening process. This process what we have to face is 1) Non-transparent, 2) takes too long, 3) irrational if not schizophrenic (considering we are in Canada and have had background checks already at least a couple of times), 4) doesn't contribute to Canadian security at all, 5) alienating already established and adapted immigrants and their families from Canada, 6) creates unreasonable extra-costs for Canadian taxpayers (due to invested financial sources into personnel and procedures), 7) jeopardize the stability of inland-applicants' and their children's life, 8) creates many human tragedies because people lost their jobs etc. This is nothing but annoying. Again, I repeat, in today's level of technology a reasonably good security screening can be conducted within hours. They find everything about you even in minutes.
---
What we can do is that 1) we can write a generic letter explaining what we are facing and send it to the immigration minister, 2) we can contact a journalist who can make a story about this problem and publish it in a daily newspaper / on internet, 3) we can contact immigration minister, CIC, parliament, Trudeau etc. and provide them information about our unique case. I think this is way important to move something because this black-box bureaucracy is a joke and according to the high standards of Canada in-acceptable for many people here in this country. People should know what is going on in the immigration process. Many Canadians think Canada lets everyone easily into Canada when they criticize Trump's US. This is an important issue, guys. We should do something. I am tired of waiting!
---
Please share your ideas.

 

[sam_dawkins]

Our main problem is that our WP expired long time ago. We thought we would somehow survive till we get the nomination, and that took us 6 months. Then another shock, province won't provide us support letter for new work permits. Then we thought, ok EE can not take us longer than 6 months in worst scenario, there is no reason for any delay. And here we are, 11 months and counting, without light at the end of this tunnel.
We tried every possible thing to push things faster, different MP's, to get the WP, you name it. Nothing worked.
Now we need to make a decision to stay or to go back to EU, and I'm not sure which is less harm.
I was even thinking to try to share my story with Go Public news segment on CBC-TV, but I'm not sure is it smart to expose myself that way. I know that Minister won't get my letter if I try to reach him, everything just seems as a waste of time and energy right now.
I agree that something has to be done, but I am not really sure that our voice will be loud enough to be heard by the right people.

Did you apply for BOWP? Does applicant need letter from Province for BOWP?
I am very sorry for your situation. I am lucky that my work permit will expire in 2019.

 

[Blanka]

Our WP expired before we got the nomination, so we couldn't apply for BOWP. Our path seems to be full of bad luck.

Did you apply for BOWP? Does applicant need letter from Province for BOWP?
I am very sorry for your situation. I am lucky that my work permit will expire in 2019.

 

[sam_dawkins]

Our WP expired before we got the nomination, so we couldn't apply for BOWP. Our path seems to be full of bad luck.

 

[Matt-NL]

I am trying to call the CIC-call-center right now. Waiting time is 15 minutes. I am pretty sure they'll give me a generic answer again. Still this makes me feel a little bit better. Shame on all those who cause this embarrassment But do not forget that I am taking this for my children. Deep breath... Control yourself... It will be over one day.

 

[Matt-NL]

I am trying to call the CIC-call-center right now. Waiting time is 15 minutes. I am pretty sure they'll give me a generic answer again. Still this makes me feel a little bit better. Shame on all those who cause this embarrassment But do not forget that I am taking this for my children. Deep breath... Control yourself... It will be over one day.

I'm waiting over 30 minutes.

 

[Matt-NL]

I talked with the operator/agent. He said there is no change in my security screening. He did not share any particular additional information. He could not say anything about a possible time for finalization of the case. It is pure annoying!!!

 

[Blanka]

That is what I am listening every month when I call them, ever since December 2016, and screening started in September.
"There is no timeframe to finish, it depends from case to case". Once I asked them, so if you don't get any feedback on my case for two years, you will keep my file open eventhough you didn't get any adverse info on me? She said yes, we can not make a decision if we don't have that info.

 

[Blanka]

Hi Guys,

I am on the same boat. I have been in Canada for 7 years. Had no other travel in my life. I was international student. I work in one of major banks. I wanted to apply end of January 2015 when my 1 year work experience completed, but as of Jan 2015 Express Entry started, and put international students in limbo. My points were so close to cut-off points, but no luck to apply directly and get ITA. So, I waited to one year if I can get Ontario's invitation, I realized that they had technical defect in their selecting system, and my profile didn't get selected for a year. I had to open a new profile, and got selected later. When I applied under OINP, instead of 3 months processing time, it took 1 more year, when my graduate open work permit got expired on late Aug 2016. So, I had to switch on study permit, and work part time in the same company (which never cared about my situation by the way). My AOR for Federal is Oct. 12, 2016. I still have to play international fee for attending school, although I have applied for PR. But because of the change in system, the school doesn't exempt me from international fee. There is no update since Jan 2016 on my profile, and it is in Secure Outstanding. It is a very funny world that now a day there are 4000-5000 people get invitation each round on ITA, and the score is so low, and I had no luck back in 2015, and 2016. My life has become like a prisoner, company and school take advantage of my situation, and there is no progress in my application. I have my family and relatives in Canada. My dearest relatives recently passed away, and me like a prisoner did not have chance to visit them since I came to Canada, and never will be able to meet them. I didn't know this will create a life long tragedy for me. Security officer, if you read this note, just know that I don't believe Neanderthals have been extinct, they even have learnt how sell the slogan of 'human rights' to humans.

