Thread for September 2010 Applicants

[mmhughes]

PS - We are still waiting for the PPR but our fingers and toes are crossed for the end of this month or early next...

 

[suze_h]

Hi suze_h and thanks for this info. Would you have a link or do you know where I can find the information that there is a guaranteed 2 week service? Did they just tell you that when you handed them your passport at the Canadian High Commission? The reason I'm asking is that my hubby and I are trying to figure out an approx. timeline to help with organising flights. Also, not to be too much of a pain, how did you go about handing in your passport and picking it up? Cheers!

To be honest that's just what they said to me when I got there, and I've never heard of anyone who hasn't got passport and visa back when they've gone to pick them up 2 weeks later. The whole process is fairly simple - when you get the PPR they give you instructions on exactly where you need to go if you are dropping off in person. You just need to take your passport, 2 photos with your name and file number on the back and the completed form that is attached when they send your PPR. You can only go at 2pm on Thursdays (both to drop off and pick up). I arrived at about 1.15pm both times and there were already about 5-10 people in front of me in the line so it's best to go early (tip - take an umbrella, you line up outside so could end up getting very wet and/or cold!!) At about 1.45pm one of the guys from the Canadian High Commission separates you into 2 lines - those dropping off passports and those picking up. They open the doors at 2pm and ask you to go inside, 2 or 3 people at a time. From that point it doesn't take long at all. You go up to the desk where they ask you to read out your file number and then you leave them your photos, form and passport. They give you a receipt (which is just a piece of paper with what looks like a raffle ticket on it) and they tell you to come back in 2 weeks. Then you're all done! 2 weeks later you line up again, give in your receipt at 2pm and they give you a big brown envelope with your passport and confirmation of permanent residence. Hope that helps!

 

[mmhughes]

Suze you've been a HUGE help! Thanks so much for sharing your experience

 

[suze_h]

Suze you've been a HUGE help! Thanks so much for sharing your experience

No worries, my pleasure

 

[mikeyvr]

This is the response from Mexico City office on my case to my MP.

The applicant has provided his police certificates and his fingerprints in order to obtain the certificate from the federal police (PGR) in Mexico. We are currently waiting for the PGR and the medical results.


does this means the file is approved ? does this means no interview required? If medicals we done on Feb 15th 2011 , and police certificate takes a months , when could i spec a passport request ?

 

[quakingaspen]

Hi guys. I’m Quakingaspen from the December/Buffalo threads. We’re making a push right now to get all the Buffalo information updated since they are super slow and bad at communication. If those of you who are going through the Buffalo office could drop by the Buffalo thread and check to make sure the new spreadsheet has your information and that it's up to date, that would be great. Thanks guys! And good luck to everyone that’s still in process.

 

[jani99]

I just sent an email to Jim Brown @ CBC news Calgary. He is the host of Calgary eyeopener show.

Dear Jim

I would like to tell you that the eyeopner show is really informative and I always tune into cbc radio 99.1 every morning when I go to work. Your program and the way you host this program helps thousands of people to get up to date about what is happening around the world and specially in Calgary.

The reason I am writing this email to you is that, nowadays people have been talking about reduction of immigration visas for parents and grand parents. As you know that Immigration Minister Jason kenney has been claiming that by reducing these visas, they will be able to attract some skilled workers and he also says that family reunification is the first priority. It is also in the constitution that a Canadian permanent resident can legally sponsor his/her wife and kids and these application will be processed ASAP. But this is not the case for Pakistani people, CHC-Islamabad is been taking almost 2 years to process spouse applications and the sad thing is they don't even look at your application within first 12 months. I sponsored my parents last year and that time the processing time was 80 months and now it seems to be taking 13 years. I also applied for my brother's visitor visa and he was refused twice without any reason. People have similar issues that CHC-Islamabad is not sincere with Pakistani people as oppose to other embassies in other counterpart countries.

I came here 3 years ago on a work permit as a skilled worker. I work for a software company here in Calgary. I sponsored my wife almost 10 months ago and I still do not know the status of my application. Every time I send an inquiry request to CHC-Islamabad, I get a generic reply from the embassy that "Your application is currently in process and is in queue for initial review". After 10 months they have not touched my file and it is taking almost 2 years to get a spousal visa. I have also complained about this issue to High Commissioner and Deputy High Commissioner at CHC-Islamabad but did not get any reply.

