Manila Tread for English Speakers - join here!

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Well, this is so annoying. I went to check the Manila spreadsheet that spans a bunch of months, and somebody had deleted me off of it! I guess that's the problem when it's open for all to edit.

I just checked my link to it. You are in position 11. Unless I'm on a different spreadsheet.

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

This one??

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0Aip6KZdQpZf7dGNweDk2SlFUaGc2MnVEODBTSm1TVVE&pli=1#gid=0

 

[Steph C]

This one
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhYSbv3Vc0IzdFBrMlJtemcyNW96ZFpkamh6dnBvT0E#gid=0
I added myself back in.. it's just annoying : I really go by that spreadsheet, comparing time between sponsor approval and PPR ;D Hoping for some email in the next few weeks.

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

This one
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AhYSbv3Vc0IzdFBrMlJtemcyNW96ZFpkamh6dnBvT0E#gid=0
I added myself back in.. it's just annoying : I really go by that spreadsheet, comparing time between sponsor approval and PPR ;D Hoping for some email in the next few weeks.

That one is more depressing than the other one. Six May applicants left. I'm just waiting for "In Process". That would be nice.

 

[scos]

Well, this is so annoying. I went to check the Manila spreadsheet that spans a bunch of months, and somebody had deleted me off of it! I guess that's the problem when it's open for all to edit.

Sorry about that, I was indirectly responsible for that.

See, it's bugged me for a while that there are so many spreadsheets running around. There is the one you mentioned, 3 others from early 2012, and the partial March-April which is named February (no idea why). Then there are Manila people who are on the monthly sheets but not on the Manila ones. And to top that off, they are all in different formats, different states of completeness, etc.

So I decided to grab all the Manila data from all the 2012 sheets and jam them into the newest sheet (the May-Oct one). After going through all the reformatting and such I called it a night intending to add some statistics the next day when someone (the owner of the sheet presumably), removed all the added data. I have to admit I was annoyed, but it isn't my sheet so I can't really complain. It must have been at this time that your entry was lost.

Lucky for me that I had downloaded a copy and now have it online (with a lot of reformatting and simplification). I added in some stats and the data portion of the sheet is editable so people can update their stats. The link is:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtCLbbZupkY_dHJRT2R1alhXS2xaUzFTcHZsTUhVbHc

Over the next week or so I'm going to pop a message into all the monthly Manila threads for people to add/update their info if they wish. As for anyone who doesn't agree with my idea of a combined Manila sheet you don't have to use it. Use whatever you like.

Oh, and if you check it out, you may notice a pattern over the top part of the sheet with the stats. Those are protected cells. Just go to View and turn off "Protected Ranges" and the pattern will go away.

 

[Dan_from_Surrey]

SCOS, nice spread sheet, I especially like the added data across the top, makes it easy for someone like me, who doesn't use spread sheets normally to follow. Thanks!

 

[Steph C]

SCOS, nice spread sheet, I especially like the added data across the top, makes it easy for someone like me, who doesn't use spread sheets normally to follow. Thanks!

I agree, really nice sheet! Nice work Scos.

 

[Steph C]

I agree, really nice sheet! Nice work Scos.

Oh and I updated details for April user Auda, which is the user name for the wife of Rhenanjay (also on the SS) and has landed.

 

[Luckyman]

So which is everyone going to use?

 

[NewDad]

And so the frustration begins.

Before applying for a PR visa for my wife I need to apply for a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship for my son (born out of Canada - Canadian father). This needs to be done with forms submitted to Canadian Embassy in Manila. Most of the information is available through searching but they have a contact email to ask questions specific to that application ( manil-cs@international.gc.ca )

So I sent a polite request for some answers. Totally ignored. I sent a polite request for receipt of email. Totally ignored. This is why I asked earlier if using a lawyer would eliminate the stress. Phone calls are difficult as I have no landline in Philippines and I am half deaf (cannot understand people talking on cell phones . . ehhh? . . what? . . can you repeat that? ) Personal visits require huge travel expense from the province to Manila.

How do you people deal with that?

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

Sorry about that, I was indirectly responsible for that.

See, it's bugged me for a while that there are so many spreadsheets running around. There is the one you mentioned, 3 others from early 2012, and the partial March-April which is named February (no idea why). Then there are Manila people who are on the monthly sheets but not on the Manila ones. And to top that off, they are all in different formats, different states of completeness, etc.

So I decided to grab all the Manila data from all the 2012 sheets and jam them into the newest sheet (the May-Oct one). After going through all the reformatting and such I called it a night intending to add some statistics the next day when someone (the owner of the sheet presumably), removed all the added data. I have to admit I was annoyed, but it isn't my sheet so I can't really complain. It must have been at this time that your entry was lost.

