Mailing Address in the United States?

[eileenf]

I did that and it didn't work for me, except I didn't use Skype. I even had Service Canada transfer me. As soon as I was transferred to CIC it immediately recognized I was calling from outside of Canada and discontinued the call.

Oh wow. Thanks for the update. I've heard that calls sometimes get dropped or disconnected via this method, so I'm curious if they told you they were discontinuing the call due to you calling from outside Canada or if you surmised that?

 

[saria1]

Oh wow. Thanks for the update. I've heard that calls sometimes get dropped or disconnected via this method, so I'm curious if they told you they were discontinuing the call due to you calling from outside Canada or if you surmised that?

The automated system says it will transfer the call to CIC and then after the transfer a male automated voice says "We're sorry, the toll free number you have dialed is not available from your calling area, SCT11" and immediately disconnects the call. Yes, I just called it again to get the exact wording for you

 

[eileenf]

Thanks for the report!
So that work around is officially kaput...It's annoying because of course you're not calling the toll-free number.

This is a real nuclear option, so it should only be used very wisely, but if one knows the name of the officer they want to speak to, they can look it up on GEDS.

 

[pecON]

There is another free voip service, although you will need to provide a Canadian Address.
http://www.freephoneline.ca

I use this all the time and have an APP on my iphone

This is who I used, hope it helps:

https://www.line2.com/

If anyone knows of a similar service that is better or more affordable, I'd love to know.

 

[alphazip]

I did that and it didn't work for me, except I didn't use Skype. I even had Service Canada transfer me. As soon as I was transferred to CIC it immediately recognized I was calling from outside of Canada and discontinued the call.

I have a U.S. line, and when I try calling CIC at 888-242-2100 the call won't go thru. However, I just tried 613-944-4000 and got thru to CIC. I didn't speak with an agent, but I did get an interactive service asking for my immigration or citizenship account number. Since I don't have one, at that point I hung up.

 

[Oct13]

There is another free voip service, although you will need to provide a Canadian Address.
http://www.freephoneline.ca

I use this all the time and have an APP on my iphone

I also use it. But now since I moved from Vancouver to Edmonton, if I call using it I hear the other party but they do not hear me!
It could be that you have to be calling from the same city your number is from?!

On another note, where do you get the app from?

 

[alphazip]

Thanks for the report!
So that work around is officially kaput...It's annoying because of course you're not calling the toll-free number.

This is kind of the nuclear option, so should only be used very wisely, but if you know the name of the officer you want to speak to, you can look it up on GEDS.

Well, it's not kaput, because it worked for me. I'm not using a landline, though, I'm using Vonage (VOIP). It's still a U.S. number, though, because the regular CIC number or other Canada-only numbers will not go thru.

 

[pecON]

Try their website or the APP store. They are called FONGO these days, so try searching for that.

On another note, where do you get the app from?

 

[Oct13]

Try their website or the APP store. They are called FONGO these days, so try searching for that.

Thanks!

 

[CiSe2014]

Thanks everyone!

 

[eileenf]

Well, it's not kaput, because it worked for me. I'm not using a landline, though, I'm using Vonage (VOIP). It's still a U.S. number, though, because the regular CIC number or other Canada-only numbers will not go thru.

Oh, okay. That's good. So it's worth a try for people! It's good that there's lots of other options here though too.

 

[raymasa]

It's pretty easy, the basic details for me in the US was a 7 day free trial, and then $9.95 a month with 5000 mins a month calling back and forth between Canada and the US.

I chose the area I wanted the phone number to be from, they assigned me a number. Then I had to download their app onto my iPhone. It works almost identical to the regular iPhone. You can also put the app on iPads etc. My 5yr old son has it on his iPad and has been making use of it. Why, I don't know when he has the ability to Facetime me. I guess it's the novelty of having a "phone" of his own ;-)

I think you also have the ability to forward the calls to your phone directly for incoming calls. Anyways, when I called CIC the number was recognized as Canadian and I was able to get through to an agent.

This is who I used, hope it helps:

https://www.line2.com/

If anyone knows of a similar service that is better or more affordable, I'd love to know.

Thanks saria, I will try that

Ray