Manila Tread for English Speakers - join here!

[CanadianJeepGuy]

I hope yours zips through quick and without any hitches. It sucks (as you well know) waiting and wondering. Ours was a little complicated since my wife at one time had to send to the US for an FBI check, and her son who's in college in Manila is also part of our package. I hear that an extra person on the whole thing is also a slow down.
Another guy from work with a much simpler set of documents slipped through in 8 months start to finish though, .. which I have to admit wasn't good for my mood after our very long wait.
Today all feels well and I hope things go faster for you.

Ours had a 2 month set back as they lost some of our documents hoping that it may be able to catch up with the other may applicants.
Lots of great places in Antipolo and its growing quickly. We have already purchased land to develop into rental properties and will continue to get more until we can retire there.

I'm originally from Toronto and we had a cottage in Kincardine. Fergus was kinda on the way if you wanted quick food back then (or Arthur) until they put the Timmies in on Hwy 6. We tried the 3 Bears once beside the dealership but got food poisoning so we either went into Fegus or Arthur.

 

[Merlyns_Tim]

Give it a few hours and it will show decision made most likely... when my address changed, it was midnight (I'm in BC), and I was about to go to bed, I was so excited I could not sleep!! and I so badly wanted to see DM before going to bed, I kept on refreshing ecas, and login again and again! then decided that it was no point... my partner was half asleep and he didn't really realize what was going on ( and he also didn't want to get excited and disappointed later on...), so I couldn't just jump around... went to bed, and woke up 7h later to "DM" on ecas..
You've been waiting for a really long time, I'm glad it's finally coming to an end, and a well deserved holiday is certainly a great way to start the year!
Sweden

You were right Sweden. For us it took a couple of days due to the weekend I think but this morning when I checked sure enough it had changed to "Decision Made". ;D
A couple of things I wonder are how long from the CAS showing this till the time her package should arrive, and once she lands how long before she is eligible to look for a job? We dont plan on having her working right away but she hopes to find something once she has a chance to get a bit oriented with Canada, and our little town.
I'm pretty sure getting her Ontario drivers license should be easy enough since she learned to drive in the US back in 1991, and has been driving in the Philippines since. After what I saw, .. if you can drive in Manila you can probably drive anywhere

 

[Sweden]

You were right Sweden. For us it took a couple of days due to the weekend I think but this morning when I checked sure enough it had changed to "Decision Made". ;D
A couple of things I wonder are how long from the CAS showing this till the time her package should arrive, and once she lands how long before she is eligible to look for a job? We dont plan on having her working right away but she hopes to find something once she has a chance to get a bit oriented with Canada, and our little town.
I'm pretty sure getting her Ontario drivers license should be easy enough since she learned to drive in the US back in 1991, and has been driving in the Philippines since. After what I saw, .. if you can drive in Manila you can probably drive anywhere

Yeah! congrats, good to know that you're done! feels good to see the "decision made" even if you knew from the change of address, doesn't it??
From my experience : the day it went "decision made" is the day they sent the COPR, so depending on what they use for postal services in Manilla (regular post, courrier etc), and how far your wife is from Manilla itself, it will take a couple of days / a week / maybe 10 days ? I don't think it should take more than that.
Once she lands, she can go straight to Service Canada with her passport + COPR signed, and she can get a SIN on the spot... the actual card will arrive 10 days later, but leaving the office she will have a copy of her SIN, and she can work the same day if she wants! there is nothing preventing her from doing so - as soon as she lands, she is a PR with full rights.
For Ontario license, see here http://www.ontario.ca/driving-and-roads/exchange-foreign-drivers-licence she will probably have to take a test etc, but she can drive right away for 60 days. If she got her driving license in the US, then she should be able to exchange it for an Ontario one quite easily.

