Port of Spain Office, Trinidad and Tobago

[Zouk Princesse]

Thanks Zouk Princesse! I'll go about applying for NY state police check and FBI clearance this week.

Do you guys think I should get a lawyer? Thanks!

Typically lawyers are only recommended in complicated cases where you'd need someone with extensive knowledge of loopholes to help you get through. The paperwork is fairly straightforward and you guys could easily complete it on your own. Just pay attention to details and double and triple check everything. Having said that... as C/Trini mentioned, you can get a lawyer or consultant to look over your application for you (this is different from having them represent you). Some people have issues with lawyers/consultants, but I strongly recommend getting the review. If nothing else, it gives you peace of mind knowing that someone very experienced reviewed your file and feels confident in your submission. Our consultant reviewed our application package and said we practically didn't need him BUT...he did give us two pointers I know for a fact saved us delays later on, so it was well worth the $250!

You mentioned going to the US as a minor and being without status now. The fact that you went as a minor (I assume as well you have family who brought you there) bodes well for your case, so be sure to highlight this in your cover letter. Since you were a minor, the decision to remain without status wasn't yours and therefore cannot be held against your character. While immigration status is not itself grounds for denying spousal PR, the VO's job is to judge your relationship and your intentions, so essentially they are making judgments on your character and you want to do everything to paint yourself in the best possible light. So anything that makes you look good...use it to your advantage! Also, in the US undocumented people are termed "illegal", but be careful of the words you use on your application. If you entered legally (i.e. on a visa of some sort) you are NOT illegal, simply "out of status". The term "illegal" generally implies that you entered illegally (i.e. using fraudulent documents or none at all), so no point in potentially creating that mix-up unnecessarily!

Another way being brought there are as a minor helps your case is that by now you're somewhat comfortable/established in the US, so if your intentions were to marry for immigration status, it would obviously be much easier to just marry an American. The fact that you're marrying someone elsewhere and leaving a comparable lifestyle helps prove your relationship as genuine (you don't have to state this in your application, just letting you know how the VO will see it).

Good luck, let me know if you have any more questions

 

[Kadi27]

HUGE UPDATE!!

Just received our PPR. I screamed so loud some of you may have heard me. More details to follow!


YAY!!!!!!!!!!

Jeesum piece. ...whoa!!! Awesome News!!!!!!!!!!! Congrats Behopeful ;D

 

[MissDominica]

HUGE UPDATE!!

Just received our PPR. I screamed so loud some of you may have heard me. More details to follow!


YAY!!!!!!!!!!

Congrats!

 

[fromadistance]

@ Behopeful details please!

Did you get PPR by email or call???

 

[MissDominica]

Hi everyone,

I updated the spreadsheet for anything that's happened in the last few weeks. Please let me know if I missed anyone.

@KIAB I'm not sure where you flag is from so I left that blank and I'm too burnt out to go looking, so let me know when you see this please

@Behopeful, so happy for you.

 

[Zouk Princesse]

@ KIAB I'm not sure where you flag is from so I left that blank and I'm too burnt out to go looking, so let me know when you see this please

Looks like Guyana to me

 

[doc.lady]

Welcome doc.lady! So glad you have found us and decided to join. The process is long and very trying on all of our patience! The control is all out of our hands. Many of us are hoping with September right around the corner, things will start looking up an passport requests will start flying!
What country are you from? Can you tell us a little more about your application. Have you been to Canada? Children involved.
Thanks again for joining and we look forward to having you apart of the group!

Hi Everyone:
Thank you for your welcome and sorry for my delayed response. I have been a little busy over the last few weeks. My husband and I are both from Guyana. He is a citizen of Canada but he has been living in Guyana for the last 20 years, with regular visits to Canada. We met at University and got married last year, after 6 years of courting. Our application was filed in the last week of november, 2012. We received approval for him as a sponsor in mid january this year and response from port of spain in May stating that they received our application in December, 2012 and medical in March 2013. So far we have not heard anything as yet. My husband and I are still living in Guyana waiting until i hear from POS.

 

[CdnandTrini]

Looks like Guyana to me

Hi Miss D. thanks for doing our spreadsheet and maintaining it. If you want to pass it off for a break, let us know ok? We all get the burnout feeling and we are here to support . Zouk Princesse is correct - KIAB's flag is Guyana, she is sponsoring her hubby from there. Blessings.

 

[Can-Vinc]

@behopeful.... I couldn't be happier for you... since we know exactly how you're feeling (or as close to, since my hubby and I don't have children yet) I just imagine what you both are feeling right now! You'll sleep very very well tonight and many nights to come! Did you have to do an ARC? I can't remember!

 

[KIAB]

Hi everyone,

I updated the spreadsheet for anything that's happened in the last few weeks. Please let me know if I missed anyone.

@ KIAB I'm not sure where you flag is from so I left that blank and I'm too burnt out to go looking, so let me know when you see this please

@ Behopeful, so happy for you.

