How Long is the wait?

[impatient_queen]

Hello All,

My name is Amanda, I am a canadian citizen. My husband used to live in the states and then got sent back to Guyana (was my boyfriend at the time). When he went back to Guyana we got married and I submitted all our applications to the Mississauga office on October 9, 2009. It was received by CPC-Mississauga on October 12, 2009. A decision was made on October 26, 2009 and I received a letter of sponsorship approval on November 1, 2009. My husband's Permanent Residence package was sent to Port-of-Spain, Trinidad (processes applications for Guyana) and they started processing it on November 23, 2009. On December 24, 2009 we received a confirmation letter from Port-of-Spain, Trinidad stating that they started processing his file and they also gave us his Immigration File Number. Now we're waiting on a decision I guess??!!??!! QUESTION: Does anyone know what happens next?

Also, when we submitted our package we did not include his police clearance from the states as we did not receive it at the time, when we did receive it...we sent it in (Jan 10/10) but up to now there's no status update on his file or mine. QUESTION: When Port-of-Spain, Trinidad receives any documents do they update the site?
QUESTION: Anyone sent back from the states, did you get a FBI police clearance or just the one from the individual state you're living in?

I also submitted "additional documents proving on-going relationship" (also in Jan '10) and once again, no status update. QUESTION: Can someone please tell me if they've also submitted "additional documents" and what happened??

Thank you for reading my query, I hope someone can help with some answers for me and give me back some hope that I've lost...and I'll try to do the same for you.

-Amanda



Timeline:
CPC-M Rec'd Appl: Oct 12/09.
Start Proccess: Oct 26/09.
CPC-M Desc Made: Oct 26/09
Rec'd Ltr of Appr: Nov 1/09
PR Appl opened in POS: Nov 23/09
Rec'd Conf Ltr from POS: Dec 24/09

 

[matthewc]

What happens now is PoS processes the PR portion of the application. This includes determining whether your relationship is genuine, and then the three admissibility checks: criminal record, medical, and background checks. Port of Spain is one of the slower overseas offices, unfortunately. It takes 9-18 months for the majority of spousal cases. See here:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/international/05-fc-spouses.asp#west

If you hear anything back from them before July, you can consider that lucky. I know that's probably not what you want to hear, but you should probably prepare for a wait. It could be much longer, e.g. 2011, and that would still be considered "normal" for PoS.

In terms of the additional info, it's often the case that with overseas processing, nothing new will show up on e-CAS. You should always use registered mail if possible, so you know the delivery was made. If you want to find out if the info has been added to the file, you can always order the CAIPS notes for his file. That will tell you more than e-CAS does.

(I submitted additional info, but that was an inland application, so not the same situation.)

For the police certificates, you need certificates for every country the applicant has lived in for 6 months or more. If you've lived in the USA for more than 6 months, you need and FBI certificate, and also state certificates for each state you lived in for 6 months or more.

 

[impatient_queen]

Hey Matthew,

Thanks for the quick response. Ouch, I was hoping to hear the wait won't be so long. As for the additional info, I did send it by registered mail but now after not hearing from them or a status update Canada Post now tells me that their mail system is not in sync with POS's mail system. I've opened a complaint/enquiry into the registered docs I've sent.

I guess I should get his FBI clearance in the mean time, incase the ask for it, I'll have it ready. What are the chances the process it without the FBI clearance???

Thanks again for your answers, I really appreciate it.

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hey Matthew,

Thanks for the quick response. Ouch, I was hoping to hear the wait won't be so long. As for the additional info, I did send it by registered mail but now after not hearing from them or a status update Canada Post now tells me that their mail system is not in sync with POS's mail system. I've opened a complaint/enquiry into the registered docs I've sent.

I guess I should get his FBI clearance in the mean time, incase the ask for it, I'll have it ready. What are the chances the process it without the FBI clearance???

Thanks again for your answers, I really appreciate it.

Not a chance without the FBI fingerprint check.

PMM

 

[impatient_queen]

Do you think they will refuse his PR application or simply ask us to provide the FBI clearance first?

