Hello to everyone, i've been reading lots of your personal experiences and i've appreciated much of the insight. Now it's time for me to share my experience as the sponsor of my spouse, in particular our AIP interview. It has now been 16 months since CIC has received our application. Here is my timeline.
CIC rcvd application to sponsor and OWP on June 28, 2013.
CIC started processing application on July 23, 2013
Email requesting more information rcvd Dated Feb 14, 2014
Information sent to VGV office on two occasions
Email transferred to CIC Montreal rcvd April 11, 2014 (No AIP)
Interview letter rcvd (Dated Oct 28, 2014)
Interview CIC Montreal Nov 06, 2014
As you can see, my wife and i are still waiting on the answer from the Montreal CIC office (6-8 months processing time) following our AIP interview, which went very well. I felt the need to share our interview experience. Upon receiving the interview letter, our stress level/excitement went up a notch as you can imagine. We got together all the documented evidence of our relationship we could in preparation as we knew the interview was to verify the genuineness of it. Armed with more than 60 photographs, banking statements, business contracts, Quebec marriage certificate and certified letters from members of my family, we entered the IO's cubicle around 8:30, right on time. The woman agent was very courteous and proceeded to explain how the interview would work. We started by presenting all the documentation. The IO seemed satisfied with the amount of evidence and told us it would not be necessary to do separate interviews (i perceive this as a good sign). She thus took all the docs with her to scan which took 20 minutes. Upon her return, she only asked us to clarify one thing about our relationship. We proceeded to ask her our own questions which she answered. The IO then told us we demonstrated good faith and that her answer would come by mail 2 weeks later but also mentioned it could be faster.
Needless to say our spirits were lifted following the interview. It has now been 18 days (12 business days) since then and our patience is running thin! No Ecas update and no letter. Obviously it isn't healthy to create expectations on the words of an IO, but we couldn't help it!
Hopefully, our AIP and OWP will arrive by snail mail this week. How long could it possibly take to get all this done after an interview? My mind worries :'(... Does anyone have insight into this?
Good luck to all who have AIP (first stage) interviews!