PROBLEM: Immigration Officer did NOT write document # on passport stamp...

[Kat911s]

Hi all,

My spouse arrived in Canada via Montreal Airport January 31st. He just went to get a SIN card but was told the Immigration Officer was supposed to write the Document # (on his Confirmation of Permanent Residency) on his passport stamp. Because the number (on the paper!) was not written on the stamp they cannot give him a SIN card and he must wait 10-12weeks until he gets his PR card.
The problem is he has an interview for the position of Director here in Ottawa and without a SIN card, the company won't want to hire him because they have already dealt with his immigration issues before...
CIC told us that they are not required to write the document # in the passport, yet Service Canada (another department) requires that it be there to process a SIN card.

Did the Immigration Officer make a mistake??? How can we fix it? Can we go to the airport and have another officer write the number on his passport?? We can't afford to wait for his PR card because he'll lose this job opportunity due to someone else's mistake Sad

 

[zardoz]

Read http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2013/ob545-mod.asp

 

[CdnandTrini]

Hi all,

My spouse arrived in Canada via Montreal Airport January 31st. He just went to get a SIN card but was told the Immigration Officer was supposed to write the Document # (on his Confirmation of Permanent Residency) on his passport stamp. Because the number (on the paper!) was not written on the stamp they cannot give him a SIN card and he must wait 10-12weeks until he gets his PR card.
The problem is he has an interview for the position of Director here in Ottawa and without a SIN card, the company won't want to hire him because they have already dealt with his immigration issues before...
CIC told us that they are not required to write the document # in the passport, yet Service Canada (another department) requires that it be there to process a SIN card.

Did the Immigration Officer make a mistake??? How can we fix it? Can we go to the airport and have another officer write the number on his passport?? We can't afford to wait for his PR card because he'll lose this job opportunity due to someone else's mistake Sad

Sorry to hear this. It must be so frustrating. I can't believe that there is not a way to fix this. Call your MP's office right away and get them working on it ASAP. If you just called the CIC 1-800 number they may not really know how to resolve it and that is probably why you got what I call the "unhelpful" response. Barring this, I would go the closest airport and try to speak to the highest ranking immigration person there. I am hoping your MP's office will navigate this for you. A few other senior members may still chime in if they have had this experience or know what to do. There are 2 senior members who used to post a lot and you can send them a PM (personal message) they are Leon and PMM. They may be able to help. If you do get it resolved come back and tell us how! Blessings and hope it works out for you and hubby.

 

[zardoz]

If you read the document that I linked to, you will see that there is no instruction to the person completing the COPR to annotate the passport. Yes, it is normally done but maybe CIC have changed the process? When I landed, I made sure that it was done, for exactly this reason...

 

[Kat911s]

Read http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2013/ob545-mod.asp

Perfect, thank you for this document. A document a CIC officer sent me did not have this and she said it would state the process if I rifled though...

Anywho, I ended up booking an appointment with my MP office tomorrow morning. I also called Canadian Border Services and the man was kind enough to transfer me to the Montreal airport Immigration Department where the mistake happened (couldn't be transferred when I called the airport) and the lady on the phone told me to go to the Ottawa airport (that's where we live) with all our documents and ask to speak with the customs officer. IT WORKED The Immigration Officer at the airport LAUGHED and said he's never heard of anything so ridiculous and was surprised we didn't just write the number ourselves!!!!! He said Service Canada has no business rejecting a SIN card application on the basis of something they don't have the authority on (ie. relying on the document number on the passport stamp when it's not within their authority to even allow residents into the country!) So he just scribbled the number on the passport and we were on our way.

I'm still going to speak with my MP about this, as I don't want this stress and panic to fall on someone else....

Thanks for the replies!

 

[CdnandTrini]

Perfect, thank you for this document. A document a CIC officer sent me did not have this and she said it would state the process if I rifled though...

Anywho, I ended up booking an appointment with my MP office tomorrow morning. I also called Canadian Border Services and the man was kind enough to transfer me to the Montreal airport Immigration Department where the mistake happened (couldn't be transferred when I called the airport) and the lady on the phone told me to go to the Ottawa airport (that's where we live) with all our documents and ask to speak with the customs officer. IT WORKED The Immigration Officer at the airport LAUGHED and said he's never heard of anything so ridiculous and was surprised we didn't just write the number ourselves!!!!! He said Service Canada has no business rejecting a SIN card application on the basis of something they don't have the authority on (ie. relying on the document number on the passport stamp when it's not within their authority to even allow residents into the country!) So he just scribbled the number on the passport and we were on our way.

I'm still going to speak with my MP about this, as I don't want this stress and panic to fall on someone else....

Thanks for the replies!

YAY!!!! Good job Kat911s and as I say all the time - left hand does not know what right hand is doing! It never ceases to amaze me how 5 different employees will give 5 different answers . So happy you got it resolved quickly and are going to pay it forward for others. Best wishes for hubby's interview.