May 2011

[sthomas]

Congratulations to all the newly approved sponsors

In other news, MICC received my forms yesterday so I'm now waiting another 20 days for stage 2 approval.

@darque

yaay! 20 days waiting is fast

how did u know they received the forms?

 

[mittens]

yeah! congratulations to stthomas and blestcheche
it's a great feeling when the maybies are moving along nicely!!
now where's the spreadsheet so i can see how much we#re moving forwards

 

[mittens]

whoops congratulations to chrischris too!!

 

[chrischris]

Thanks everyone for your kind congratulations. The Waiting Game Part II begins now.

My next dilemma is whether to take advantage of an upcoming trip to Canada for a family wedding to get an RCMP police check ahead of CIC actually requesting one. It'll be a lot simpler to have it done digitally in Canada at a commissionaires' office rather than wait for a request and have to do it from the UK.

Trouble is, I don't know if CIC frowns upon applicants sending in an unsolicited RCMP certificate or even if they will accept a certificate dated before they've requested one. I can really see no reason why not, but common sense is something that is all too frequently absent from these strict protocols and procedures.....

 

[Darque]

@ darque

yaay! 20 days waiting is fast

how did u know they received the forms?

I sent them via FedEx next day recorded & signed for delivery. They were delivered and signed for yesterday lunchtime.

 

[dair2dv8103100]

since canada post is on strike, i guess they are not forwarding any applications to the visa offices at the moment. long wait

They are sent by government courier....accompanied by a government employee.

The postal lock out will not affect this. ;D

 

[dair2dv8103100]

Thanks everyone for your kind congratulations. The Waiting Game Part II begins now.

My next dilemma is whether to take advantage of an upcoming trip to Canada for a family wedding to get an RCMP police check ahead of CIC actually requesting one. It'll be a lot simpler to have it done digitally in Canada at a commissionaires' office rather than wait for a request and have to do it from the UK.

Trouble is, I don't know if CIC frowns upon applicants sending in an unsolicited RCMP certificate or even if they will accept a certificate dated before they've requested one. I can really see no reason why not, but common sense is something that is all too frequently absent from these strict protocols and procedures.....

I don't think they would frown upon it. I mean it is not like it is not expected. But hopefully someone with more experience will be able to answer. But IMO I would not think this would be an issue.

 

[CharlieD10]

If CIC wants an RCMP check, they will insitute a request directly to the RCMP themselves. You only need to send police certificates for countries other than Canada.

 

[chrischris]

If CIC wants an RCMP check, they will insitute a request directly to the RCMP themselves. You only need to send police certificates for countries other than Canada.

This is true at the application stage, but during the course of processing it is not unknown for CIC to request a full check, which you personally have to get done as it requires your fingerprints. Because it's only required at their discretion you don't have to get one at the time of making the application.

However if subsequently they request the full check from you then that's more time added on the clock while you order the C-216C form from the RCMP, wait for it to arrive, get your fingerprints inked onto it in your home country (£63 for the Met to do it for me in London), send the inked form to a Commissionaires' office (and pay $200) to digitize, receive the certificate and send to CIC. And that's the short way of doing it. Sending inked (not digitized) fingerprints to the RCMP has a 120 day processing time.

The consensus on another part of this board appears to be that if CIC's first check of RCMP records shows someone with your name then they will demand the full check from you so thay can be satisfied you're two separate people, but nobody really knows for sure. Others think that it's more likely if you have previously lived in Canada. Either way, I don't have a particularly unusual name and have previously lived in Canada, so I must be prepared for the possibility.

Sooooo, rather than risk suffering all that, I have the opportunity to preempt the request and spend an hour and $58 doing it in person in Vancouver at a time when I'll be in the city anyway to attend a family wedding. I have asked for further guidance from the Commissionaires' office - they seem very helpful.

 

[janyte]

We just got an email yesterday saying that I was "approved" for sponsorship and files were being transferred to Buffalo. It's the first step at least! We mailed our packet May 5th, so it took probably the 45 days they say for processing. Hoping the next step (my US husband of 28 yrs getting permanent residence!) won't be the 11 months I see on their website. Wonder how this is affecting people with the mail strike?

 

[dair2dv8103100]

Interesting how we move along so quickly with people averaging 31-32 days and then we have these one pop up where it is closer to the 42-45 day mark.

I wonder what the difference is...

Things that make you go hmmm :

 

[blestcheche]

I still can`t access my ecas lol

 

[dair2dv8103100]

I thought they updated the wedsite processing times every Tuesday??

It still says processing for May 12th............

 

[malirca]

Congratulations to everyone who has gotten their approval. Im sorry i've been missing, i have been super busy with work and have not even had a chance to breath. I choose staring at my computer waiting for updates then being distracted having to work 16 hour days. the rest of the summer will be like that as well. so my updates will not be very often. im on my phone now but when i get a minute today i will update the spreadsheet. best of luck to all those still waiting.And welcome to the new wait everyone who has been approved. by the way it was my birthday the 21st im glad my bday brought joy to many as they received their approval that day. good luck to all and keep strong

 

[spicymum]

Congrats to everyone who has got their first stage approval. Cant wait to get mine! ;D
Its been a horribly busy week for me, but I still find time to peek here and there (inc my email, cic website for updates, this forum, etc) to see whats going on.) Its become more like a ritual for me. Crap!