Question regarding submitting medicals and PCC after application has been sent.

[Ponga]

First, I'd like to thank the community for the valuable information that I've gleaned from reading the posts of others with questions and concerns.

I'm a US Citizen, living in Canada, applying for my PR via the Family Class>Common-law sponsorship program. My Canadian partner and I are very excited, yet very nervous at the same time, due to some of the `horror stories' that we've read, regarding the `process'. She is a very well qualified sponsor, and I firmly believe that I am a qualified applicant...which is where we get our positive strength from, I suppose. Due to my current status (or lack thereof) we are forced to file an inland application, which I understand will take a substantial amount of time to process, but it allows us to continue living together in Canada, thankfully. Filing an outland application seems impossible, since I have to remain here and can't, legally, if filing outland.

My question is regarding how one goes about providing medical and police certificates at a later date (due the fact that they will most certainly be deemed invalid, before our application is processed). The CIC website and tutorial video make it pretty clear that an incomplete package will be returned. However, I've read on more than one Immigration Lawyer's website/blog that this is a very common practice and that they "do it all the time". Their reasoning seems logical..."why delay the application process to have to wait for PCC and provide medicals that will only expire before the process is complete? They will ask for them later in the process."
Is that true?

I'm also unclear as to whether or not I will need to provide State issued PCCs for those where I had resided since age 18 (all within the US). This information from CIC seems to indicate that I *might* need to do this, but will be advised at a later date if they are needed. Seems like a bit of a quandry...I can't `assume' that I'll need them, so to order them (only to have them expire before/if they are requested) VS hoping that if they are requested, I can get them quickly.

Should I at least have my fingerprints taken and provide a photo copy of the FBI card to include in the application, with a short note explaining why the PCC is not included at this time? I've never been arrested, or fingerprinted for that matter, so I have no fears that there will even be a PCC that has anything on it, but I realize that my `word' means nothing to CIC, understandably.

Again, I thank this community for their generous time, knowledge and willingness to truly help.

 

[hockeyfan]

First, I'd like to thank the community for the valuable information that I've gleaned from reading the posts of others with questions and concerns.

I'm a US Citizen, living in Canada, applying for my PR via the Family Class>Common-law sponsorship program. My Canadian partner and I are very excited, yet very nervous at the same time, due to some of the `horror stories' that we've read, regarding the `process'. She is a very well qualified sponsor, and I firmly believe that I am a qualified applicant...which is where we get our positive strength from, I suppose. Due to my current status (or lack thereof) we are forced to file an inland application, which I understand will take a substantial amount of time to process, but it allows us to continue living together in Canada, thankfully. Filing an outland application seems impossible, since I have to remain here and can't, legally, if filing outland.

My question is regarding how one goes about providing medical and police certificates at a later date (due the fact that they will most certainly be deemed invalid, before our application is processed). The CIC website and tutorial video make it pretty clear that an incomplete package will be returned. However, I've read on more than one Immigration Lawyer's website/blog that this is a very common practice and that they "do it all the time". Their reasoning seems logical..."why delay the application process to have to wait for PCC and provide medicals that will only expire before the process is complete? They will ask for them later in the process."
Is that true?

I'm also unclear as to whether or not I will need to provide State issued PCCs for those where I had resided since age 18 (all within the US). This information from CIC seems to indicate that I *might* need to do this, but will be advised at a later date if they are needed. Seems like a bit of a quandry...I can't `assume' that I'll need them, so to order them (only to have them expire before/if they are requested) VS hoping that if they are requested, I can get them quickly.

Should I at least have my fingerprints taken and provide a photo copy of the FBI card to include in the application, with a short note explaining why the PCC is not included at this time? I've never been arrested, or fingerprinted for that matter, so I have no fears that there will even be a PCC that has anything on it, but I realize that my `word' means nothing to CIC, understandably.

Again, I thank this community for their generous time, knowledge and willingness to truly help.

Sup Pong? I am not too familiar with out of status applicants, but why can't you leave the country and come back in? That should give you status within Canada and then apply outland? Probably someone more experienced in this forum could say something about this.

You should just do the FBI fingerprinting and if they require state issued PCC's they will ask for them. I have heard of people attaching a letter saying they are in the process of applying for the police certificates and will supply them when CIC asks for them. Note the PCC's are only valid for 3 months once you get them, so you have to send them into CIC once you get them done. Once you have an AOR you can attach the PCC's to your file application number and send them via the post. I think people have done the same for their medicals.

I would submit your application as soon as possible as you are out of status and the RCMP can remove you from the country if they want.

EDIT: However, it is pretty unlikely they would remove you. The beauty of applying inland is that out of status applicants are brought back into status once the sponsor and the applicant are through Stage 1 meaning they get approval in principle as long as they send in an open work permit. Right now it is taking 11 months for Stage 1 to be completed.

 

[QuebecOkie]

There seem to be few or no arguments for U.S. citizens to choose inland over outland, but you are certainly able to remain in Canada with an outland application in progress. The only risk is that, if an interview is required, you will have to travel to a U.S. visa office for the interview (interviews are required of applicants when CIC doubts the genuineness of their relationship with their sponsor).

Having said that...by *ACCIDENT* (I was stupid) I sent my application in without the FBI certificate or medical. It was not returned as incomplete. I panicked a bit after learning that I should have included those. I opted to get both before CIC requested them. This caused a lot of confusion at the doctor's office, as I requested an "up-front medical," but I had already submitted my app (which made them think I needed the request from CIC before getting my exam). I talked them into doing it my way, and I wrote my UCI clearly on the "up-front medical" form.

I risked my paperwork not being matched up properly with my file, which could have caused major delays. In fact, a CIC representative at the call centre advised me against doing the medical and requesting the FBI certificate before CIC requested them. It worked out fine for me. However, I would NOT advise anyone to do it this way. CIC is very inconsistent in handling applications, and my advice is to submit the most complete, best application you can put together to avoid problems or delays.

 

[Ponga]

Sup Pong? I am not too familiar with out of status applicants, but why can't you leave the country and come back in? That should give you status within Canada and then apply outland? Probably someone more experienced in this forum could say something about this.

You should just do the FBI fingerprinting and if they require state issued PCC's they will ask for them. I have heard of people attaching a letter saying they are in the process of applying for the police certificates and will supply them when CIC asks for them. Note the PCC's are only valid for 3 months once you get them, so you have to send them into CIC once you get them done. Once you have an AOR you can attach the PCC's to your file application number and send them via the post. I think people have done the same for their medicals.

I would submit your application as soon as possible as you are out of status and the RCMP can remove you from the country if they want.

EDIT: However, it is pretty unlikely they would remove you. The beauty of applying inland is that out of status applicants are brought back into status once the sponsor and the applicant are through Stage 1 meaning they get approval in principle as long as they send in an open work permit. Right now it is taking 11 months for Stage 1 to be completed.

Thanks for your reply (and to QuebecOkie as well). This is exactly why I am applying via the inland application process.