Here is how my interview went,
When we arrived CIC office, there were already a lot of people waiting in front of the door.
The lady came out of the door and told all of us that we had been accepted for permanent resident. we were still in an elevator lobby though... then we lined up to be checked if we brought a correct size of photo, a receipt of payment, and the letter from CIC office.
It took us about 40 minutes that there were really a lot of people!! Then we were taken to a big room and waited again for about 15 minuets.
When we were called to come into a small room, I got a little nervous that I was still thinking they might ask me questions!! (silly me!)
Well, the officer asked me a couple of questions which I had seen in this forum so I was ready to answer.
-Is there any dependents outside of Canada?
-Have you been told to leave Canada?
-Have you been refused entering Canada?
(which I have, so I answered YES, and she already knew it because I explained about it in my application.)
Then, she told me to sign on a paper.... and everything was done!
When I heard "Welcome to Canada" like others posted in this forum how their interview went, I could not stop myself crying...
She asked me if I had any questions, but I could not even think of anything... I barely said NO...lol
On the way home, I was crying and laughing, my husband kept smiling and hugging me... and we had a little cerebration dinner.
Some of you guys might know, but some might not know about my whole situation, so I explain it with my time line.
2007
I was refused entering Canada at Toronto airport because I did not have a return ticket with me. (I actually booked my return flight on-line in last minutes before leaving for Canada but I did not notice I got a message that there was an error, and had to do again.) I explained to the officer but he did not believe me... I was so unaware about immigration stuff and I regretted so badly that I did not prepare well. (I was going to see my husband, he was my boyfriend at that time)
a few months later, I visited to my husband again, and this time I was well prepared and they let me in and gave me 6 months stamp on my passport although I stayed for just one week.
2008 March
I came to Canada again to live with my husband. They let me in and gave me 6 months stamp on my passport.
2008 September
I applied for a visitor extension and was refused
2008 November
We hired a lawyer and I reapplied for a restoration of visitor status
We started gathering all information for sponsorship application
2009 March
I got a refusal letter (I lost my legal status)
2009 May
My husband and me got married
I took my medical exam
We were going to apply for my PR right after our wedding but we had to wait for 6 months to gather all documents we needed to include our application...
2009 December
We sent our inland application out (I had no status)
and after that, here is my process time line
Application started processing: February 23, 2010
Sponsor approved: August 24, 2010
Interview/Landed: September 21, 2010
Our process started December 2009, but I was waiting for this since I lost my status in May 2009...
I felt I was such a bad criminal overstaying here... I never commit any crime in my life, and I was so scared that some day immigration officers would come to my door and send me to my home country, and never see my husband again...
I even could not call police when the stranger broke into our apartment... I thought I would have to show them my ID and they would know I was overstaying here...and they would report immigration office about me
I still highly suggest you to keep your legal status, when it is about expired then renew it!
Lots of worries and no medical benefit, no drivers' license, no work, no school, no, no, no, nothing. It was very hard for me to live like this. I still can not believe that they did not call us for "interview"... I am very happy that they could see from our application that our marriage was true...
One more interesting thing, my medical had been expired in May, but they did not request me for second medical... I have no idea why.
I was going to get a second medical exam before my interview because I was expecting to be told to, and I wanted to save time. But I am glad that I did not... I saved my money
If you have any questions, feel free to ask me. A lot of you guys have helped me, and I am willing to help you too!
Thank you for reading my long post!!
Mint