MARCH 2014 OUTLAND APPLICANTS

[Zarilenth]

that is def an option

Aminata and RHCohen - usually Ottawa has been processing applications after requesting documents in two or three weeks. Based on the current trend they are not waiting until the bring forward date. I would say that if you just got a doc request and (for rhcohen) just sent in, you should, if the trend remains the same and your case is normal, get your COPR within a month.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Aminata and RHCohen - usually Ottawa has been processing applications after requesting documents in two or three weeks. Based on the current trend they are not waiting until the bring forward date. I would say that if you just got a doc request and (for rhcohen) just sent in, you should, if the trend remains the same and your case is normal, get your COPR within a month.

what? stop it! how common is it for them to do second requests? I KNOW i left some answers blank on some forms, so i can't see they just stamp me as approved? what the? i'll believe it when i see it!

 

[ytweety]

Was your husband ever on welfare or social assistance? That would cause a delay for sure. One of the applicants in January had to wait 86 days for Sponsorship Approval because of this. It is normal, I'm sorry that's not what you want to hear. Sometimes they just do background checks into the Sponsor

No, he has never been on welfare or social assistance. Always been a full time employee/engineer.

Maybe background checks... We don't know a thing. The status on the system is only "Application received on 25 March, 2014". And when we called, they had nothing to say. They sent an email later (17 July) to confirm that there is no update.

 

[Zarilenth]

what? stop it! how common is it for them to do second requests? I KNOW i left some answers blank on some forms, so i can't see they just stamp me as approved? what the? i'll believe it when i see it!

Haha, I have never seen them do a second request, unless maybe it's for passport. They would have asked for you to redo those forms when they requested passport and RPRF. I'm calling it now, you will get your COPR within a month. Just watch

 

[Zarilenth]

No, he has never been on welfare or social assistance. Always been a full time employee/engineer.

Maybe background checks... We don't know a thing. The status on the system is only "Application received on 25 March, 2014". And when we called, they had nothing to say. They sent an email later (17 July) to confirm that there is no update.

Well, at least you know they haven't lost it. It is annoying that it's taking so long though. Mine took about 8 days longer than the posted time, too.

 

[ytweety]

Well, at least you know they haven't lost it. It is annoying that it's taking so long though. Mine took about 8 days longer than the posted time, too.

It's taking us 109 days so far.... And still counting...

Wish us luck.

 

[Zarilenth]

It's taking us 109 days so far.... And still counting...

Wish us luck.

Hmm.. so when it was at 29 days, one of the posters took 89 days, so 60 days longer. Now it is at 55, and yours is at 109.. soo about 54 days over? I do hope you get SA soon You could try the MP and see what they do!

 

[angryrectangle]

I can understand what your going through. My wife is in Ukraine, in the eastern part where it's also classified a war zone. However the city she is in is still safe thankfully but her family has the car ready if anything gets to crazy and drive to the western part of Ukraine.

From my knowledge, the one thing that can be done is you go to an immigration laywer and have them send a letter from you regarding that your spouse is in a "hot zone" and for her to come to Canada for a 6 month period. There is a chance they can issue a visitor Visa for your spouse at the embassy with this letter. Or if your case is close to completion they will quicken the process.

I'm not 100% sure on this, but I know someone who has done this when there husband was in a war zone.

Thanks for the suggestion! I will definitely look into that.

I have a friend who was living here (she was French) and her husband made it to France in a month. ONE MONTH. It is shameful how little Canada cares for those in difficult situations. Long before we filed my husband's paperwork I went to the embassy in Lebanon to discuss our situation and get some information. After telling them I was a Canadian citizen who'd just come from Syria, I was still denied access. I was not allowed to enter my own embassy.

It's ridiculous! Canada has, in the past, offered to expedite (and actually done so) paperwork coming from unstable places. Not anymore, apparently.

I wish you all the luck, and I hope your wife sees a speedy process. What is the average processing time for the Ukraine? It's a nightmare to wait while she's in such a situation, I'm sure.

 

[angryrectangle]

If I were in your shoes, this is what I would do:
1. Return to Canada.
2. Walk in my PM office, turn on tape recorder and request assistance with this matter.
3. Since the useless MP will not do anything, take the tape to the newspapers. The star has run several stories about specific immigration problems. Newspapers like human interest stories, especially when it is an average person Vs the big and bad Government department. If you can get your story in the newspaper like others have, it will put pressure on both the immigration and your useless MP.

