Sent application to Sydney PO Box tracked and signed but hasn't been picked up

[hallerz87]

Hi everyone, first time poster here.

I sent my outland spousal visa application package to the PO Box address in Sydney, NS on 31 May. According to the UK tracking site, an attempt at delivery was made on 10 June, however was unsuccessful. I assume this is because I sent tracked and signed, which means someone will need to sign for it before can be delivered?

My issue is that I have had no update since 10 June, a month has passed, and I have no idea whether my application has been picked up or not. Has anyone else had this issue? I would do anything to be able to contact CIC and enquire whether my package has been picked up. There just doesn't seem to be any way to do this. I've also contacted Canada Post who can't give any info as its an international package. So now I'm limbo and considering redoing the whole application!

Any similar experiences would be great to here!! Advice on any next steps also greatly appreciated!

 

[Hurlabrick]

Hi everyone, first time poster here.

I sent my outland spousal visa application package to the PO Box address in Sydney, NS on 31 May. According to the UK tracking site, an attempt at delivery was made on 10 June, however was unsuccessful. I assume this is because I sent tracked and signed, which means someone will need to sign for it before can be delivered?

My issue is that I have had no update since 10 June, a month has passed, and I have no idea whether my application has been picked up or not. Has anyone else had this issue? I would do anything to be able to contact CIC and enquire whether my package has been picked up. There just doesn't seem to be any way to do this. I've also contacted Canada Post who can't give any info as its an international package. So now I'm limbo and considering redoing the whole application!

Any similar experiences would be great to here!! Advice on any next steps also greatly appreciated!

This could well be an 'issue' as you have sent it to the wrong address. You cannot send 'signed for' parcels to a PO Box. You should have sent it to:

CPC Sydney
49 Dorchester Street
Sydney, NS
B1P 5Z2

As it clearly states in the Basic Guide here (see 'Submit your application by courier service' about 3/4 of the way down the page):

https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/application-forms-guides/guide-5525-basic-guide-sponsor-your-spouse-partner-child.html#submit

Frankly I have no idea what happens now. I would GUESS (only a guess) that your courier company as they cannot get a signature will most likely return the pack to you, but you need to call them to ask or try to sort it out and advise them of the correct address to deliver to.

 

[JJS]

Yea the problem is anything that requires a signature is treated equivalent to courier. However, I think you should be fine. I have heard in the past that sending applications to PO that require signature were received successfully. What do you see when you track your application on canada post website? Currently people whose applications were received around 20/21 May are receiving their AOR'. Hence as per me if the canada post tracking says delivered you should be good.

 

[hallerz87]

Yea the problem is anything that requires a signature is treated equivalent to courier. However, I think you should be fine. I have heard in the past that sending applications to PO that require signature were received successfully. What do you see when you track your application on canada post website? Currently people whose applications were received around 20/21 May are receiving their AOR'. Hence as per me if the canada post tracking says delivered you should be good.

OK hadn't realised this. When I spoke to Royal Mail in UK, they said that they would hand any packages to Canada Post, not courier. I've spoken to Canada Post and they confirmed they are unable to track my package as it is from UK. However, they confirmed that any package requiring signing would be held at the post office and they would leave a note in the PO box confirming the same. So it should be fine, and like you say, other people on the forum have said similar.

So all I know at the moment is that the package arrived in Sydney on 10 June, but nothing since. Canada Post confirmed they hold onto items for 14 days before sending back, but nothing on tracking site to suggest this has happened. So a bit stuck on what to do, other than pull together another application package This will take some time so in the meantime, got my fingers crossed that its just a mix up on the tracking site and will receive AOR imminently!

 

[canuck78]

OK hadn't realised this. When I spoke to Royal Mail in UK, they said that they would hand any packages to Canada Post, not courier. I've spoken to Canada Post and they confirmed they are unable to track my package as it is from UK. However, they confirmed that any package requiring signing would be held at the post office and they would leave a note in the PO box confirming the same. So it should be fine, and like you say, other people on the forum have said similar.

So all I know at the moment is that the package arrived in Sydney on 10 June, but nothing since. Canada Post confirmed they hold onto items for 14 days before sending back, but nothing on tracking site to suggest this has happened. So a bit stuck on what to do, other than pull together another application package This will take some time so in the meantime, got my fingers crossed that its just a mix up on the tracking site and will receive AOR imminently!

Would either call and see if your package arrived or wait for AOR. I expect that Canada post sees a lot of mail for the address so assume it likely got there.

 

[hallerz87]

Would either call and see if your package arrived or wait for AOR. I expect that Canada post sees a lot of mail for the address so assume it likely got there.

