Hi everyone,
I’d like to share my experience with you guys. I had so many questions while waiting for my PR. I read numerous threads but most of them were old or slightly different from my situation.
My application was received in January 2015. Medical results obtained in November 2014. I didn’t have to provide new medical results. Sponsorship approval received last March 2016 and proof of relationship and communication requested at the same time. I thought I provided everything I had so I was a bit worried. I didn’t know what else to give! I wrote a letter explaining my situation with a detailed timeline in appendix (how we met, how the relationship developed, explanations on why I couldn’t provide certain proof etc.). I provided a friend’s testimonial, all digital communications I had (Facebook chat, emails etc. even if it was private conversations – nothing too personal though) I fortunately didn’t clear my history and so grateful for that!
Last May 2016, I received the AIP and the DM a day after. I read a lot of discussions about travelling outside of Canada and I remained in Canada because of the risks of leaving the country. However, we really needed some vacations, so after the DM, we booked a trip to Cuba for the end of June. We decided to take the risk hoping that the DM would be enough proof.
But in on June 13th, 2016, I received the PR landing appointment for June 28 by email, exactly when I was supposed to leave for Cuba! I emailed CIC back explaining why I couldn’t attend the interview and provided my availability. The appointment was rescheduled a week before the initial one on June 21st.
So I landed last June 21st. I was so happy! The CIC agent told me that I would receive my PR card within 2 months but couldn’t travel without my PR card. Panic! I unfortunately couldn’t cancel my trip or I would have to lose my plane tickets. The CIC agent told me that I could have traveled before the PR landing with my open work permit though (really???!). She then told me that I could get a travel document at the Canadian embassy at La Havana to be able to come back to Canada.
For those who’d like to know more about it, I contacted the Canadian embassy in Cuba by email beforehand to gather information that was not on the CIC website. They told me what to bring along etc. So we decided to go to Cuba and rented a taxi and went at the embassy when it opened on Monday at 8.30 AM. (Note: you need to get a certified check or bank draft because Canadian checks are not valid, and also you need to print the filled form. No hand written document is accepted – it will save you some stress… I learned that the hard way that very day but managed to gather everything on time). The application had to be submitted before 11 AM for it to be processed within a day. I had to go back at 3 PM to get the travel document. I was so relieved.
On the way back to Canada, the customs officer knew I was a permanent resident without my PR card and looked for my travel document in my passport, then crossed it out and I could enter back to Canada.
I should receive my PR card next month. I really can’t wait! I hope that my experience will help answering some of the questions you might have!
