Hong Kong timeline

[mobeyk]

The address on my wife ecas changed to my address. Same happened to you too FS. It is a sign that they work on our visa. Guess next we will see her status change to decision made within next few days. Hope we get the passport back soon as we have less than 5 weeks to get her to Canada. I do not want to end up booking a flight 2 weeks before the visa expiry. No matter how and what, she will land within a month from now.
I just wait for good news from you FS, which is a sign that ours will be within a few days after yours.

 

[Fencesitter]

Yeah...first came the address change...then the 'decision made'.

Someone said that it takes about 10 business days for the passport to reach Guangzhou. You might get it sooner...and judging from the PPR letter, it might take even longer. All hinges on China Post!

I'm bursting with anticipation!

FS

 

[mobeyk]

My wifes ecas status change to decision made Just one day after her address changed to the Canadian address. Now that speed. Guess we get her passport back within the next few days including the visa. Exciting.

 

[Fencesitter]

That's exactly how it happened for us.

Still waiting on the passport, but we expect it this week.

It feels good to be finished...for now...............next is citizenship...then we can finally be done with CIC, not that our experience has been a bad one...just want to get on with life and forget about all this immigration stuff.

FS

 

[Fencesitter]

We're officially finished. We received the passport back this afternoon along with the COPR.

They included the original cards we included with our application. So in all there were two copies of the COPR, the passport with visa, and a page going over some details of landing before the expiration date.

The visa was issued on September 24. They sent it back on September 26 and it was received here in Guangzhou at the post office on October 2. I guess there was a delay due to the holiday.

FS

 

[mobeyk]

Congrats FS. We will be next. I expect the passport back this week as the postal service to Zhuhai was much fatser last time we got the letter.
Good luck landing and later moving. Who would have thought we would be receiving a visa so fast. Good luck to all.

 

[Fencesitter]

For sure, mobeyk! You'll have the passport this week!!

I remember when we were speculating that we should have the visa by early 2013. Look at us now! We both had an amazing experience and for sure I think it's safe to say that the HK visa office is awesome!

Moving will be a lot of fun! Can't wait!!

FS

 

[Marty11]

Congratulations FS, you made it so fast ! Less than 6 months total ?

My wife will go this weekend and redo the medicals for herself and her son and then send everything back to HK.
Seems that it is a requirement that if the medicals expire, everybody has to redo them, even those members who do not accompany the principal applicant, as it is the case with my wife's son, who is in her ex-husband's custody.

All in all, maybe we can hope to a November-December timeline for her to have the visa.

 

[Fencesitter]

Thanks, Marty.

Yes, about 5 months and 2 weeks (counting the 3 months for sponsorship approval)! After receiving our package from CIC-M, it only took HK about 2 months to process the visa. I think that's pretty damn fast!

As for you, definitely by the end of this month if you can get those medicals done asap. Once they have the updated medicals, it only takes them a few days to finish processing. I am very confident you will be posting the good news soon. There are no other obstacles, and seeing how the visa officer told your wife that she passed, there is no question they will finalize the visa quickly.

I predict the processing time for HK is going to drop by a few months...I think by this time next year, the processing time will be about 12 months for 80% of cases.

The only thing I would have liked is a personal letter from the visa officer welcoming my wife to Canada. It would be a nice touch to add something like that, as we never got a chance to meet him/her and this person has basically helped us immensely! I might actually send a case specific e-mail thanking the visa officer and asking for a personal reply...would be nice to have as a memory...

FS

 

[zeushk]

Hey, Congrats to FS.

Just curious, when you guys have the address change, is it to an address in Canada? Because both our addresses are based in Hong Kong and obviously, we live together, thus having the same address. So how does that work?

 

[Mission]

I am a mother waiting for my daughter-in-law to get her PR status so my son and baby grandson could move with her to Canada from HK. I have been following this thread for a few months. I have been especially interested in those applicants who applied in April because that is when my son applied. His case is similar to a few others in that he got approved for sponsorship in July and his wife's application file was sent to HK visa office at the end of July. Since then however their status just says "in process". I know their application package was very thorough although they did have to resend one picture because of a size issue. While following this thread I was getting so excited thinking their case would be similar to Fencesitter and Mobeyk, and they would be getting passport request soon, but nothing is happening. The cases seem so similar, Canadian husband, marriage (my son 4 years), and baby that I was expecting same timeline. The only difference is my son doesn't have job offer yet. Does anyone know if that would make a difference in their case being quickly approved? He has applied for a transfer in his company. Do you think he should forward that information to the visa office, even though they seem to frown on people contacting them? I love this forum as it makes me feel as if I'm getting them home soon! Thanks

 

[Fencesitter]

It's really hard to say. There could be other issues that you don't know about. Does your son have good proof of his intention to return to Canada? Not having a job offer shouldn't be a big deal, as long as the other proof is solid.

I can't say why some cases are completed a lot faster than others that are basically the same.

As for forwarding info, I'd wait until they specifically request it.

Good luck!

FS

 

[Mission]

Thanks FS! I think he has lots of proof of his intent to return but who knows. It's so difficult waiting for news! I just can't wait until they come home. Good luck to you and your family. I have enjoyed reading about your process and imagining that my son is soon to follow!

 

[mobeyk]

I agree with FS. It is difficult to say. We had really tonns of evidene and we had the docs meticullosly sorted and referenced. There may be some slight delays due to the photo request. You will certainly hear soon something. Our case was certainly faster as my wife's medical expiry date is approaching fast. We reacted very fast to a additional doc request. I think there is a prescreening of applications once they arrive in HK and fast tracking of solid cases. A job offer is certainly more solid but it should not stay in your sons way. Good luck and best wishes for a speedy passport request. Ate you from mainland china? I hear that applications from fujian province are being checked more rigorously. Another question is if his baby has Canadian docs already, like fencesitters baby. That might play a role too? I am waiting everyday now for my wife's passport return. I just want to book a flight and get this process finished. I know we are lucky and I am thankful.

 

[Mission]

Hello Mobeyk, Yes my grandson is Canadian citizen, my son applied for it as soon as he was born and it came when I was there visiting in July! My son and his wife live in Hong Kong. I'm not sure exactly how organized their application was, but knowing my son I'm sure he was thorough. It has been really interesting following you and FS through this process and has given me hope that my son and his wife would soon have good news. Hopefully he'll get some good news soon. I'm hoping that the fact that they asked for new photo means they have started looking at their case. Good luck to you and your wife. I hope she loves Canada like we do!