Seoul Timeline~Common-Law Partner Sponsorship

[achkorea]

It has officially been a year since Seoul received our application. E-Cas showed that they BEGAN processing the application on May 3rd. The website states that 9 months is average, but I've been hearing that our case processing time is more average. We had one very quick follow-up with the medical, but otherwise everything has been complete (to the best of our knowledge). In any case, my partner was asked to re-do the medical and the criminal background check. So, don't be surprised if your application takes longer than expected, when being processed in Seoul. Good luck!

 

[barlowe]

Hey achkorea,

How is your app going? Have you heard anything yet? My wife is coming from Korea and we are in also in process. We've had a couple of follow-up emails for criminal record, family certificates etc.. but they should have everything they need now. Our stats are as follows:

We received your application for permanent residence on February 15, 2012.

We started processing your application on July 31, 2012.

Medical results have been received

We're hoping for soon but there's not much recent information on here for Korea.

 

[achkorea]

It's been 15 months since they received our application in Seoul. They have now asked for all of our stuff twice, don't get your hopes up. I've been there, it all seemed to move quickly at first, then nothing. We're not the only ones in this position either. I do hope things move quickly for you, but be prepared for it to take much longer than a year. MUCH longer.They received our application June/11, they requested a few things, then nothing. Then e-cas changed to 'began processing' in May/12. We will be happy when it goes through and I know we will forget about how long it has taken, one day. So, just go on with your daily lives and hope for the best.
Good luck!

 

[barlowe]

Hey achkorea,

I'm sorry to hear its taking you so long. Please look into what's wrong. I've heard it is a good idea to talk with your MP, especially since it is over the time quoted on the CIC website.

My wife just got her COPR in the mail in Korea so she can land in Canada anytime now.

Best of luck.

 

[stevelo]

Congrats Barlowe!

We're in the same situation as Achkorea. Wish there was some kind of transparency to the process and I'm itching to either get another copy of GCMS notes (requested one a few months ago but I am not sure if it will piss them off if I order again) or contact an MP (again, I don't know if it will piss off the officer).

 

[barlowe]

Thanks stevelo. I really hope you guys get sorted out soon! At your point I'd piss everyone off until they got fed up with me and finished doing their jobs.

In any case, let me know how you guys do. My wife and I will be thinking of you guys.

 

[achkorea]

I would look further into it, but every time we have any kind of correspondence, they say that if we contact them, it could delay the process even more. Kind of feel as though we're being held hostage haha Stevelo and I have been following each other's cases for a LONG time. He's visiting Korea for a month and we are hoping it comes through soon. Barlowe, when did your wife get the COPR and did they ask for her passport or her Biopage? This could give us an indication of whether or not they are close. We are also apprehensive about contacting our MP so that we don't piss off the officer, we are at their mercy. I respect the process, I just hope it happens soon.

 

[stevelo]

More questions for Barlowe and Achkorea, or anyone else who knows:

When you had to provide the information, did they also ask you to update your address? For our case, they asked us for a Korean address, but we are actually staying in Canada while waiting it out. We ended up submitting our current living address in Canada, as well as sister-in-law's address in Korea.

But now we are concerned if it is not acceptable (maybe their computer only has room for 1 address? Also while we ourselves are very diligent to update the CIC, we don't want to be a burden to others as much as possible). We are actually thinking of sending another email one more time informing the officer(s) to use the Canadian address only (as a sort of clarification email).

Also for Achkorea, did you report your marriage to Korean government? My wife and i were thinking just the Canadian marriage certificate would be more than enough proof and don't they usually suspect you when it's the other way around (i.e. didn't get married in Canada)?

Anyway, Barlowe we are so jelly about you guys. Congrats again!

 

[achkorea]

Stevelo,
We're not married, we applied as common-law (same-sex). But, my partner has no family, we've been living together for 5 years (everything was divided in both of our names etc.), we were unable to get married in Korea for obvious reasons etc. When it all goes through, we'll get married.As for the address, it's fine. Our e-cas has both listed. We are using a friend of my partner's address. I am happy for Barlowe that their application has gone so smoothly, but I really don't understand why our applications are taking so long. My partner is in Korea for 1 month right now, but I'm really hoping it goes through soon so he can land easily when he returns. I am also apprehensive about contacting my MP for the same reasons as you, but I'm really starting to wonder if it's because we're same sex?! I know legally that we're supposed to be able to do this, but it makes me think that in practice, it may not be so smooth. I hate to think that, but who knows?