Hey missd yes its guyana thanks for updatinf the spreadsheet and adding meee

 

[CdnandTrini]

Hi Everyone:
Thank you for your welcome and sorry for my delayed response. I have been a little busy over the last few weeks. My husband and I are both from Guyana. He is a citizen of Canada but he has been living in Guyana for the last 20 years, with regular visits to Canada. We met at University and got married last year, after 6 years of courting. Our application was filed in the last week of november, 2012. We received approval for him as a sponsor in mid january this year and response from port of spain in May stating that they received our application in December, 2012 and medical in March 2013. So far we have not heard anything as yet. My husband and I are still living in Guyana waiting until i hear from POS.

Welcome back doc.lady and I already have a question waiting for you! When you received your response (Acknowledge of Receipt - also known as AOR) from POS in May confirming receipt of your application did it have the POS office details on it or general CIC details?

I am curious as my husband just received his AOR on Sept. 10, 2013 but it was from CIC not POS specifically and it also did not state the date of receipt of application in POS. It stated the date we submitted our application which was Feb. 7, 2013 but no date as to when it actually arrived in POS. It also took 7 months for us to hear back on this. Thanks for any clarification. Blessings.

 

[LouisFam]

HUGE UPDATE!!

Just received our PPR. I screamed so loud some of you may have heard me. More details to follow!


YAY!!!!!!!!!!

oo La La Great news!!! Congratulations BEHOPEFUL!! Cant wait to scream like u all lol

 

[Behopeful]

Good eveing everyone.

I want to first start by saying thank you to everyone that has passed on their congrats to my husband and I. We truly appreciate each of you and all of the support we have recieved from this forum. I am sorry I am not speaking to each of your directly but know that I mean my words to all of you. Gosh, I feel like I am receiving an OSCAR and this is my acceptance speech!

It was kind of a crazy day and this is why I am only now getting back on the forum. I checked my e-mail early this morning and ended up checking it again at my lunch and there was the e-mail. I thought this can't be it, but I opened it and it stated my husband should send his PP, one immigration size photo and fill out a form that asks his name, eye colour and height. I was in disbelief when I saw it, ran out of my office, called my husband, sat down in my car and SCREAMED.... while singing the song to him "you're coming home". (I think it is Kayne West for those that don't know the song and maybe goes more like "I'm coming home, I'm coming home, Tell the world I'm coming home"!)

Parts of me really can't believe this is true and the little bit of pessimistic person in me says just wait something will go wrong. We were not asked for an ARC for the person that asked me that. My husband's exclusion order will be finished on the 29th of September and the letter states it can take 2-4 weeks to return the passport, so I figure either way an ARC will not be required because his exclusion order has/ will be passed by the time he is ready to come back to Canada. For those people that have gotten their notes, don't lose faith because there isn't much in the notes. I ordered our last set of notes on August 11 and received September 12 and the notes indicated nothing was 'in process' with our file and here we are a month later with a PPR. Things can happen quickly and like Zouk said, once they are ready, they move quickly. The notes are about a month old by the time they reach to us so lots can be done in the month.

I just keep praying for everything to be smooth from here on out. I have been daydreaming all day about the day he comes home. I know we will have to get re-adjusted to each other, but I am just so excited. I just want to recognize all the people that have been waiting and continue to wait. I know the news of someone else getting a PPR can be very painful and hurtful when all you want is the same exact thing. I am not going to say 'hang in there' or 'your turn is coming' because that is not helpful and it doesn't stop the pain. I am not sure exactly what to say but I know it can hurt.

Thank you again everyone for the support, blessings and positive support to our family. I have one question.... my husband in obviously in Trinidad and will drop his passport off at the VO and plans to pick it up when it is ready. Should we include a letter stating that he will pick it up and they should call him? Just don't want it to be missed.... in his letter from POS it only says where everything should be sent and doesn't say anything about picking it up or having it couriered back.... if anyone knows please let me know.

SO.... WHO IS NEXT?! Let's keep moving POS!

 

[doc.lady]

Welcome back doc.lady and I already have a question waiting for you! When you received your response (Acknowledge of Receipt - also known as AOR) from POS in May confirming receipt of your application did it have the POS office details on it or general CIC details?

I am curious as my husband just received his AOR on Sept. 10, 2013 but it was from CIC not POS specifically and it also did not state the date of receipt of application in POS. It stated the date we submitted our application which was Feb. 7, 2013 but no date as to when it actually arrived in POS. It also took 7 months for us to hear back on this. Thanks for any clarification. Blessings.

Hi:

You know i just checked you message and i was not sure how to answer to went to double check my CIC profile and i saw that my status has changed to processing since 9th September, 2012. I don't know how much of a good news it is but i am ecstatic just to see a change!

 

[doc.lady]

Hi:

You know i just checked you message and i was not sure how to answer to went to double check my CIC profile and i saw that my status has changed to processing since 9th September, 2012. I don't know how much of a good news it is but i am ecstatic just to see a change!

sorry 2013