PR Card & SIN Numbers?

[Mrs_Canuck]

Guys, I'm a little confused... my husband's SIN expired before he became a PR on March 12, 2014.

We were told by our interviewing agent the same day as our interview that he could go right to the Service Canada booth in a local mall and get his SIN renewed (with a more permanent one). The guy at Service Canada said that he needed the actual PR card to get one and not just the papers that we were given at the interview to prove his PR status. So now we're waiting for hell or high water to get this stupid PR card so that he can get his SIN. Is this correct? Was the guy at Service Canada right to refuse to give my husband a SIN without the physical PR card?

In looking at the information that CIC provides on their website, it says:

You need to provide a primary document to apply for a SIN, obtain a confirmation of your SIN, or amend your SIN record (e.g. a name change).

A primary document is an official document that proves your identity and status in Canada. We need to see an original of your primary document. If the name on this document is different from the name you currently use, you will also need to provide a supporting document.

Now to me, the original document in question would have been the PR document that he signed at the interview, correct? Can someone give me direction here...

 

[Rob_TO]

Based on people's experiences i've read, outland applicants who land at a border crossing, can get SIN immediately after landing with just their COPR document (this is what my wife did).

Inland applicants who land by appointment at CIC office, need to wait until they get physical PR card in mail (so 2 months later).

Although i've heard you might get different results if you try different SIN offices. Yes... it's a very stupid and unfair system!

 

[Mrs_Canuck]

Based on people's experiences i've read, outland applicants who land at a border crossing, can get SIN immediately after landing with just their COPR document (this is what my wife did).

Inland applicants who land by appointment at CIC office, need to wait until they get physical PR card in mail (so 2 months later).

Although i've heard you might get different results if you try different SIN offices. Yes... it's a very stupid and unfair system!

Thank you Rob_TO for the very quick reply! It's just so frustrating... I think I've just about resigned myself to waiting for the PR card. :/

We'll try another office, but at this point, we might as well just wait until the PR card gets here (we were told we'd probably only see it around June 10th at this rate.)

 

[QuebecOkie]

Service Canada is apparently as consistent in their policies as CIC! The CIC agent with whom I had my landing interview told me that I couldn't get a SIN card without my PR card. So I just planned to wait. Another immigrant here, however, told me that I could get one with my passport and COPR. And she was right. However, I've read on this forum of many people being turned away for not having their PR cards.

 

[Mrs_Canuck]

Service Canada is apparently as consistent in their policies as CIC! The CIC agent with whom I had my landing interview told me that I couldn't get a SIN card without my PR card. So I just planned to wait. Another immigrant here, however, told me that I could get one with my passport and COPR. And she was right. However, I've read on this forum of many people being turned away for not having their PR cards.

It would be nice if they could just stick with one set of rules and stick to 'em, right? I figure that I shouldn't really complain, but it just sucks to hear that there are different rules depending on who you speak with. :/

 

[canuck_in_uk]

It would be nice if they could just stick with one set of rules and stick to 'em, right? I figure that I shouldn't really complain, but it just sucks to hear that there are different rules depending on who you speak with. :/

Service Canada does state on the website that inland applicants must have their PR card. Those that have managed to get their SINs without the PR card have been the lucky ones. As the others said, your best bet is to try other offices and hope you luck out too.

http://www.servicecanada.gc.ca/eng/sin/apply/proof.shtml

Permanent residents

You must provide one of the following primary documents:

Permanent Resident Card issued by Citizenship and Immigration Canada. This is the only acceptable document if your claim was processed in Canada.

 

[QuebecOkie]

WOULD be nice if there were clear and consistent policies, eh? Though I think it's BS that inland applicants would have to wait to get a SIN card for two more months. What if they never had a work permit, and therefore not even a temp SIN, and they want to work after a year or more of not being able to?!?

 

[Rob_TO]

Thank you Rob_TO for the very quick reply! It's just so frustrating... I think I've just about resigned myself to waiting for the PR card. :/

We'll try another office, but at this point, we might as well just wait until the PR card gets here (we were told we'd probably only see it around June 10th at this rate.)

In hindsight, your husband should have applied to extend his OWP before it expired, and before he got PR.

Then at least when he got PR, he could have continued to work under his temporary SIN until he got PR card and applied for full SIN.

This is most likely the main reason inland applicants need PR card to get SIN, as there is no good reason an inland applicant wouldn't have an OWP they can be working under in the meantime.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

WOULD be nice if there were clear and consistent policies, eh? Though I think it's BS that inland applicants would have to wait to get a SIN card for two more months. What if they never had a work permit, and therefore not even a temp SIN, and they want to work after a year or more of not being able to?!?

Clear and consistent policies from a government? You've been drinking that Quebec moonshine, eh QuebecOkie?

 

[Mrs_Canuck]

In hindsight, your husband should have applied to extend his OWP before it expired, and before he got PR.

Then at least when he got PR, he could have continued to work under his temporary SIN until he got PR card and applied for full SIN.

This is most likely the main reason inland applicants need PR card to get SIN, as there is no good reason an inland applicant wouldn't have an OWP they can be working under in the meantime.

He does have an OWP now and his original WP expired while we were halfway through the process, so he was on implied status until we received the OWP he applied for with the PR application. So he is still working but under an expired SIN with the OWP - which I'm surprised hasn't been an issue. What the issue is is that the bank is charging him for having a credit card, which can't be remedied until he has a permanent SIN and a PR card.

It would have been pertinent for us to get him a temporary SIN though... you're right.

 

[Matt the Aussie]

If you haven't changed employers, they will simply assume that the SIN is implied and continue to use it.

Correct procedure (as annoying as it is) would have been to get an extension on the temporary SIN by showing the OWP to Service Canada. Then once the PR card arrives, another trip to Service Canada to get your permanent one.

 

[steerpike]

This is most likely the main reason inland applicants need PR card to get SIN, as there is no good reason an inland applicant wouldn't have an OWP they can be working under in the meantime.

There is also no good reason why an Inland applicant shouldn't be able to use their COPR to get a SIN when Outland applicants can.

 

[Matt the Aussie]

I think the assumption is that Outland apps are only just coming into Canada to work as of their CoPR being issued. As such, they probably don't have a temporary SIN and they need one right away if they are to work.

Having said that, CIC has many Outland applicants that live in Canada and continue to live in Canada as their PR is being processed. I am one of them.

 

[steerpike]

I think the assumption is that Outland apps are only just coming into Canada to work as of their CoPR being issued. As such, they probably don't have a temporary SIN and they need one right away if they are to work.

Having said that, CIC has many Outland applicants that live in Canada and continue to live in Canada as their PR is being processed. I am one of them.

The point is, if someone needs a SIN for whatever reason, whats the point of denying them after they have COPR?

If the argument is "well all inland applicants already have SINs (which they don't) then, again, it does no harm to allow SINs with a COPR, no inland applicant - not one - would apply (since they all have SINs already apparently).

 

[truesmile]

Inland applicants don't get a "COPR". Now this is where I'd be going to see my MP.