Good luck!
Sweden

 

[Merlyns_Tim]

Yeah! congrats, good to know that you're done! feels good to see the "decision made" even if you knew from the change of address, doesn't it??
From my experience : the day it went "decision made" is the day they sent the COPR, so depending on what they use for postal services in Manilla (regular post, courrier etc), and how far your wife is from Manilla itself, it will take a couple of days / a week / maybe 10 days ? I don't think it should take more than that.
Once she lands, she can go straight to Service Canada with her passport + COPR signed, and she can get a SIN on the spot... the actual card will arrive 10 days later, but leaving the office she will have a copy of her SIN, and she can work the same day if she wants! there is nothing preventing her from doing so - as soon as she lands, she is a PR with full rights.
For Ontario license, see here http://www.ontario.ca/driving-and-roads/exchange-foreign-drivers-licence she will probably have to take a test etc, but she can drive right away for 60 days. If she got her driving license in the US, then she should be able to exchange it for an Ontario one quite easily.

Good luck!
Sweden

Thanks for all the info Sweden. It's certainly helpful!! You're right about how great it feels. I was skyping with her this morning when I checked and noticed the change so it made me happy to tell her about it, .. and of course she had to log on right then and see it all with her own eyes.

As far as her license, she didn't keep the US one up but has been driving with a Philippines license since returning from the States a little over 20 years ago. She went to the office in Manila a while back and got a proof of how long she's been driving (I forget what they call that document), but it's good for 6 months from the time she was issued it as far as proof acceptable here at our DMV, althought she'll have to try for her Ontario license within 2 month, .. from what I'm understanding and should be able to start right out with the full license after passing a driving test because of the proof she's bringing. I do think the fact that she learned to drive in the States will make my training her here again much easier though. Driving in snow will be a whole new ball game for her, but she's a pretty good driver and I hope she will pick it up without much trouble.

Thanks again Sweden. Depending on if she gets her package some time this week or not (DHL Courier) we are hoping we can arrange a non-stop from Manila to Toronto on the 18th of this month, ... but again that all depends on how fast her package comes.

Tim.

 

[Steph C]

Thanks for all the info Sweden. It's certainly helpful!! You're right about how great it feels. I was skyping with her this morning when I checked and noticed the change so it made me happy to tell her about it, .. and of course she had to log on right then and see it all with her own eyes.

As far as her license, she didn't keep the US one up but has been driving with a Philippines license since returning from the States a little over 20 years ago. She went to the office in Manila a while back and got a proof of how long she's been driving (I forget what they call that document), but it's good for 6 months from the time she was issued it as far as proof acceptable here at our DMV, althought she'll have to try for her Ontario license within 2 month, .. from what I'm understanding and should be able to start right out with the full license after passing a driving test because of the proof she's bringing. I do think the fact that she learned to drive in the States will make my training her here again much easier though. Driving in snow will be a whole new ball game for her, but she's a pretty good driver and I hope she will pick it up without much trouble.

Thanks again Sweden. Depending on if she gets her package some time this week or not (DHL Courier) we are hoping we can arrange a non-stop from Manila to Toronto on the 18th of this month, ... but again that all depends on how fast her package comes.

Tim.

That's awesome news Tim.. Maybe your wife can get an international licence from the Philippines to last for the meantime. It usually just cost an extra fee and no specialized training, at least according to one aunt who showed us her international licence. Which is actually kind of scary if you think about it, because my partner didn't have to do a drivers test ever, just paid a little extra for a licence. :-X Maybe that's Mindanao for you.

 

[Merlyns_Tim]

That's awesome news Tim.. Maybe your wife can get an international licence from the Philippines to last for the meantime. It usually just cost an extra fee and no specialized training, at least according to one aunt who showed us her international licence. Which is actually kind of scary if you think about it, because my partner didn't have to do a drivers test ever, just paid a little extra for a licence. :-X Maybe that's Mindanao for you.

Thank you Steph C

You're actually the second person who suggested the international license. Her lawyer also suggested that to her a couple of months ago. It might be worth exploring a little further, though I know sooner or later I'll want her to have her Ontario license anyhow.

