Hello Everyone,
Recently last 3rd of March 2016, My Family and I had lodged online applications to CIC for TRVs~visit visas with plans to travel for the month of April 2016. We read and followed the instruction guidelines, filled up the appropriate forms, and read supplementary information on the CIC website.
The website had said that anyone applying from outside Canada (such as in our case), whose online applications originated from Dubai or Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates should expect a decision made within (I guess taking into consideration the published estimates by CIC for 80% of cases they had processed) would be seven (7) calendar days (and the site does specify "calendar days").
We had presented proof of travel from the period of 2010 to the present by submitting scanned copies of Schengen visas and entry/exit stamps from Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Most Recently in February 2016, my family and I were fortunate to have been issued by the US Consulate of Dubai multiple entry visas to the US with a validity period of 10 years. Coupled with this, my wife and I had presented separate bank accounts with savings of CAD 24,000 (mine), and CAD 12,000 (my wife's).
Together with our educational background and employment history, we had also provided official and stamped employment certificates from our present employers which were: BP-British Petroleum and Canon. We also submitted travel itineraries and hotel bookings.
We don't have any relatives in Canada, only friends. We are Filipino Citizens and are currently holding residence visas in Dubai. I have been in the UAE for the past 12 years, My wife has been here for the past 8 years (i took her here after we got married).
My question now is, does having the 10 year multiple entry visa for the US help? will it somehow sway the deciding visa officer to lean towards granting us a similar 10 year TRV for Canada?
I am going a bit nuts and paranoid ??? because it is now the 7th calendar day and CIC hasn't updated or at least given us any info regarding progress. Would we have been better off making a paper application through a Visa Application Center like VFS? I sorta' lost interest in taking on their services when they told me that I would have to pay an extra CAD 800 (which does not include CICs processing fees) to have them process our family application. (we have an 8 month old daughter by the way)
I have been vigilantly checking MyCIC account for any changes, updates, or messages, but all it says is: the application has been "submitted" and the case being currently "open".
Any opinion about the matter would be highly appreciated. I don't mind the wait, It just feels a bit uncomfortable receiving very little updates or correspondence from CIC, a tad bit like groping in the dark.
Recently last 3rd of March 2016, My Family and I had lodged online applications to CIC for TRVs~visit visas with plans to travel for the month of April 2016. We read and followed the instruction guidelines, filled up the appropriate forms, and read supplementary information on the CIC website.
The website had said that anyone applying from outside Canada (such as in our case), whose online applications originated from Dubai or Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates should expect a decision made within (I guess taking into consideration the published estimates by CIC for 80% of cases they had processed) would be seven (7) calendar days (and the site does specify "calendar days").
We had presented proof of travel from the period of 2010 to the present by submitting scanned copies of Schengen visas and entry/exit stamps from Italy, France, the United Kingdom, Malaysia, and Singapore.
Most Recently in February 2016, my family and I were fortunate to have been issued by the US Consulate of Dubai multiple entry visas to the US with a validity period of 10 years. Coupled with this, my wife and I had presented separate bank accounts with savings of CAD 24,000 (mine), and CAD 12,000 (my wife's).
Together with our educational background and employment history, we had also provided official and stamped employment certificates from our present employers which were: BP-British Petroleum and Canon. We also submitted travel itineraries and hotel bookings.
We don't have any relatives in Canada, only friends. We are Filipino Citizens and are currently holding residence visas in Dubai. I have been in the UAE for the past 12 years, My wife has been here for the past 8 years (i took her here after we got married).
My question now is, does having the 10 year multiple entry visa for the US help? will it somehow sway the deciding visa officer to lean towards granting us a similar 10 year TRV for Canada?
I am going a bit nuts and paranoid ??? because it is now the 7th calendar day and CIC hasn't updated or at least given us any info regarding progress. Would we have been better off making a paper application through a Visa Application Center like VFS? I sorta' lost interest in taking on their services when they told me that I would have to pay an extra CAD 800 (which does not include CICs processing fees) to have them process our family application. (we have an 8 month old daughter by the way)
I have been vigilantly checking MyCIC account for any changes, updates, or messages, but all it says is: the application has been "submitted" and the case being currently "open".
Any opinion about the matter would be highly appreciated. I don't mind the wait, It just feels a bit uncomfortable receiving very little updates or correspondence from CIC, a tad bit like groping in the dark.