Lucky for me that I had downloaded a copy and now have it online (with a lot of reformatting and simplification). I added in some stats and the data portion of the sheet is editable so people can update their stats. The link is:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AtCLbbZupkY_dHJRT2R1alhXS2xaUzFTcHZsTUhVbHc

Over the next week or so I'm going to pop a message into all the monthly Manila threads for people to add/update their info if they wish. As for anyone who doesn't agree with my idea of a combined Manila sheet you don't have to use it. Use whatever you like.

Oh, and if you check it out, you may notice a pattern over the top part of the sheet with the stats. Those are protected cells. Just go to View and turn off "Protected Ranges" and the pattern will go away.

Another good spreadsheet. Thanks for setting that up.

 

[Steph C]

And so the frustration begins.

Before applying for a PR visa for my wife I need to apply for a Certificate of Canadian Citizenship for my son (born out of Canada - Canadian father). This needs to be done with forms submitted to Canadian Embassy in Manila. Most of the information is available through searching but they have a contact email to ask questions specific to that application ( manil-cs @ international.gc.ca )

So I sent a polite request for some answers. Totally ignored. I sent a polite request for receipt of email. Totally ignored. This is why I asked earlier if using a lawyer would eliminate the stress. Phone calls are difficult as I have no landline in Philippines and I am half deaf (cannot understand people talking on cell phones . . ehhh? . . what? . . can you repeat that? ) Personal visits require huge travel expense from the province to Manila.

How do you people deal with that?

Well.. first I don't think you can expect them to respond to emails in a timely fashion. Even less likely is the possibility of phoning them in Manila. Since you're in the Philippines, you can't phone the toll free CIC help line in Canada. Maybe you can post your questions on the forum?. I'm sure there's others who have completed those forms. Someone in Canada could even phone the CIC help line for you. I doubt that a Lawyer would get any better response from CEM then you could.

 

[NewDad]

Well.. first I don't think you can expect them to respond to emails in a timely fashion.

And that is the whole problem! How do you (all of you) put up with that? Why do we put up with that? I am not suggesting they should drop everything to answer an email. I am only saying some receptionist should answer emails the same way they used to answer the phone. A polite (even computerized) response saying that your email has been received and will be answered within (give me a time frame).

When this does not happen I am farting in the dark with no idea if anyone is getting a smell!

Frustrated new dad in the jungle.

Edit: Sorry, you asked why I don't ask members here: I have the greatest respect for all the posters here but sometimes, when searching for specific answers to specific questions concerning my application, I find conflicting opinions from people trying to help. Those questions are best asked of the one who will be investigating my application so I only need to make one trip to Manila and be sure I have all the pertinent info at hand. It is common in the Philippines to have everything you think you need and be told to go home and find just one more document. I think officials here like to power trip and I had hoped to overcome this by allowing the official to have their power trip via email before I make a physical appearance.

Thus my question to the members here is how they manage to contact the right people.

 

[CanadianJeepGuy]

And that is the whole problem! How do you (all of you) put up with that? Why do we put up with that? I am not suggesting they should drop everything to answer an email. I am only saying some receptionist should answer emails the same way they used to answer the phone. A polite (even computerized) response saying that your email has been received and will be answered within (give me a time frame).

When this does not happen I am farting in the dark with no idea if anyone is getting a smell!

Frustrated new dad in the jungle.

Edit: Sorry, you asked why I don't ask members here: I have the greatest respect for all the posters here but sometimes, when searching for specific answers to specific questions concerning my application, I find conflicting opinions from people trying to help. Those questions are best asked of the one who will be investigating my application so I only need to make one trip to Manila and be sure I have all the pertinent info at hand. It is common in the Philippines to have everything you think you need and be told to go home and find just one more document. I think officials here like to power trip and I had hoped to overcome this by allowing the official to have their power trip via email before I make a physical appearance.

Thus my question to the members here is how they manage to contact the right people.

Do not waste your time traveling to the embassy in Manila. They do not take immigration inquiries. They won't even let you up for general inquiries.

 

[scos]

Oh and I updated details for April user Auda, which is the user name for the wife of Rhenanjay (also on the SS) and has landed.

Thanks for updating Auda. It is hard to know if people are still on here to update their entries or have long ago landed and gone on to better things. Like I searched the forums for Annerella's last post and it seemed like she was still waiting so I left her with her last known status in January (she is the only one not landed).

So which is everyone going to use?

Either or both I guess. I'm periodically checking the other sheets in case people update them and not this one. And feel free to update anything you know to be incorrect.

How do you people deal with that?

Well, speaking for myself, I just get frustrated.

My one and only communication with them by email was just to clarify a question on the application and resulted in a rude reply saying I should read the website first and gave a link to a page that supposedly had the answer. When I replied that the page didn't address what I asked they basically told me they answered my question and that was that.

I don't bother emailing them anymore...

I finally got most of my answers from here with the remainder coming from the CIC help line. And while you are right that you get conflicting info here; I ALSO got conflicting info depending on what day and what agent I spoke to on the CIC line. I would just ask as many sources as possible and hope they all concur with each other.