 

[barlowe]

hey guys,

A bit of a timeline for us is that according to the website we were "in-process" July 31st and we got an email on Aug 1 asking for:

(X) Evidence of medical exam for 1 Person : please undergo medical exam within the deadline. Medical exam forms and instruction are attached. Once you have undergone the medical examination, please provide proof of where and when it was taken.

(X) Updated Korean Marraige relations certificate and Family relations certificate including information on your marriage registered (must be issued by dong or gu office in Korea)

(X) Updated Korean criminal history information record (KCHIR:범죄 및 수사경력 조회회보서, 실효된형 포함) issued by local police station in Korea for you. Please note that all police certificates must indicate that all records have been searched, including any lapsed records: for more info, please visit website at

(X) Certificate of entry/exit records from Korean immigration office showing all records since age 18 until present for you

(X) Passport biopage copy for you (updated/valid passport details required)

(X) Accurate mailing address in Korea/telephone number to ensure delivery to the correct address

Most of it was easay and we had ti sorted out quickly but it took some time to register our marriage in Korea since we are also both in Korea waiting it out. We used my wife's address in Korea for mail corresponance and the letter arrived at her house yesterday. It is currently in the mail to our place in Canada as we speak. We plan on crossing the border next weekend, we don't have to send in the passport just need the letter.

 

[barlowe]

As for contacting your MP. I sent my MP an email yesterday (before I found out the letter arrived) and know of a few others who talked with theirs. After corresponding with you guys a little I got nervous and wanted to get the ball rolling. My MP emailed back saying I should set up an appointment with their office as they have people on staff to help out with these things.

One of the people I know, their MP stepped up and helped out. This was a few years ago. Another friend of mine is going through the process now and went to see his MP. His MP said that there's not too much they can do until the time has lapsed on the quoted process time on the CIC website. Since you guys have way lapsed its worth a shot.

Thanks for the congrats. We are PUMPED. Keep the questions coming if you got them and let me know how you guys are doing.

 

[stevelo]

Achkorea I hope the officers are reasonable people and both of us can get through this soon.

It seems like we all got similar letters recently (our letter came in mid-August; Achkorea when did yours come?). Except in Achkorea's case there was no need for marriage record and in our case they didn't need a marriage record and they also didn't ask for a new medical.

Well, have to get ready for work. Glad to have other people talking about Seoul office though. Doesn't seem to be all that many people applying through there that come to this website.

 

[achkorea]

Thanks for the info, they requested the passport biopage 3 weeks ago (but no record of entry/exit info from Korean immigration from age of 18). How did your wife get that? I'm wondering if my partner should go and get one done anyway in case they ask for it because he will be returning to Canada on Oct. 9th. This has been a big concern for me because everyone I had heard about had also been requested to provide them with all of the pages of their passports, but our request was only for the biopage. It's now Fri. night in Seoul, he won't receive anything from immigration on the weekend, so once again it is the immigration waiting game haha

I will wait until next week and if my partner hasn't heard anything in Korea, I will email my MP. Stevelo, did they ask you for both the biopage and copies of entry/exit info from Korea?

I appreciate you sharing this info with us, Barlowe and Stevelo, I'm sure they are reasonable and I'm sure they're both coming soon. I know the waiting is killing both of us and we just need that piece of paper until we get truly get our lives started in Canada.
Congratulations and thanks again, Barlowe, for giving us back our hope. Stevelo, stick with me buddy, we're almost there haha

 

[stevelo]

Well at least they requested your medicals, so I think you guys are more ahead of us. But at the same time it seems like they don't request everything from everyone so hopefully you guys don't need to submit more info.

Sometimes I wonder if it is because we submitted WAY too much info in our application and the officers got angry they had to read a whole encyclopedia's worth of evidence.

Well another week, hoping for some good news as usual!

 

[achkorea]

Who knows? I do hope that we both hear some good news sometime soon. They say 'no news is good news' and after this long, I do hope it's great news--for all of us. Hey, Stevelo, try to add the dates to your profile so we can compare all dates.