- Sep 14, 2017
- 38
- Category........
- FSW
- NOC Code......
- 2173
- App. Filed.......
- 06-09-2017
- AOR Received.
- 23-10-2017
- Med's Done....
- 04-11-2017
- Passport Req..
- 17-11-2017
- VISA ISSUED...
- 18-12-2017
Hi All,
Just want to share my landing experience for future landers. I landed on a Canadian Thanksgiving day and it was a Public holiday in Canada.
Pre-Flight
* My passport was up for renewal in Jan 2019 and since I had less than 6 months of validity left, I had a new passport issued. However, my Canadian VISA was stamped on my old passport and I was bit unsure on the process - Should I get VISA reissued on new passport? How should I update CIC on this passport change? After several tries in webform and contacting Ottawa Visa office, I finally receive an email from them that, it is not an issue to travel in my current situation. They asked me to inform this to the immigration officer upon landing.
* I had booked my tickets from SFO to YYZ via Air Canada. At Air Canada check-in counter, I faced a minor issue. Since my flight ticket was linked to new passport, the Air Canada agent was not able to find pre-authorization for the new passport number to enter Canada as the visa was linked to my old passport. After some explaining, she called the Immigration hotline, got a pre-authorization number, then called Air Canada customer care to link that number with my new passport and then my boarding pass was issued.
Landing
* We landed at 6:15 AM in YYZ. No smiles or any such friendly faces upon landing. ( guess many were cursing for working on a holiday) Was directed to separate counters for completing the landing process. Both me and my wife were processed by same officer. There were hardly one other families who were completing their landing process along with us at that time. There was a bunch of immigration officers who were talking about issues in finding a good heater technicians for a good price in the counter next us (many empty counters). Gave my friends address for PR card delivery. The total time for us to get our COPR stamped, BSF 186 & A forms to get checked and signed took about an hour as we had quite an exhaustive list with us. The officer gave some guidelines on obtaining the SIN number and that's it. We thanked the officer and we came out of the terminal. Took the link train to Viscount station to get our rental car.
Stay - AIRBNB
* Had found an economical Airbnb near Galleria Shopping Center which had a car parking space. Went to friends place first as the check-in time for our Airbnb was 3 PM. Freshened up, had breakfast, went to High park, chilled for some time and then in evening, we drove to our Airbnb and had a peaceful sleep.
SIN Process
* This is where the smoothness stopped for us. We went quite early to Service Canada center, got the queue number and we were called in 10 mins. The officer started to process my application and handed me the SIN number in around 10 mins. However, it was not the same case for my wife. After some calls and some extra button clicks, he handed a case number and phone number to follow-up. Reason - They were not able to validate my wife's landing and hence they are unable to generate the SIN number. They said that this is quite normal, and it will take a month for this issue to be resolved. Even after a month, if i do not receive the SIN number, then they asked me to follow-up on the case number.
After this, I did not think much into this and we drove to see Niagara Falls and then the next day, we flew back to SFO.
One Month Later - November 2nd week
* Still not received SIN number. Called up Service Canada helpline. Answer - They are still processing Oct 3rd applications and asked me to call after a week. I called after a week and they say that they are still waiting for clarifications from the immigration department on my wife's landing status. They asked me to check with immigration department on this matter. I called immigration helpline and after 10 mins of wait, I got through and was asked to provide landing details so that they can do manual check of the landing (Flight number, landing date and time, booking reference, COPR number etc.). The officer raised a complaint and asked me to wait for 2-3 weeks for the issue to be resolved.
I have no issues in waiting as I was not in Canada. Imagine this for people who want to open an bank account or do any such thing without a SIN number. Finally, in December 1 st week, the immigration team closed the complaint and validated the landing in their database. Now, the Service Canada is working on sending the SIN number. Expected delivery date - 3rd week of December. Due to this, she will receive her PR card sometime in Feb.
As far as my PR card, I received a ghost update in the beginning of this week. Maybe I will receive my PR card along with wife's SIN
I am able to link her PR card application to my CIC account as well. (I was unable to do so before as her landing was not validated)
So, yeah, this was my landing and without even staying in Canada for more than 3 days, I had to deal with multiple calls/mails to different agencies just to sort out a simple paper works, right from time I received my VISA to SIN numbers!