 

[chelley]

i suspect they will ask... i believe when they refuse (or return application) on the grounds of incomplete application, they do so before they approve the sponsorship... do understand with each step that they are required to request documentation of any sorts it will add time to the process (esp since they will likely do so in writing, which means mail delays and all that good stuff).... also while it shouldn't be like this, each step where you send in documentation gives them an opportunity to loose it (if PoS is anything like Kingston, this is sadly not unheard of or even unusal).... i'd strongly suggest making sure if there's anything else you want/need to send in, to do so all at the same time to minimize the chance of them misplacing things and having to re-request them...

as mentioned, do not live by ecas... we had the visa in hand for over a week before the system was updated from "in progress" to "decision made"... at that point it was updated to state that our medicals were received... no other updates were made even tho we did have a document request (of our canadian born son's b/c, he was born the day after the applicaiton was submitted - they lost that b/c copy by the way lol)

good luck

 

[Soso-2-di-whurlll]

Queen,

Seems like you are pretty organized and I do know for a fact that they will request the FBI check first before they turn you down. If you do not have the FBI reqyest to them by a certain number of days ( usually 30-60) then they say your file may be withdrawn for incomplete documents. If the paper work is there, but not filled out as they wish, they will just send back the documents that they request to be amended and you will then send them back. Matthew is correct by statign that these small eroors do slow down the process as you have to wait on the mail there and back. Mu advice is get the FBI, pay any fees you may still owe and follow up my e-mail to POS to make sure they have received your paper work.
Photocopy EVERYTHING and keep a list of dates you sent off additional documents. I know you must be overwhelmed especially by the processing times, but keep in mind these timelines are just a GUIDE. I had my husband come in 7 months from the day we sent off our completed application and I had a fee to pay towards the end. Kingston requested my husbands passport and just said makde sure your iwfe pays the RPRP ( right of permanent resident fee) Luckly for us it did not hold back our file, however it did take 3 weeks for them to confirm the receipt of the funds, even though the money was paid directly to THEIR BANK and a faxed proof of payment was sent 10 minutes after I paid the fee.

Hang in there my girl and just keep the faith. POS is a smaller office with more than 3 islands to file for, that is why the timelines are longer. If you file is complete and straightforward, you may have your hubby here sooner.... Keep the faith and always remember that another day gone is another day less waiting!

Good Luck

 

[pending]

I have a question re Canadian Police Clearance. My husband is inland with me and we submitted his police clearance from his home country. At the time we got the fingerprints done in Canada the gentleman taking the prints indicated that if we requested a Canadian Police Clearance it would be invalid by the time Immigration asked ofr it. We sent our inland application in Sept of 09 (so very close to our AIP stage)

Question: Is a Canadian Police Clearance necessary and if so should I request one now and forward it into them.

Please let me know.

I wish you the best of luck Queen.

 

[pending]

I did find this on the website re my own question

How to obtain a police certificate
Canada
Do I need to provide a police certificate when applying for permanent residence?

Only in certain cases. The Canadian visa office will tell you if you need a Canadian criminal record check while your application is being processed.


Just wondering if anyone had any first hand experience.

 

[lonelycanadianwifey]

hi

The websight states it ...clearly ...the visa office will contact you if they feel they need one...i filled outland ...and my husband was here in canada for years at a time and we never had to do one.....Canada does there own checks!!! Its something similar to the FBI lol BUT canadian none the less ...they do diffrent searches.....Rest assured....Its fine....UNLESS you have been deported for overtay criminality ...yadda yadda ....then yes send in prints from rcmp....because they will ask for them without a doubt...

That is my expirience OUTLAND and no canadian check had to be submitted UP FRONT!!! Also was advised this by CIC....But if you wanna just do it so your mind can be free i see no hurt in it at all !!

FYI...i am not to 100% frmailiar with inland BUT assuming it it same way!!!

Good luck

 

[pending]

Thanks for the response. I actully called them (I had not been able to get through for the past little while but today was lucky) They informed me that they are not required but in certin situations they may request them but not to go ahead and do them unless asked.

These last few weeks seem longer then the last 6 months!!!

 

[lonelycanadianwifey]

Its DEF not easy i am living proof the process does come to a end ...i filled outland and although my process is suppose to be shorter compared to inlnad its way rough it took 14 months ...and the fact my spouse was not with me it was even worse ....

Although it isnt easy you must always count each and every blessing you do have ....and go with that....although we all may have a little mountain here and there to cross GOD always gives you exactly what you can handle !!

Best of luck for a speedy process...and keep your faith alive!!!


Bless you hear !!!

 

[screwed]

For anyone that did live in usa .u will need FBI clearance and also state clearance (so if u lived in NY you will need a local police clearance as well . Somehow guyanese going thru POS is extremely slow . If he was deported from the USA. It will show on the police records or FBI printout so get legal help

 

[DuberBlue]

For anyone that did live in usa .u will need FBI clearance and also state clearance (so if u lived in NY you will need a local police clearance as well . Somehow guyanese going thru POS is extremely slow . If he was deported from the USA. It will show on the police records or FBI printout so get legal help

Wrong. All you require for a PR app if you are a U.S. Citizen is the FBI clearance...you do not need a State clearance.

 

[DanSlh]

Guys...
...this topic is from 2010