Hong Kong timeline

[bobokiko]

Fencesitter Congratulations to you and your family ;D

Saw your reply that means the CIC letter send out at 30 August,but you received on 14 September? Where is this send out? From Canada or from HK? Your case is super fast and smooth. Congratulations again

 

[Fencesitter]

Thanks.

Actually, the PPR was sent out on August 28. E-cas was updated on August 30. I live in Guangzhou. Yeah, it took more than two weeks for the letter to arrive from the HK visa office. Postage showed they spent a whopping HK$1.80...no wonder why it took forever to arrive!!

Yeah, super smooth...and super fast...1 month for the approval...1 more month for the passport to be sent back...amazing!

For all you HK applicants out there, don't be frustrated with the timeline posted on the CIC website. HK is actually very fast if your case is solid and you have submitted a complete application package. I'm quite impressed with the efficiency, even though I still think it needn't take even a month to process a PR application.

FS

 

[mobeyk]

Congrats FS. We both did not expect such fast turnaround. Good that you have a bit more time on hand. You can fully relax now. You will have the visa in 20 work days after they get the passport. Life is good.

 

[Fencesitter]

Thanks, mobeyk.

Yeah, it's almost finished.

Did your PPR letter ask for additional pictures? Ours just asked for the passport and the address where we want them to mail it.

Hopefully we get everything back ASAP.

We have our tickets booked. We fly to Vancouver on January 30 and stay for 4 nights. Then back to China for about 5 months to complete my contract. After that we're good to go...

FS

 

[computergeek]

We have our tickets booked. We fly to Vancouver on January 30 and stay for 4 nights. Then back to China for about 5 months to complete my contract. After that we're good to go...

Congratulations! I'm glad your trip through immigration is almost over. Best of luck for you and your family.

 

[mobeyk]

Thanks, mobeyk.

Yeah, it's almost finished.

Did your PPR letter ask for additional pictures? Ours just asked for the passport and the address where we want them to mail it.

Hopefully we get everything back ASAP.

We have our tickets booked. We fly to Vancouver on January 30 and stay for 4 nights. Then back to China for about 5 months to complete my contract. After that we're good to go...

FS

No, only the Houku page from her hometown and her passport. She will get that Houku page today and have it notarized and translated. Sending the passport and Houku page hopefully end of this week or beginning next and we have to wait to see if they extend her medical or if she has to land within days after receiving the visa. We know for sure when she gets the visa, but the waiting game is now easy as we know we are almost there. We will go for a landing date before Dec 14th as I want her here for my birthday and Christmas. We will go back for the spring festival and to gather things for good.

 

[Fencesitter]

Sounds like a good plan, and yes, I think they will extend your wife's medical.

As for returning during Chinese New Year, do you think you will have the PR card by then? We're going to get my parents to courier it over to China. If that is problematic, we'll have to apply for a returning resident permit. I wonder, is the returning resident permit hard to get? I checked the website for the visa office in Guangzhou and it looks like you have to fill out more paperwork and submit documents proving this and that...sounds risky and not sure if they could refuse to issue it...??

Thanks, computergeek...we are so glad we are almost finished...

FS

 

[Fencesitter]

Passport has been sent via FedEx. Should arrive at the visa office tomorrow. About a month from now and we'll be celebrating BIG TIME!!!

FS

 

[bobokiko]

Fencesitter

When will they ask you to have the police check ?

 

[Fencesitter]

We sent everything at the very beginning (CIC-M) - medical, police check, IMM forms, proof of relationship, plus supporting documents (relationship stuff, Hukou, copies of our passports, marriage license, our son's birth certificate / Canadian citizenship certificate / passport application, etc...). They actually request that you send everything at the beginning, at least for applicants in mainland China.

On a side note, I'm starting to get worried about living here. These anti-Japanese protests are getting out of control. We're not close to them or anything, but the blind nationalism being displayed here is quite scary. They might start turning on all foreigners. The worst part is that it all appears to be sanctioned by the government. I really hope the HK visa office sends my wife's passport back soon...if it all kicks off, at least we can evacuate out of here!