Just want to share my landing experience for future landers. I landed on a Canadian Thanksgiving day and it was a Public holiday in Canada.
Pre-Flight
* My passport was up for renewal in Jan 2019 and since I had less than 6 months of validity left, I had a new passport issued. However, my Canadian VISA was stamped on my old passport and I was bit unsure on the process - Should I get VISA reissued on new passport? How should I update CIC on this passport change? After several tries in webform and contacting Ottawa Visa office, I finally receive an email from them that, it is not an issue to travel in my current situation. They asked me to inform this to the immigration officer upon landing.
* I had booked my tickets from SFO to YYZ via Air Canada. At Air Canada check-in counter, I faced a minor issue. Since my flight ticket was linked to new passport, the Air Canada agent was not able to find pre-authorization for the new passport number to enter Canada as the visa was linked to my old passport. After some explaining, she called the Immigration hotline, got a pre-authorization number, then called Air Canada customer care to link that number with my new passport and then my boarding pass was issued.
Landing
* We landed at 6:15 AM in YYZ. No smiles or any such friendly faces upon landing. ( guess many were cursing for working on a holiday) Was directed to separate counters for completing the landing process. Both me and my wife were processed by same officer. There were hardly one other families who were completing their landing process along with us at that time. There was a bunch of immigration officers who were talking about issues in finding a good heater technicians for a good price in the counter next us (many empty counters). Gave my friends address for PR card delivery. The total time for us to get our COPR stamped, BSF 186 & A forms to get checked and signed took about an hour as we had quite an exhaustive list with us. The officer gave some guidelines on obtaining the SIN number and that's it. We thanked the officer and we came out of the terminal. Took the link train to Viscount station to get our rental car.
Stay - AIRBNB
* Had found an economical Airbnb near Galleria Shopping Center which had a car parking space. Went to friends place first as the check-in time for our Airbnb was 3 PM. Freshened up, had breakfast, went to High park, chilled for some time and then in evening, we drove to our Airbnb and had a peaceful sleep.
SIN Process
* This is where the smoothness stopped for us. We went quite early to Service Canada center, got the queue number and we were called in 10 mins. The officer started to process my application and handed me the SIN number in around 10 mins. However, it was not the same case for my wife. After some calls and some extra button clicks, he handed a case number and phone number to follow-up. Reason - They were not able to validate my wife's landing and hence they are unable to generate the SIN number. They said that this is quite normal, and it will take a month for this issue to be resolved. Even after a month, if i do not receive the SIN number, then they asked me to follow-up on the case number.
After this, I did not think much into this and we drove to see Niagara Falls and then the next day, we flew back to SFO.
One Month Later - November 2nd week
* Still not received SIN number. Called up Service Canada helpline. Answer - They are still processing Oct 3rd applications and asked me to call after a week. I called after a week and they say that they are still waiting for clarifications from the immigration department on my wife's landing status. They asked me to check with immigration department on this matter. I called immigration helpline and after 10 mins of wait, I got through and was asked to provide landing details so that they can do manual check of the landing (Flight number, landing date and time, booking reference, COPR number etc.). The officer raised a complaint and asked me to wait for 2-3 weeks for the issue to be resolved.
I have no issues in waiting as I was not in Canada. Imagine this for people who want to open an bank account or do any such thing without a SIN number. Finally, in December 1 st week, the immigration team closed the complaint and validated the landing in their database. Now, the Service Canada is working on sending the SIN number. Expected delivery date - 3rd week of December. Due to this, she will receive her PR card sometime in Feb.
As far as my PR card, I received a ghost update in the beginning of this week. Maybe I will receive my PR card along with wife's SIN
I am able to link her PR card application to my CIC account as well. (I was unable to do so before as her landing was not validated)So, yeah, this was my landing and without even staying in Canada for more than 3 days, I had to deal with multiple calls/mails to different agencies just to sort out a simple paper works, right from time I received my VISA to SIN numbers!
