1st post, "landed" today
I've been lurking for the past few months but really thought I should share my really positive experience of the process of getting my Permanent Residency.
I'm from England and my wife is Canadian, we've been married for 12 years and have young 2 children aged 7 and 4. At the end of a March last year after debating with each other should we make the move, we got the ball rolling.
The children and I got our medicals done in May, followed by my criminal record check. Then we completed our "pack" paid all our fees up front and sent the lot recorded to be processed. 1st my wife's sponsorship part of the application then mine was sent (as I guess you all know) back to London and was received in July.
We decided we would take a chance and make the move anyway and wait for the decision on my application in Canada and arrived here in Vancouver in November. We arranged to have our post in the UK forwarded onto our new home in Canada.
Last Friday I was very happy to receive the letter confirming my application had been approved, I then had to phone to make an appointment at the nearest CIC office to have my paperwork signed. I was told this would take a month. This Monday morning (12th jan) I received a call asking me if I would attend today on Jan 15th. Obviously I said yes.
Walked into the office with my wife and walked out 30 mins later all done.
I'm shell shocked really to see how quickly the process can be when everything goes your way. A little over 7 months from receiving the application to being signed off.
I was told my card should be around 30 days, but presently there is a back log and it could take a couple weeks longer.
So for those of you still thinking about taking the plunge. It's worth it.