FS

 

[Fencesitter]

No, only the Houku page from her hometown and her passport. She will get that Houku page today and have it notarized and translated. Sending the passport and Houku page hopefully end of this week or beginning next and we have to wait to see if they extend her medical or if she has to land within days after receiving the visa. We know for sure when she gets the visa, but the waiting game is now easy as we know we are almost there. We will go for a landing date before Dec 14th as I want her here for my birthday and Christmas. We will go back for the spring festival and to gather things for good.

Yeah, the waiting is no big deal now. The HK visa office requests passports only when they are ready to issue the visa (if you get the PPR, you're basically approved). That alone takes away all the stress. The only unknown at this stage is a) how fast they'll send the passport back, and b) whether or not it will be lost!! - only half joking - at least they send it by registered mail.

FS

 

[mobeyk]

Sounds like a good plan, and yes, I think they will extend your wife's medical.

As for returning during Chinese New Year, do you think you will have the PR card by then? We're going to get my parents to courier it over to China. If that is problematic, we'll have to apply for a returning resident permit. I wonder, is the returning resident permit hard to get? I checked the website for the visa office in Guangzhou and it looks like you have to fill out more paperwork and submit documents proving this and that...sounds risky and not sure if they could refuse to issue it...??

Thanks, computergeek...we are so glad we are almost finished...

FS
You can come back without the PR card in hand as dar as I know. They know that it takes a bit before you receive it.

 

[Fencesitter]

No, I don't think it is possible to arrive with either a PR card or the Returning Resident Permit. You can't use your visa twice, and I don't think they accept the CPR (COPR) as proof that you are a permanent resident (which is actually kind of stupid).

CharlieD10 told me that if you apply for the Returning Resident Permit, the chances of being denied, as a new PR, are remote. The only time you may have problems is if you have not met the residency requirements or you have committed some kind of crime. For new PRs, I think it is virtually guaranteed. I'm going to call the Visa Application Center in Guangzhou to find out more information - I'll post back later...

FS

 

[computergeek]

No, I don't think it is possible to arrive with either a PR card or the Returning Resident Permit. You can't use your visa twice, and I don't think they accept the CPR (COPR) as proof that you are a permanent resident (which is actually kind of stupid).

Actually, if you can get to a POE, CBSA will accept the COPR as evidence you are a PR (see ENF 4). The problem is that without the PR card the AIRLINES won't let you board if you don't have a TRV - they are penalized if you get to Canada and are refused entry, so they insist on having clear evidence that you are allowed to enter Canada, either being from a visa exempt country or having a TRV or a PRTD or PR card.

11.2. Verifying permanent resident status

The permanent resident card is the only valid proof of permanent resident status in Canada.

The following documents are satisfactory indicators of permanent residence:

• the original Record of Landing:

• a certified true copy of a Record of Landing document issued by CIC National Headquarters;

• a letter issued by CIC National Headquarters verifying permanent residence;

• a passport duly stamped showing the date on which permanent residence was granted, if the person was granted permanent resident status before 1973; and

• a Confirmation of Permanent Residence document [IMM 5292B].

11.3. Establishing permanent resident status without documents

BSOs at ports of entry have the discretion to authorize the entry of permanent residents, even in the absence of documentation. If documentary evidence is not available, the BSO at Immigration
Secondary must establish the person’s permanent resident status through questioning and checking the person’s status in FOSS. The status of persons who became permanent residents
before 1973 has to be verified by contacting the Query Response Centre at National Headquarters at: QRC@cic.gc.ca.

Once a BSO is satisfied that a person is a permanent resident, the examination should be concluded and the person should be allowed to enter Canada without delay.

 

[Fencesitter]

So if you were flying Air Canada, why would they refuse you if you had evidence (CPR)?

FS