What number can I use to find out? Been looking for this!

 

[canuck78]

The general IRCC customer service number. Don’t think it works internationally but you can use a program online to make it seem like you are in Canada.

 

[phaeo]

Did you use Royal Mail? The PO Box should be fine for that, you can absolutely send things to be signed for there. I did, but should point out that I live in Canada and used Canada Post to do so. For next time, when sending things international, you want to use a courier service with international tracking like FedEx. I found out the hard way that if you use local postal service, they are unable to continue tracking the package once it crosses the border into another country (or becomes more difficult to do so, and you lose detailed tracking). I would agree that you probably want to call IRCC and ask. You can use Google Hangout or Skype to call the number from outside Canada.

 

[hallerz87]

Did you use Royal Mail? The PO Box should be fine for that, you can absolutely send things to be signed for there. I did, but should point out that I live in Canada and used Canada Post to do so. For next time, when sending things international, you want to use a courier service with international tracking like FedEx. I found out the hard way that if you use local postal service, they are unable to continue tracking the package once it crosses the border into another country (or becomes more difficult to do so, and you lose detailed tracking). I would agree that you probably want to call IRCC and ask. You can use Google Hangout or Skype to call the number from outside Canada.

Yeah I used Royal Mail, so I had understood should be OK. I've definitely learnt the hard way that Canada Post cannot track my item once in the Canadian postal system! I'll try calling +1-888-242-2100 on Skype once their offices open. The package arrived in Sydney on 10 June, would it be reasonable to have expected a response by now or could it just be that it takes a little while longer to hear back (assuming application received)?

 

[phaeo]

Yeah I used Royal Mail, so I had understood should be OK. I've definitely learnt the hard way that Canada Post cannot track my item once in the Canadian postal system! I'll try calling +1-888-242-2100 on Skype once their offices open. The package arrived in Sydney on 10 June, would it be reasonable to have expected a response by now or could it just be that it takes a little while longer to hear back (assuming application received)?

Right now it looks like it's taking people between 40 to 60 days to get the Acknowledgement of Receipt email, so you're at the point where I'd start keeping a look out for that in the sponsor's inbox! But might still not hear anything until toward the end of July if they received it on the 10th. So you're still good on that front.

 

[hallerz87]

Right now it looks like it's taking people between 40 to 60 days to get the Acknowledgement of Receipt email, so you're at the point where I'd start keeping a look out for that in the sponsor's inbox! But might still not hear anything until toward the end of July if they received it on the 10th. So you're still good on that front.

Ahhh very good point, the email will go to sponsor, not to me as applicant. So that's a pretty solid reason I won't have received anything via email yet!! 40-60 days means also highly likely that we won't have received response yet, so no news doesn't necessarily indicate my package not received. I have hope... Regarding calling the toll free number from abroad, do you have any practical experience/tips. I've tried calling using Skype for Business from my work and I get an automated message saying the call could not be connected i.e. blocked?

 

[phaeo]

Ahhh very good point, the email will go to sponsor, not to me as applicant. So that's a pretty solid reason I won't have received anything via email yet!! 40-60 days means also highly likely that we won't have received response yet, so no news doesn't necessarily indicate my package not received. I have hope... Regarding calling the toll free number from abroad, do you have any practical experience/tips. I've tried calling using Skype for Business from my work and I get an automated message saying the call could not be connected i.e. blocked?

Yes hopefully your application was received and they just haven't got round to sending you the email yet! I've had success calling from outside of Canada with Skype, I bought some credits to use their phone service. Not got any experience with Skype for business so nothing helpful for that unfortunately. I've also seen people on here have success with Google Hangouts. I live in Canada now and can reassure you (or maybe that's not the right word!) that their phone line is generally pants, I got the "we couldn't connect your call" message even when calling from here. Had to try several times before I was able to get through.

 

[hallerz87]

Yes hopefully your application was received and they just haven't got round to sending you the email yet! I've had success calling from outside of Canada with Skype, I bought some credits to use their phone service. Not got any experience with Skype for business so nothing helpful for that unfortunately. I've also seen people on here have success with Google Hangouts. I live in Canada now and can reassure you (or maybe that's not the right word!) that their phone line is generally pants, I got the "we couldn't connect your call" message even when calling from here. Had to try several times before I was able to get through.

Just thought I'd update that we got the email from immigration today acknowledging receipt of our application on 17 June! So finger's crossed things progress without issue!!

 

[phaeo]

Just thought I'd update that we got the email from immigration today acknowledging receipt of our application on 17 June! So finger's crossed things progress without issue!!

Hey that's fantastic!! Good luck with the rest of the process