Canadianinneed said:
Hi everyone, I need some guidance.
I sent in my wife's application for PR and OWP in April 2014. It was marked received April 10, 2014. She is on implied status with her visitors visa expiring at the end of May.
We like most of you have been struggling with one income and were happy when the new regulations for the one year pilot. However, upon no response, I contacted the CIC in April 2015. They asked many questions before even wanting to look up our file and then we were told that we should receive it before the end of April 2015. We didn't, and I waited 2 months.
I called again June 1st (yesterday) and recieved a rude call agent who refused to look up our application even though we told him we had not recieved it yet and were told we would. The man on the other end asked my wife for our dates for applying and then told my wife that we would know if we got it when we received it. At first he refused to look up our application number. We told him that we had phoned before and we had been told that we should receive it at the end of April. After much frustration my wife asked if the man from CIC could speak to me, he replied, "what for, I have already told you everything". At that point I came on the line and asked to know why he would not look up our application. He avoided everything to do so, and he said there was no need as he could tell by the application date. I again specified the Pilot program and how the woman had told us that we should receive it by the end of April. He said we should have received one already if we qualified and that he did not know about what the woman had said but that she must have said maybe. I told him how would he know about our file as he did not even know or ask our names and refused to look up our application. He said he did not refuse, but still would not check it when I asked again and again. I asked for his supervisor or manager and he said they didn't have one. I then asked how they could check against any form of improper treatment to clients and said there was a form online. I got his ID number.
I then placed my wife back on the phone and he asked her to explain what the woman said exactly. As she was explaining he rudely interrupted her several times, cutting her off and telling her that he did not need the details.
From the beginning he was adamant we were not getting the permit, not even checking our file, saying were were ineligible, even without knowing my wife's name. When asking why we were ineligible he said he did not make the decision and to look on the website to see the criteria, my wife tired to tell him she was eligible but he still would not listen. Even though two months before we were told we would receive it by the end of the month.
Does anyone know why we have not received it? Any suggestions on what I can do? She hasn't even received a client number yet. We were part of the office transfer delays as well, do you think that is part of it?
Sorry for you bad experience. The call center is usually very helpful.
Haha.... no, just kidding. The call center is completely useless. They're honestly a waste of space, time, and air. My personal opinion is that they should sack the call center, possibly burn it down and let the forest reclaim it, terminate employment of everyone there, because, again, it's just completely useless. It's their own fault for being garbage.
I digress.
I encourage you, and anyone else dealing with these clowns, to record your calls with the call center:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=polis.app.callrecorder&hl=en
It's very likely that they lost your OWP application, as we all know, CIC loses almost everything they receive, so it's a very likely possibility.
Another thing you can do is ask about your OWP application specifically. Say that you applied for an OWP through the pilot program, and that it's been more than 4 months.
If they start to get stupid on you, hang up, and call again.
Next thing to do is simply ask if your OWP application was received. This is a good thing to ask, don't mention your application package, just ask about your OWP being received. This might give you some insight.
If they start to get stupid on you again, hang up again.
Next thing to try is to insist that you sent you application far before you actually did, this will get them to at least look it up.
They are very dumb, they don't keep records of who called, they don't record what anyone has said to you, they don't do anything, so calling again and again isn't going to hurt you.
The above may take as long as 3 hours to complete, if you ever get a busy signal or start to get the message that their lines are full, just hang up immediately and call again, spam through till you get one cornered.
Next step is to visit your MP. This is a long process if you haven't started it. So you and your spouse should go in to your MP's office, get whatever papers signed that allow them to access your information, and get them to follow up with CIC for you. Use transcripts from your call center calls to bolster your credibility and the urgency. You may need to give your MP's office time to do this, but keep following up with them, if possible in person.
That's all I can say. Stay strong. This process is ridiculous.
