mrandmrsromero said:
I had emailed the embassy to request an update on the file over a week or so ago. We never actually received a response to that message; next contact was the "tattoo photo" request! Hope you guys hear something soon. Seems slower than ever now!
Hello all. I've been really busy and distracted lately, and May went by as a blur. Here's my update:
After receiving the passport with a nice shiny visa inside it (around 13 I think), it was time to get ready for the big move to Ontario. I posted all my stuff for sale and waited, waited. It was 40 days util my departure on May 23.
I was able to sell almost everything, except a big professional-level telescope (about 40 kilos/90 pounds), and the last week in Mexico was pure agony because it was hard deciding whether to bring with to Canada or to ship it; of course either way it was gonna be hundreds of dollars. Finally I decided to leave it and maybe my family could ship it to me from Phoenix, which is near Sonora, my state.
I didn't sleep at all my last night there. What for? How? HAHA I got up at 4 am, went to the airport, flew and landed, flew again and landed in Toronto. An official directed me to the immigration office, where there were a few people, not bad. In about 15 minutes I handed my papers to an officer, which she inspected quickly, asked me a few confirmation questions, then stared as a screen for 5 minutes. Not a word in the meantime. Was I nervous? A little. Then she said: You are now a permanent resident. OK.
I headed for customs, which I thought might be somewhat of a pain given that they ask for a detailed listing of belongings and because I had a "B4 - goods to follow" form to submit for when the telescope came my way. The officer didn't even open my suitcase or my backpack. He was surprised that those two were my only luggage. He stamped my goods to follow and let me go.
All in all, it was easy and painless and I was out of there in under an hour. I probably spent more time walking around the big airport than actually waiting in line. HA.
I've been here 4 weeks now. The first week was about settling in, the rest of it has been about looking for a job. Any pointers, anyone? I read on a tread here about being open to staffing agencies/temp jobs, but it seems all they do is accept resumes.
mrandmrsromero: Sorry to hear you're still waiting. What an unpleasant surprise it must've been to get that tattoo photo request. It does sound like you're very close, though. Hang in there.
To everyone who has the PPR or has landed, congrats! anyone in the Toronto-Hamilton area?