Minister Jason Kenney claims that the delay at CHC-Islamabad is due to some extra background checks (specially for Pakistani people) and he also claims that Visa officers are highly trained to find out whether the marriage is genuine or not by looking at the supporting documents. But the reality is, hunderds of famillies have been suffering for this never ending delays and the most frustrating thing is CIC charges almost $1100 up front to process one application and their online status system shows that your files is "IN PROCESS" even after you have received your visa. There is no way to find out how long it will take to process these applications.

People have filed complaints to Immigration Minister and Prime Minister but their offices reply after 1 or 2 months and in that reply they say that we are already aware of the situation, your complain has been forwarded to the concerned departments.

I plan to bring this issue to Government officials, Opposition leaders, Immigration judges, Mayor of Calgary and Media from all over Canada and I will request everyone to please bring this issue forward and try to resolve this ASAP. I also request you to please broadcast this on the radio or TV and also ask questions from Minister Jason Kenney and from all the concerned authorities.

I have been following some immigration forums specially for Canadian embassy in Islamabad and I will post those links later in my email so that you can read and find out how many people have been suffering.

Here is a letter from MP. Peter Julian from House of commons. He wrote a letter to Minister Jason Kenney in January 2011.

http://www.keepandshare.com/doc/2593414/letter-to-minister-of-citizenship-and-immigration-january-2011-2-pdf-february-11-2011-11-05-p?da=y

Following are the two forums which I have been reading for last 3.5 years.
canadavisa.com (http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/chc-islamabad-spouse-sponsorship-timeline-2009-2010-t28775.4365.html)
immigration.ca (http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/chc-islamabad-spouse-sponsorship-timeline-2009-2010-t28775.4365.html)

There are some facebook groups about processing delays at CHC-Islamabad.
http://www.facebook.com/pages/CIC-Islamabad-Pending-Cases/120356291328093
http://www.facebook.com/?sk=lf#!/home.php?sk=group_101385463271280&ap=1

Following is the link of CIC website and you can read that they claim to complete 80% of spousal applications within 12 months which also includes step 1 of the process which gets processed at CPC-Mississauga.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/service-standards.asp#family

Here is another petition site which discusses about temporary Resident visas for spouses while their applications are In PROCESS.
http://www.gopetition.com/petition/31391.html

Another petition website for processing delays at CHC-Islamabad. It has been signed by 121 people in the past.
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/spouse-immigration-delay/

A visitor visa concerned was raised by Olivia chow, Member of Parliament NDP.
http://www.oliviachow.ca/2010/12/chow-introduces-bill-c-604-the-visitor-visa-fairness-act/

These activities have happened in the past but we did not see any outcome because media was not involved. Therefore, I request you to please look into this matter and bring this issue forward and ask questions from the concerned authorities. Your help can make a huge difference in hundreds of peoples lives and they will be relieved form this waiting pain, if this is resolved soon enough.

Hope for a positive response and would appreciate your help...

Best Regards
jani99 (on behalf of Pakistani Community)

403-***-****

 

[javiernica]

I am so excited. We got our request for passport!!! They also asked for additional proof of relationship (photos of the wedding ceremony). We don't have those because we were married by a notary (a friend) and then had a small family party (we have pictures of that). Any suggestions???
I guess we are almost done. ;D

 

[jendrian]

send the pictures along with a letter explaining what they're seeing and why you decided against a big wedding

 

[bonbon9]

I am so excited. We got our request for passport!!! They also asked for additional proof of relationship (photos of the wedding ceremony). We don't have those because we were married by a notary (a friend) and then had a small family party (we have pictures of that). Any suggestions???
I guess we are almost done. ;D

Wow!! Congratulations!! I'm wondering why they would ask you for additional proofs? Anyway, I would definately send those pictures and, if you have any plans to make a bigger ceremony in the future, send a letter explaining that and any preparations for it.
Let me know the date of your PPR so I add it in our list. Has your interview been waived?

 

[javiernica]

Wow!! Congratulations!! I'm wondering why they would ask you for additional proofs? Anyway, I would definately send those pictures and, if you have any plans to make a bigger ceremony in the future, send a letter explaining that and any preparations for it.
Let me know the date of your PPR so I add it in our list. Has your interview been waived?

It does not state anything about the interview being waived. It is just a list of different things and then checkmarks beside the things they need. It would be impossible for him to go to the interview if they take his passport since he lives in the US with me. So now that worries me a little.

 

[jendrian]

just do what it says, nothing more, nothing less

 

[javiernica]

The date of our passport request was February 17. My husband and I are still shaking. We cannot believe it.

