Just landed today in Vancouver at Hornby Street.
Waited at a reception where other families/couples waited their turn.
There were 4 booths facing the chairs where applicants/sponsors waited.
After 35min an officer(dressed in casual clothes, in my mind I picture them scary and serious, but they are not at all) called my name. He was very funny,originally from Netherlands, I would say around 54 years old, with an interesting moustache, kept making jokes and smiling.
Asked those questions that he himself sounded bored for asking, as he probably mention them many times a day, and he said were the same questions they asked him when he came to Canada 30 years ago.
He didn't ask any personal questions, nor my partner ID. Just confirmed with us our current address.
Asked for my payment receipt, I showed and he barely looked, I believe he could see on his computer that it was paid. Only took one of my pictures and attached to his copy of the COPR.
I signed the papers, with the officer heavy "John Lennon"pen, he was very helpful with my questions towards the COPR, made some copies of it for me, said my PR card would take from 4 to 6 weeks to arrive.
Wrote "void" on my current(now not needed
) work permit, turned to me with his hand in position to shake mne and said "Congratulations you are now a Permanent Resident of Canada", turned to my partner and said joking "Congratulations, you can stay."
The whole process took 45minutes, and it's on the list of one of the best days of my life. I can officially call Canada my home.
Now I am off to eat a nice chubby burrito and drink an alcoholic beverage(or some) to celebrate.
My timeline:
AOR August 16th 2013
Requested additional documents beginning November 2014 (Sponsor Option C and Background Declaration for me, note: I sent them with original application), sent them him December 2014
SA November 19th 2014
AIP January 21st 2015
DM January 21st 2015
Landing date February 18th 2015.
My Application:
Common Law Inland Sponsorship
Sent everything all at once, police certificate, medicals, payment.
I did not include Facebook/text/email conversations, just pictures, and an attached paper explaining our story and referring to the questions on the forms. And the usual: our apartment lease, car we purchased together, joint bank account, etc.
However, for every new visa extension, I would always include an explanation letter signed by me and my partner.
I also never called CIC about my application, I decided to just leave it be for my own sake, as my mind was getting really messed up with all the expectation/frustation, I just tried to live my life as best as I could.
If anyone have questions feel free to send me a message.
For everyone else still waiting, your time is coming, and it's going to feel amazing. For now, love your partner and work the relationship as much as you can with what you have.