Sorry to hear that, you're having a really difficult path. Each of us has a story behind this immigration process that is not visible to others, and we all think our way is the hardest, but I see that there is always someone who has even more struggles in life, more challenges to overcome...
We are lucky we are healthy enough, still somewhat normal mentally and strong and wise to see that these are only obstacles on our way we will eventually overleap. Stay strong my friends, we've come so far, don't let this break you now. The darkest hour is just before the dawn

 

[Matt-NL]

Hi Guys.
As of today the second background check (security screening) has been ongoing 4 months and 11 days. It started on 25 January 2017. I am wondering:
a- what this security screening include?
b- who (which institution / institutions) conduct it or are CIC's stakeholders?
c- whether there is a time limitation for it?
d- according which the criteria are applicants chosen for this (deep) screening?
e- what is its practical function ("bad people do not need PR to do bad things" logic)?
f- why is it not a transparent process?
g- what is the methodology of this screening (how is it conducted: data-base check, agent check on the ground etc)?
h- is there any supervisor check for it (in case of too long time etc.)?
i- what are the rights of applicants in this process?
Of course we do not have any sufficient information to answer those questions with certainty since everybody who has to do with Canadian immigration knows that this is a process which we can call without any doubt a "black box". What, why, how, how long happens in this black box is not known. Though I know I am not able to influence the processing of this security screening process I still cannot hold back to question lots of things about it because it is a powerful factor that influence my and my family's life fundamentally. It is an annoying feeling that some people "check you" in order to make a decision about if you will be able to immigrate to Canada as landed immigrants and more importantly, how long does it approximately take. By the way, there is a correlation between a good functioning democratic state (rule of law) and sufficient providing of information about its bureaucratic procedures for its residents (whatever bureaucratic procedure it is). In general terms, the more transparent is the bureaucratic procedure, the more democratic (according being client-friendly) it is and the higher is its life quality. This is a generally accepted fact in political science and public administration.
We are 1- residents of Canada, 2- taxpayers, 3- clients of CIC (who even pay for the service that they should provide). Moreover we are valuable immigrants (some of which like me are selected by their provincial governments to become landed immigrants) who potentially or currently contribute its economic and social development. All of us without any particular exception are valuable and useful for Canada, and not only we are interested in Canada but also Canada is interested in us - with other words, benefit on immigration cannot be considered as a one-way-road.
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My point is, those who have been waiting for their PPR/PR for over 6 months should take action, and more importantly, they should get organized - a WhatsApp group or so would be a good start because we definitely need to exchange information and finally do something together and well organized in order to protect our interests.
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I am really bad in opening a WhatsApp group, but I think there are quite qualified and talented people here in the forum who could do it in minutes. Again, it is important, guys. Nobody even know about the problem that we are facing. We should make people aware of this problem. Even my Canadian friends/colleagues consider the delay I am facing as an exception or explain it with too many applications etc. and when I explain them that there are numerous people waiting over 6 months (and some of which even wait over a year) they are shocked. We should inform Canadian public with this existing and serious problem and not only try to help ourselves but also others coming after us. And more significantly, we should try to give a valuable feedback to Canadian immigration bureaucracy (including the Immigration Minister Hussey). There are a lot of ways we can use. I can hear that some forum-people already say it won't work and we can't change anything, but what do we have to lose?
Please think about it and please consider this.
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With this opportunity I wish you guys all a speedy PPR/PR and hope this message finds you all well.

 

[Sugar2016]

There is an interesting reply from Legalfalcon regarding PNP secure outstanding.
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/thank-you-legalfalcon-t408185.0.html;msg5799872#msg5799872

From Legalfalcon's reply it doesnt seem that being in the "PNP Secure Oustanding" group is a major issue that would delay PPR. It seems the issue is having "Security Screening" on your GCMS is what it delaying applications.

"PNP Secure Outstanding" & "Security Screening" are two very different things, which have got mixed up in this topic.

 

[salkhan]

I'm waiting over 30 minutes.

Can you share the number you are calling ? I have been calling at 1-888-2422-100 and it always directs me to an automated voice message that they are experiencing high volumes of call and blah blah .... it's annoying!

 

[Blanka]

From Legalfalcon's reply it doesnt seem that being in the "PNP Secure Oustanding" group is a major issue that would delay PPR. It seems the issue is having "Security Screening" on your GCMS is what it delaying applications.

"PNP Secure Outstanding" & "Security Screening" are two very different things, which have got mixed up in this topic.

Actually, that is not correct at all. I have PNP secure outstanding on my notes and belive me I did my best to find out what does it mean and who is responsible for the delay. One of the lead managers at immigration ministry of the province that nominated me said:
PNP means you are nominated by the Province. Security outstanding means that security screening is ongoing for you or one of your dependants. No, we didn't receive any request from IRCC on your file, we are not holding any information they are looking for and this is not what is causing the delay.
Security services are working on that and it depends on them when it will be finalized. PNP and security outstanding is not connected in any other way than that.

I do have some other findings too, but this whole process is still quite a mistery to me how it can take so long for a simple and what suppose to be straight-forward application.