 

[Steph C]

Thank you Steph C

You're actually the second person who suggested the international license. Her lawyer also suggested that to her a couple of months ago. It might be worth exploring a little further, though I know sooner or later I'll want her to have her Ontario license anyhow.

I'm not sure of ONT's rules, but the BC graduated licensing seems like a long and painful process.. by the time it was introduced I luckily already had mine. At least if she needed to she could drive by herself at night, etc.

 

[Sweden]

Thank you Steph C

You're actually the second person who suggested the international license. Her lawyer also suggested that to her a couple of months ago. It might be worth exploring a little further, though I know sooner or later I'll want her to have her Ontario license anyhow.

I don't know how it is in Ontario, but in BC, you have to give away your national licence to get the BC one - so it might be worth having the international one, it's valid everywhere but the country of issue, and like this she could give this one up ( not sure it's possible, but worth calling the Ontario license body to check), and still have hers for whenever she travels back home...
Sweden

 

[Merlyns_Tim]

I'm not sure of ONT's rules, but the BC graduated licensing seems like a long and painful process.. by the time it was introduced I luckily already had mine. At least if she needed to she could drive by herself at night, etc.

According to the website here it stated that if you can bring proof of how long you have been driving (and if it has been a substantial amount of time) you can start right out without going through all the graduated licensing crap. You have to bring a document from the motor vehicle department in your old country and can drive for a couple of months here on your foreign drivers license before having to take a drivers test.
If you fail, .. then you need to go through some of the graduated stuff. If you pass the driving test though you can start with the full license, .. which to me is ideal because that should also mean huge savings when I go to insure her.

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

You were right Sweden. For us it took a couple of days due to the weekend I think but this morning when I checked sure enough it had changed to "Decision Made". ;D
A couple of things I wonder are how long from the CAS showing this till the time her package should arrive, and once she lands how long before she is eligible to look for a job? We dont plan on having her working right away but she hopes to find something once she has a chance to get a bit oriented with Canada, and our little town.
I'm pretty sure getting her Ontario drivers license should be easy enough since she learned to drive in the US back in 1991, and has been driving in the Philippines since. After what I saw, .. if you can drive in Manila you can probably drive anywhere

Congrats Merlyns. It must be a real relief to finally be able to plan things for your future. I wish you both the best in your lives together.

.....and yes I think your wife will laugh at our traffic here compared to what she is used to in Manila and Antipolo....lol.

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

According to the website here it stated that if you can bring proof of how long you have been driving (and if it has been a substantial amount of time) you can start right out without going through all the graduated licensing crap. You have to bring a document from the motor vehicle department in your old country and can drive for a couple of months here on your foreign drivers license before having to take a drivers test.
If you fail, .. then you need to go through some of the graduated stuff. If you pass the driving test though you can start with the full license, .. which to me is ideal because that should also mean huge savings when I go to insure her.

A buddy of mine immigrated from Manchester. His foreign licence was good for only 3 months then he had to get an Ontario licence. He never went throught he graduated licencing crap. He provided info that he had been an insured driver for more than 10 years. I looked into it here in Manitoba for my wife and all she needs to do is provide proof that she has been a licenced driver for more than 3 years.

 

[truesmile]

VISA RECEIVED. The waiting is over! Now just to arrive and "land" in Canada. Total time logged in on this forum: 3 days 1 hour and 24 minutes . . .

 

[Steph C]

VISA RECEIVED. The waiting is over! Now just to arrive and "land" in Canada. Total time logged in on this forum: 3 days 1 hour and 24 minutes . . .

 

[truesmile]

Now THAT'S the PARTY I've been looking for right there!!!

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

VISA RECEIVED. The waiting is over! Now just to arrive and "land" in Canada. Total time logged in on this forum: 3 days 1 hour and 24 minutes . . .

Congrats. Where are you going to reside?