INLAND APPLICATIONS 2012

[CrazzzyCatLady]

It is one of those bitter sweet moments. I feel bad for people still waiting, but at the same time, it is nice to see that we are not alone :-\ I was retarded enough not to apply for an open work permit thinking "it will come soon enough" and then "well it cannot take much longer ...." after seeing a lot of people getting APIs and DMs at the same time. Stupid me hehehe. So, now I have to take up knitting or something I guess =))

Oh, funny story about CIC.

So, I called them a couple of weeks ago to "check on the progress" and the lady was nice enough. She looked into my file. After she was done telling me about "the progress", I just casually mentioned that I can't work, so a tad bored here and that I did not expect to be stuck in the "implied status" limbo for this long. After which she goes:"Well, your work permit expired in bla bla and you don't have a status in Canada, so you must leave". At which point I almost s**t myself. And she continues "Implied status is only for those who apply in Family Sponsorship Class". Just to make it clear, she looked into my file and asked what class I applied under about 5 min prior to that. I sooooo wanted to scream at her, but she realized her mistake a couple seconds later ... did not even apologize for scaring the living c**p out of me. Just said:"Oh, that is your class" ............. Jeeeeze who do they hire there?

 

[ACS]

It is one of those bitter sweet moments. I feel bad for people still waiting, but at the same time, it is nice to see that we are not alone :-\ I was retarded enough not to apply for an open work permit thinking "it will come soon enough" and then "well it cannot take much longer ...." after seeing a lot of people getting APIs and DMs at the same time. Stupid me hehehe. So, now I have to take up knitting or something I guess =))

Oh, funny story about CIC.

So, I called them a couple of weeks ago to "check on the progress" and the lady was nice enough. She looked into my file. After she was done telling me about "the progress", I just casually mentioned that I can't work, so a tad bored here and that I did not expect to be stuck in the "implied status" limbo for this long. After which she goes:"Well, your work permit expired in bla bla and you don't have a status in Canada, so you must leave". At which point I almost s**t myself. And she continues "Implied status is only for those who apply in Family Sponsorship Class". Just to make it clear, she looked into my file and asked what class I applied under about 5 min prior to that. I sooooo wanted to scream at her, but she realized her mistake a couple seconds later ... did not even apologize for scaring the living c**p out of me. Just said:"Oh, that is your class" ............. Jeeeeze who do they hire there?

WOW!!...They are so incompetent at times…..it’s true…how do they get those jobs? I think at least 85% of us on here would do a better job than they do at the call center. We should NOT have to call 3 or more times with the same question, just to verify that we got the right answer. But it is a given, that everyone here has come to expect we should do that, because we KNOW 99% of the time we will get a different answer to the same question every time we call.

I am an August 2013 applicant, but I followed the 2012 thread for awhile, it was discouraging to see the wait for some of you, and encouraging to see some of you begin receiving AIPs & DMs at the same time.

I understand what QuebeOkie is describing as well, even for receiving AOR, from the time I sent in, ppl were getting AORs on average of 2 weeks. And when ppl who applied after me started getting them, I began to worry. I had to call in multiple times to find out that mine was sent on the 2 days my Rogers email was down, but regardless mine took MUCH longer than everyone elses. Although we have a bit of a complicated case, so I do expect our overall wait time to be longer than everyone elses.

It is a long and stressful process for sure, and I wish everyone from 2012 that have not yet rec’d DM the best of luck. Hope your approvals come SOON!!! At least we are here to go through it together and know we are not alone!

 

[QuebecOkie]

After which she goes:"Well, your work permit expired in bla bla and you don't have a status in Canada, so you must leave". At which point I almost s**t myself. And she continues "Implied status is only for those who apply in Family Sponsorship Class". Just to make it clear, she looked into my file and asked what class I applied under about 5 min prior to that. I sooooo wanted to scream at her, but she realized her mistake a couple seconds later ... did not even apologize for scaring the living c**p out of me. Just said:"Oh, that is your class" ............. Jeeeeze who do they hire there?

Oh wow! I seriously think my husband knows more about this process than most of their phone reps, and that's saying something, since my husband is administratively retarded and doesn't really know what AIP/DM/etc. mean. Sometimes I wonder why they even have the call centre. I had a rep straight lie to me. He said he had confirmed that they were in the process of printing my PR card and it would be sent within the next couple of days. When weeks went by with no card, I called back and was told, "Ma'am, I'm sorry, but I have no idea why he told you that. There is simply no way for us to see if they are printing your card, only if it has actually been issued or not, and you card has not yet been issued."

Can't believe she didn't even offer a quick apology for telling you that you had to leave the country!

 

[CrazzzyCatLady]

May be he thought he has superpowers or is mentally connected to the printer. Oh, that made my day =))) I don't even know why I call them ... sucker for punishment I guess =))

 

[QuebecOkie]

Seriously, EVERY time I called the call centre, afterwards I asked myself, "Now, why did you just waste those (15/20/whatever) minutes of your life? You KNOW better."

