Hi everyone.
Just thought I would write a summary of how our PR application went…..
We applied through the Canadian Experience Class program, with me as the principle applicant.
I applied under NOC 2243 Industrial Instrument Technician
I sat my CELPIP English test in Dec 2015
After moving across Canada and getting married we finally had the time and funds to apply for EE and subsequently PR.
I submitted our EE profile on the 15th July 2016 with a score of 848
Our invitation to apply for PR arrived on the 27th July 2016, being the first draw after our EE submission.
On 4th Aug 2016 we had our medical examinations done. There was a little bit of a delay with these being submitted as I had undiagnosed hypertension. The clinic gave me some time to see my Doctor and get some medication and return to have my blood pressure taken again, at normal levels before it was submitted.
We applied for our UK criminal record checks on 12th Aug 2016 and received them back on the 25th Aug 2016
We formally applied for PR 26th August 2016 with our AOR being received the same day.
Early Sept 2016 we received a call from the medical office asking for my wife to repeat her chest x-rays and to give sputum samples. It seems there was an ‘unfocussed’ area on her first x-rays that caused concern and required follow up lab work to test for TB.
I religiously checked my profile on MYCIC but in real terms none of the statuses changed until the later stages.
17th October 2016 we got a request to pay our RPRF fees, as we hadn’t paid for them upfront with our application fees. This request came with a 7 day response deadline.
I got a letter from CIC 28th Oct 2016 stating my UK Passport had less than 12 months left on it, and I should apply for a new one ASAP, as PR will not be granted to a passport holder with such short validity.
I actually managed to get a new passport back in my hands with 2 weeks and sent them the required scanned copy.
Then nothing……. For weeks the statuses stayed the same and there was no communication from CIC
Early Dec 2016, once my wife’s test results were complete, our medical statuses changed to passed.
On the 23rd Dec 2016 I received an email from CIC entitled ‘Final Request’ in which they requested copies of our passports (or passports depending on country of origin) and more photographs, this time twice the size of the standard passport pics. We sent that off by Xpresspost as instructed.
Our statuses on MYCIC all changed on 13th Jan 2017 showing everything had been completed and our application had been approved.
We received our COPR on 16th Jan 2017 and because of an employment opportunity we decided to ‘Flagpole’ rather than book an appointment at Canada House. We flag poled at Carway crossing South of Calgary on 18th Jan 2017.
We chose Carway, AB because it was small, non-commercial and not 24 hrs. Thinking these facts would make for a quicker processing time, and less queueing.
We found the border agents both USA and Canadian to be so stern and almost rude, almost purposely asking tricky questions to ensure you tripped up. Straight away the guard made me slip when asking if I had ever been refuse entry to a country before…… Under stress I said “No!” to which they mocked me and said “Yes you have, just now at the US border” I don’t feel I was mistreated but was really made to feel uncomfortable. I know they have a job to do and it’s very important but a little personality couldn’t hurt could it?
After speaking with others I would retrospectively chose the Sweet Grass or Rooseville crossings.
All in all it took just short of 5 months from PR application to being a landed immigrant……
Just thought I would write a summary of how our PR application went…..
We applied through the Canadian Experience Class program, with me as the principle applicant.
I applied under NOC 2243 Industrial Instrument Technician
I sat my CELPIP English test in Dec 2015
After moving across Canada and getting married we finally had the time and funds to apply for EE and subsequently PR.
I submitted our EE profile on the 15th July 2016 with a score of 848
Our invitation to apply for PR arrived on the 27th July 2016, being the first draw after our EE submission.
On 4th Aug 2016 we had our medical examinations done. There was a little bit of a delay with these being submitted as I had undiagnosed hypertension. The clinic gave me some time to see my Doctor and get some medication and return to have my blood pressure taken again, at normal levels before it was submitted.
We applied for our UK criminal record checks on 12th Aug 2016 and received them back on the 25th Aug 2016
We formally applied for PR 26th August 2016 with our AOR being received the same day.
Early Sept 2016 we received a call from the medical office asking for my wife to repeat her chest x-rays and to give sputum samples. It seems there was an ‘unfocussed’ area on her first x-rays that caused concern and required follow up lab work to test for TB.
I religiously checked my profile on MYCIC but in real terms none of the statuses changed until the later stages.
17th October 2016 we got a request to pay our RPRF fees, as we hadn’t paid for them upfront with our application fees. This request came with a 7 day response deadline.
I got a letter from CIC 28th Oct 2016 stating my UK Passport had less than 12 months left on it, and I should apply for a new one ASAP, as PR will not be granted to a passport holder with such short validity.
I actually managed to get a new passport back in my hands with 2 weeks and sent them the required scanned copy.
Then nothing……. For weeks the statuses stayed the same and there was no communication from CIC
Early Dec 2016, once my wife’s test results were complete, our medical statuses changed to passed.
On the 23rd Dec 2016 I received an email from CIC entitled ‘Final Request’ in which they requested copies of our passports (or passports depending on country of origin) and more photographs, this time twice the size of the standard passport pics. We sent that off by Xpresspost as instructed.
Our statuses on MYCIC all changed on 13th Jan 2017 showing everything had been completed and our application had been approved.
We received our COPR on 16th Jan 2017 and because of an employment opportunity we decided to ‘Flagpole’ rather than book an appointment at Canada House. We flag poled at Carway crossing South of Calgary on 18th Jan 2017.
We chose Carway, AB because it was small, non-commercial and not 24 hrs. Thinking these facts would make for a quicker processing time, and less queueing.
We found the border agents both USA and Canadian to be so stern and almost rude, almost purposely asking tricky questions to ensure you tripped up. Straight away the guard made me slip when asking if I had ever been refuse entry to a country before…… Under stress I said “No!” to which they mocked me and said “Yes you have, just now at the US border” I don’t feel I was mistreated but was really made to feel uncomfortable. I know they have a job to do and it’s very important but a little personality couldn’t hurt could it?
After speaking with others I would retrospectively chose the Sweet Grass or Rooseville crossings.
All in all it took just short of 5 months from PR application to being a landed immigrant……