Hi there, I've just joined this forum and I'm not quite sure where I should be posting but I've been in this process for quite some time now and I suppose I need to share my situation and hear from other people who have been in similar ones and can perhaps make me feel a little bit better about this "waiting" process.
I applied for permanent residency through a spouse sponsorship (my boyfriend who I've been living with for the past almost 4 years in Toronto is Canadian) from within Canada on June 2nd, 2011 (date my application was recieved according to CIC). On June 13th, 2011 they started processing my application. It has been a long process in big part due to the fact that my application was not complete the first time I sent it through. (Looking back I wish I would have used a lawyer simply because the CIC website is NOT clear enough about certain things, but anyway...) I had to send extra information (different things) 2 separate times which led to the extensive time that my application has been "in process". On November 18th, 2012 I finally recieved a letter from Vegreville saying that I met the eligibility requirements to apply for permanent residency and a few days shortly after I recieved my new work permit. That same day my spouse also recieved a letter saying that he met the requirements for eligibility as a sponsor. My letter did however also request that I do some medical exams. I had already sent medical exams through with my application back in June of 2011 but I suppose given the time gone by since then they required more up-to date medical exams. So, I proceeded to get my medical exams done very soon after recieving this letter. I can't remember the exact date, but it must have been no later than a week after. Since then I haven't heard anything else from CIC. Online when I check the status of my application it still says it's "in process" and when I click on that it says:
"We received your application for permanent residence on June 2, 2011.
We started processing your application on June 13, 2011.
A decision has been made and you will be contacted."
So... I'm waiting. My understanding is that I'm in the "Step 2" of the process which according to the processing times should take on average 8 months. Is that correct? So, could I assume that given the fact that I got the letter in November I could expect to recieve final approval around July? My next question is related to when I would be able to travel. As I've applied from within Canada i'm currently living and working here under "impled status" (I previously had a post grad work permit and temporary visitor visa before applying for this) I haven't been able to leave Canada. As you can imagine, I am very anxious to be able to leave Canada again for a vacation and to see my family back home in Brazil! My understanding is that even after I recieve final approval for this I would still have to wait on average 3 more months until I recieve my Permanent Residency Card which would then allow me to travel (well, it would allow me to re-enter Canada). Is this information correct? And if so does anyone know if there is anything I can do to speed up that final process at all? One of my best friends is getting married in the US in October. I have already missed so much from being "stuck" here in Canada that I really wouldn't want to miss this friends wedding because of this.
Any input, help, suggestions or sharing of experiences is GREATLY appreciated.
Thank you in advance!
I had seen somewhere that it takes 3 months to get your PR card but it's good to hear that it could only take up to a month. Also good to hear that there may be some sort of travel paper I can get... I will have to keep searching around for that. (If anybody knows more details about this - please help!)
