So far my journey was as follows:
Mississauga received my application for Sponsorship March 10, 2014.
I sent my application Canada Immigration via Canada Post with a signature on delivery. (THIS WAY KEY TO GETTING THINGS PROCESSED ON TIME!)
I waited the standard 29 business days that the website stated was the current processing time.
When I did not hear back I called on the 31st business day (unable to track my status online with my Receipt Number)
This is where the fun began with Canada Immigration and the lovely varied answers they provide you over the phone.
Tuesday April.22,2014 told that they were opening applications from March 12,2014 and my application (received March 10,2014) should be in that pile if I do not hear back within that week call again on Monday.
Wednesday April23,2014 Cant sleep Canada immigration site says now opening applications from March 20,2014. Still cant search my application still received no response.
Thursday morning April24,2014 called back to check up seeing 18 days of applications received AFTER mine had been opened.
I was told by an agent that I should either do one of two things: wait a few more weeks, or RESUBMIT A NEW APPLICATION BECAUSE IT WAS LOST!
His advice was nonchalant and offensive as to say it could be incomplete, lost in the mail back to you, or lost, or simply in waiting to be processed.
NONE of this made sense to me as I quadruple checked all my documents and both checklists before submission, AND I HAD A TRACKING NUMBER FROM CANADA POST SAYING IT GOT THERE! Also asked if I could process a written request to Mississauga asking for confirmation that my application is in fact in the office and still in a pile waiting for processing or if in fact I do need to resubmit. The answer I got was "even though that is logical it is not the way things work" No help enraged I politely got off the phone and tried to think of what to say tomorrow.
Friday April 25,2014 I calmed down a smidge re called only got through the third time after waiting 30 mins on hold while eating lunch. Asked simply what the dates online for opening applications actually meant. got some run around about how its those dates nothing sooner mentioned my application being received march 10,2014 she tried to look it up obviously with no avail. and asked for ALL my information including my canada post tracking number. This was all to process a written request for inventory because 'they are moving offices'.
After this I celebrated thanked the agent profusely. I mean I just confirmed that my application was in fact lost or forgotten but at least this person was willing to help find it and do something about it. She did say it would take a week or two.
April 29,2014 Tuesday Morning received email confirmation of receipt of application on March 10,2014 and my UCI number finally!
April 30,2014 Wednesday Received email confirmation of my approval for Sponsorship and application will be sent to POS Canadian Embassy.
Just wanted to share in case someone is currently in the same boat or will be in the future. Do not take the first advice they give you over the phone always call back try to have alternative questions or ways of asking them. ALWAYS HAVE A RECIEPT WITH THE CANADA POST TRACKING NUMBER! and GOOD LUCK!!! loving the timeline updates on this forum about when people were landed and all their dates of approvals this is so helpful and great to know i'm in great company with all of you! :-*