 

[bonbon9]

javiernica, I really don't want to be a party pooper
But I'm sure I've heard somewhere that Guatemala VO likes to ask for PPR and they keep it for a few months, please try to check threads on this site with this information as I think that this might be what will happen next, since they're requesting more information from you. I really really really hope it is not the situation and you'll your passport back with the visa stamped soon.
Good luck!! Keeping my fingers crossed for you! PPR is definately good news, as you know that they're working on your case.

Application updates:

Name	Office	Ap.Sent	Ap.Rcv	Approval	Process	AOR	PPR	LANDED	EXPECTED
bobae11	Seoul	24/08	25/08	21/09	30/09
frenchie123	L.A.		29/08				16/11
sanyrog	NewDelhi	31/08	01/09	27/09			02/12
thebaileyohana	L.A.	30/08	01/09	27/09	07/10	16/10	16/11	19/11
UnitedStateser	Buffalo		01/09	28/09	07/10	16/10	18/11
New Wife	SantoDomingo	01/09	02/09	30/09	07/10	16/12
GT25	Mexico	31/08	02/09	30/09	05/01	06/10
javiernica	Guatemala	01/09	02/09	27/09		22/10	17/02
cezvi	Manila	01/09	02/09	30/09	14/10	14/10	14/10	13/01
JIM0511	Buffalo	27/08	07/09	04/10	26/10	08/11
applied03	NewDelhi	03/09	07/09	04/10			08/12
miksterz	Islamabad	03/09		01/10
Patience55			08/09	05/10
mm04	Vegreville	07/09	08/09
limanoid	Lima	07/09	09/09	04/10	25/10	25/11			10/2011
shawngt2	Moscow	08/09	09/09	05/10	22/11	22/11			04/2011
Canooknic	London	03/09	10/09	07/10	22/10		01/12		12/2010
purple_woman	Manila	04/09	10/09	06/10	20/10	20/10	20/10		04/2011
changa1978	Buffalo	08/09	10/09	16/09	29/09	28/09	08/11
amnarb	Buffalo		10/09	06/10	18/10	18/10	09/11	01/12
silvergray	Manila	09/09	13/09	13/10	27/10	02/11	02/11	07/03	03/2011
batselei			13/09	13/10			28/10
warrenthegreat	London	10/09	13/09	12/10	01/11		10/12	22/01
CanadianDude	Damascus	08/09	14/09	18/10	14/10	08/11
denoose	Manila	10/09	14/09	12/10	21/10	21/10	21/10		04/2011
boblu	HongKong	11/09	14/09	08/10	20/10	20/10
Teriskier	Vegreville	13/09	14/09		14/11
Harju	Seoul	13/09	14/09	12/10	21/10	25/10
Aroundtown22	Berlin	13/09	16/09	14/10	25/10		15/11		01/2011
bonbon9	Mexico	15/09	16/09	14/10	22/12	02/12			02/2011
suze_h	London	08/09	17/09	14/10	05/11		06/01	04/02	02/2011
jendrian	Mexico	18/09	23/09	26/10	04/11	08/01			03/2011
Dadu	SaoPaulo	13/09	20/09	15/10
chloe0722	Caracas		21/09	15/10					06/2011
urbinajanice	Manila	16/09	22/09
Rob.Barrett	London	20/09	22/09	22/10	05/11		09/02		03/2011
Jez	Sydney	15/09	22/09	20/10	27/10	02/12	08/02
patiently_waiting	London		22/09	01/11	26/11		14/02		03/2011
mrs.vip	Manila	17/09	23/09	22/10	09/11	12/11	12/11
Kenomee	Buffalo	21/09	23/09	15/11	16/12	16/12			05/2011
reemagray	Kingston	22/09	23/09	02/11	08/11	24/01
rohanss	Buffalo	22/09	23/09	22/10	08/11	08/11	22/11	03/01	01/2011
ndbella	Buffalo	22/09	23/09	23/10		17/11
dinchymus	Vienna	25/09		03/11			10/01	20/02	02/2011
Jurjen	Vegreville	26/09	30/11
Azadehkhanoom	Damascus		27/09	26/10	02/11
mmhughes	London	24/09	27/09	17/11	21/01
Lifer	Singapore	17/09	28/09	26/10
Sekhon97	Buffalo	21/09	28/09	28/10	15/11	18/11
MissyIffy	Taipei	24/09	28/09	26/10	09/12	01/12
sevenseconds	NewDelhi	27/09	28/09	29/10			14/12
dlmt	Buffalo	28/09		27/10	15/11	10/11	03/02
taoyyz	Beijing	28/09	29/09	28/10	16/11	16/11	16/11

 

[bonbon9]

The date of our passport request was February 17. My husband and I are still shaking. We cannot believe it.

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t48886.0.html

D: