We have started our process (family sponsorship) back in March 2013. In April 2013 I have been approved as a sponsor and my wife's file was transferred to Moscow's office. Then there was silence for a year. ECAS kept saying "documents received" and "medical received". Then in the last year we have received TWO (!) requests for additional information. First, they didn't believe that our marriage was real. Then they wanted proof that we plan to move to Canada once my wife's application is approved. Each time we had to put a pile of documents together and mail it to Moscow within 30 days.
Like many people on this forum, a few days ago we received the following letter:
Dear Applicant,
This refers to your application for permanent residence in Canada.
Please be advise that in order to continue the processing of your application, you are requested to:
- provide updated Schedule A form,
The forms can be found at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5669E.PDF.
- provide supplementary Information Form (form may be obtained from: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5562E.pdf )
- provide a copy of all pages of passport,
· Each person must have their own passport and there must be at least two blank pages in each passport
· The passport should be valid for the next twelve months and should be the passport that you intend to use to enter Canada
· Ordinary passports are the only type of passport into which a permanent resident visa maybe inserted. Diplomatic, official and special passports are not acceptable
- Complete medical examination (will be sent to you in separate e-mail)
You must provide the above documents within 30 days from the date of this correspondence to the address indicated below.
Sincerely,
Immigration Section/Section d'Immigration
Embassy of Canada/Ambassade du Canada
ul. Piekna 2/8
00-482 Warsaw, Poland/00-482 Varsovie, Pologne
warsaw-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca
Ph. (48 22) 584-3100, Fax (48 22) 584-3194
Also the ECAS status has changed from "documents received" to "processing" at the beginning of March.
I understand that due to huge backlog in Moscow's office many files have been transferred to Warsaw. What I do not understand is what this letter means? If they only begin to process our case now, then what was all that hoop-jumping we did last year? "Preliminary processing"? It is clear that they want to update her file with more current biographical info and medicals. Does it mean that they are starting from the scratch? Then why do they need a copy of ALL pages of her passport. The one that "should be the passport that you intend to use to enter Canada" and that "must have at least two blank pages"?
In short, does this letter mean that we should be prepared for another year of waiting? Or this is merely a file update request, which is required before the PR visa is issued? In other words, do you think the decision has been done and this is just a bureaucracy or nothing is clear (yet) and we're in for a long run?
Did anybody get similar letter before? What was the timeline once you submitted all the required paperwork? Did you shortly received the passport request or are still waiting?