My sister has a friend working for the CIC, and I asked her to ask if it's TRUE that they can't check on a file under normal processing times, or if they just don't want to. Beyond that, I am thinking to try and go the media route since I find this to be ridiculous. When the US invaded Iraq, Canada promised to (and DID) expedite all the Iraqi applications. The apathy from our government is shameful. Why don't they try waiting 2 years in a full-blow war zone for their papers?

Sorry if this comes off as angry, but I am really upset! Haha

 

[angryrectangle]

If I were in your shoes, this is what I would do:
1. Return to Canada.
2. Walk in my PM office, turn on tape recorder and request assistance with this matter.
3. Since the useless MP will not do anything, take the tape to the newspapers. The star has run several stories about specific immigration problems. Newspapers like human interest stories, especially when it is an average person Vs the big and bad Government department. If you can get your story in the newspaper like others have, it will put pressure on both the immigration and your useless MP.

Also, despite what the MP said, Canada has actually publicly announced they would expedite the files:

http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=754739

but apparently all the Syrian files from my riding are "under normal processing times".

 

[Koifish76]

Hey hey everyone! I'm pleased to say I got my SA a few days ago.

I was one of the unlucky ones, who actually had their application submission date changed to the date of the incomplete form re-submitted. (Which was May 8th apparently).

Don't get me wrong, I and my wife are ecstatic with these good news. We just need to have patience. We will need it for the second part!

Have been absent while waiting, now will read some posts and help with the editing of e spreadsheet.

Congrats on the healthy baby agarand8. ;D. And may everyone continue to have a speedy processing.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Hey hey everyone! I'm pleased to say I got my SA a few days ago.

I was one of the unlucky ones, who actually had their application submission date changed to the date of the incomplete form re-submitted. (Which was May 8th apparently).

Don't get me wrong, I and my wife are ecstatic with these good news. We just need to have patience. We will need it for the second part!

Have been absent while waiting, now will read some posts and help with the editing of e spreadsheet.

Congrats on the healthy baby agarand8. ;D. And may everyone continue to have a speedy processing.

YAY!!! Congratulations! I'm sure it's a relief now you have passed that part! I've been wondering how it's been going for you. keep in mind, just because your "received date" has changed, it doesn't necessarily mean processing will go by that date. our received by date changed to april, and i just received a request for RPRF and passport! Even though the date is later, i think they get batched in before those applications. Good luck!

 

[Koifish76]

YAY!!! Congratulations! I'm sure it's a relief now you have passed that part! I've been wondering how it's been going for you. keep in mind, just because your "received date" has changed, it doesn't necessarily mean processing will go by that date. our received by date changed to april, and i just received a request for RPRF and passport! Even though the date is later, i think they get batched in before those applications. Good luck!

Thanks! We are so relieved. Got the email on tuesday (wednesday morning Thailand time) which happened to be my last day with my wife in Thailand .

Wow, rhcohen, you will likely have your passport with visa in your hand so soon. Congrats to you. I will check ecas now about when actual processing was.

Are you currently in Ottawa? I landed yesterday. Had a long detained meeting with customs upon landing at Ottawa airport. They removed all contents from my bags and then asked many many questions about my wife. Customs agent even looked and read many immigration documents i had with me. Even looked at countless photos on my ipad with my wife. All the while, asking specific questions about my wife and immigration. The lady was very nice and even told me to wait while she checked up on our application in a private room. She came out and said that the file is in Singapore. She even congratulated me on Sponsor Approval! It's amazing that everything is connected somehow. After i got home, I wondered if this check was to due a little background check on our application and relationship... It just seemed like she had so many specific questions. Or it could just be they were checking about why I travel to Thailand so much hahaha.

Anyways, it's somewhat amusing if I had gotten the news first from a customs agent about my SA. But of course I checked my email 4-5 times everyday, so little chance of that happening.

 

[rhcohen2014]

WOW! i'm amazed they were so strict to a canadian. perhaps because you haven't lived here for so long? Yes, the border agents will confirm the application status before letting you through (at least as an applicant). Again, weird they detained you as a canadian citizen. Welcome back! Yes i am in ottawa, here for the rest of the month, then plan to return for september. Original plan was to be a visitor again, and so who knows how it will unfold. fingers crossed!

 

[Koifish76]

Okay, so ECAS which I typed my wife's name, and our file number, and when I click on application received, it states one thing:

We received your application for permanent residence on May 14, 2014. Uh?

Is this just the sponsor part in Mississauga? Or is this Singapore? I mean it shows her address, and there is a blank space under her name.

We have received no other emails. Nothing about meds received. And her inbox shows no emails yet. So, it looks like my AOR date (so to speak) was May 14.???