All the good info I got, I got right here on this forum. CIC should just subsidize this forum, with a stipend for the senior members who help so much with their responses, and do away with the call centre all together! The call centre advised me against submitting my medical and police certificate before CIC requested them (I'd stupidly not realized I should have sent them with my app at the beginning). After asking opinions here and doing a lot of reading, I decided to go ahead and do my medical and request my police certificate in April of 2013. In August, I got AIP and DM on the same day. If I'd followed the advice of the call centre rep, I might still be waiting for DM!

 

[CrazzzyCatLady]

Ha .... Since we are clearly venting here now =))

I've been in Canada since I was 17, and even had my 18 birthday here. Never left for more than 3 months (which is clear from one of the questions they ask). Thus, I did not to submit the police report from my country of origin. Anyway, I get a letter from CIC (probably 10-11 months ago now) asking me for my police certificate. So, I sent them a letter back pointing out the rules. Got a response that I was right back, but again not even a hint of "we shouldn't be so incompetent".

I never even thought I will be staying in Canada till I met my cuddlebunny =)), although I've been living here for 9 years now (sh*t I just realized that I've been here for 9 years). Anyway, it is all ridiculous and we all must have the nerves of still and really love our cuddlebunnies to go through this =)) Go us!

 

[QuebecOkie]

The whole process definitely was proof to me that I made the right choice to be with my husband! If what we had wasn't so amazing, there's NO WAY we'd have gotten through. (We kind of had the worst of both worlds, inland and outland...filed inland, but he's military, so he was away for 6 months of our first year here, including 4.5 of the first 5 months, when I spoke no French! And this place isn't like Montreal, where you can get by just fine in English, haha.) Despite the stress, and missing my family, and not knowing what to do with myself much of the time when he was gone, and spending my birthday alone, far away from most friends and all family...I never ONCE doubted whether I wanted to be with him. And knowing that is a gift.

9 years, eh? And your entire adult life? They should just let you take the citizenship test and get it over with, haha! And I'd say it's unbelievable that you had to inform CIC of its own policy...but then, I believe it all too well. Absolutely ridiculous, but also just about par for the course.

 

[ACS]

They don’t even seem to know themselves which office processes what, and what they are supposed to do.

After getting the same instructions from THREE call center reps, we sent an Application for Criminal Rehabilitation with the For Information Only box checked, since my husband has a record in the US, but not something that would even incur jail time in Canada. It’s supposed to be a No Charge service as you are not actually applying FOR rehabilitation. We sent the credit card form filled out, but not signed, as we wouldn’t have to pay unless they deem that he does require the Criminal Rehabilitation process, at which point we would have to send in a new application anyways.

We sent it to the Etobicoke office, like we were supposed to. Etobicoke sent it to Vegreville. Vegreville sent it BACK to Etobicoke with a note saying that it is to be processed in Etobicoke. (How do they not know that it’s their OWN OFFICE to process it?!?!?!) ???

Etobicoke then sent it back to us since the credit card form was not signed. This is an indication that 1) They don’t know what they are doing or 2) they didn’t flip to the actual application and see that the For Information Only box was checked…..

GRRRRRRR

So we sent it back explaining ALL of that. I removed the credit card form completely to “prevent further confusion” for them.

 

[QuebecOkie]

That really is insane! You went above and beyond, calling THREE times because you know they're not to be trusted, and even then they couldn't get it right on their end. It's a wonder anyone makes it through this process.

 

[CrazzzyCatLady]

Before I would've said "Wow! No way! How could that have happened!" .... But now is is more like "Yep .... that is how they roll. Pardon me, stumble in the dark".

Never thought about it that way ... I did spend my whole adult life here Hmmmmmmm

And I am so glad that I am at least with my husband and not isolated. I can't imagine being in that situation. On the bright side you are probably good at speaking French now =))

One thing comes to mind "Look on the bright side of life!" song from "The Life of Brian" (Monty Python). If you have not seen it before youtube it. It summarizes our experience hehehehe

 

[somewhatstressed]

I don't think they care if their books balance either.

Got issued a visa and a $150 refund .... Well, ok then!

 

[QuebecOkie]

Oh, I definitely know the song, Crazzzycatlady! And now it'll be on a loop in my head for a while, haha! As for "good at" speaking French...well, I definitely get by pretty easily now, but "good at" speaking is at least an other year away, if I ever get there. Québec's immigrant French courses are helping a LOT.

I don't think they care if their books balance either.

Got issued a visa and a $150 refund .... Well, ok then!

HA! Finally, CIC's screw ups and inconsistencies BENEFITS one of us, instead of penalizing us! *high five* on saving a few bucks, somewhatstressed!

 

[Alurra71]

I don't think they care if their books balance either.

Got issued a visa and a $150 refund .... Well, ok then!

I guess that depends on whether or not you included money for a work permit. If you did, and they issued your visa at same time as AIP, then that is why you received the refund

 

[CrazzzyCatLady]

I spoke French since I was 6-7 years old and I still can't understand Quebecois =))) You should also come to the Maritimes and try Acadian French.

Happy Weekend everybody!

 

[screech339]

I spoke French since I was 6-7 years old and I still can't understand Quebecois =))) You should also come to the Maritimes and try Acadian French.

Happy Weekend everybody!

That's the problem with Quebec French. I was told that Quebec French is really spoken in slang, thus hard to understand their French.

Screech339