Urgent help regarding a letter received from Damascus embassy(Rorita, Boujasim)

[MARLENA]

I need your input on the following letter that I received from Damascus

This refers to your application for permanent residence in Canada. Please :



- Complete the attached Supplementary Information Form.

- Have your sponsor pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee of $490 on your behalf in Canada. Please ensure that the original receipt is forwarded to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga and NOT to this office.

- Your family list showing you and your sponsor as married couple.

- Your civil status showing you as married.



You must send photocopies of the Arabic/Farsi originals of all documents. Only send ORIGINAL documents when requested. All documents, in a language other than English or French must be accompanied by original certified translations into English or French, except the passport.



Please note that if you do not comply with this request within 90 days of the date of this letter, your application for permanent residence in Canada will be assessed on the basis of the information already before the officer. Failure to provide the requested documents could result in the refusal of your application.



Please note: It is your responsibility to ensure that the information you provide our office is accurate and up-to-date. Please inform us immediately if there are any changes to the information or documents you have submitted. If there is a change in your legal status or that of any family member (marriage, birth, death, divorce, etc.) you must notify us before visas are printed.



Passports: Each person must have their own passport, including minor children. Your passport MUST be valid beyond the validity of your visa. Any passport changes after the visas are printed will result in a Replacement of an Immigration Document charge ($30.00 CDN / $30.00 USD) for each visa that needs to be reprinted.

Iranian applicants: Your passport(s) must be valid at least one year from the time we issue the visa.



PLEASE READ THE FOLLOWING CHANGE TO PROCEDURES FOR SUBMITTING DOCUMENTS AND PASSPORTS:



All correspondence/documents must be sent directly to the Canadian Embassy in Damascus at the address indicated above. DO NOT send or submit any documents to our offices in Amman, Beirut or Tehran. Any correspondence you send to these offices will be returned to you.



Please note, if you are successful and a visa is issued you will be requested to send your ORIGINAL PASSPORT directly to the Canadian Embassy in Damascus via commercial courier. Passports cannot be submitted to our offices in Amman, Beirut, or Tehran. DO NOT send your original passports until you are requested to do so. At that time you will be provide with additional information on procedures.



Your file is being processed in Damascus. No representations, faxes, telephone calls or correspondence can or will be answered by these Embassies; all inquires must be sent directly to the visa office in Damascus.





Please quote your file number, as well as your telephone & fax numbers on all correspondence and on every document you send to us.



Regards,

Immigration Section - NMM

Canadian Embassy, Damascus

P.O. Box 3394

Fax: (963-11) 611-8034

My question is the followings:

1- I had submitted already the supplementary information form so why do I have to fill out the form again is it because I put not applicable because my husband never served in the army or wasn't in any kind of organization or is it because I SHOULD I had indicated not applicable vs no which is wrong.
2- We had civil marriage in Canada which I believe it's not recognized in Lebanon and that's the reason why my husband can't change his civil status in Lebanon from single to married unless we are married in a church in a church Lebanon which it won't be done before October. I provided with a true copy of marriage certificate that I had received in Ontario but he can't add me on his family list as of yet until the marriage take place in Lebanon.
3- I have already paid RPR Fee in full which I sent along with the application to CIC-M who forwarded to them so now why they are telling me that I shouldn't send it to Damascus office but rather to CIC-M. I have already sent the original so I don't know what on earth they are talking about
4- You must send a photocopy of Arabic/FARSI(what does it mean) original of all documents...... Everything was translate in English except for emails between me and my husband. I wish they can specify what type of documents they are talking about???? ANY CLUE

Any input from Rasha, Boncuk, Rorita, Boujasim is highly appreciated.....

Good thing I opened my husband email otherwise he wouldn't noticed.....
BTW the letter is dated June 14,2009. Hopefully my husband will be able to convince them in Lebanon to change his status and add me on his family list.

Thank you all....

 

[rorita_76]

Hello Marlena, let’s take a deep breath and try to solve this issue, here is what I think, first it is a good sign that you got your first correspondence from Damascus.
Let’s see now:
1-Conserning the supplementary information form, it isn't a big deal, I already fill one along with the application, and when my file reached Damascus, the lawyer send me a new form along with the travel form to fill it again, I guess they do that in order to make sure that nothing had happened new, and yes you should fill N/A where it is. What I did is I draw a line from the upper corner of the box on the right to the lower corner on the left and I right down on the side of the line N and A.
2-Concerning the civil marriage in Lebanon, I know that there is no civil marriage in Lebanon, people go to Cyprus to do it, and I guess it isn't recognized in Lebanon, so I don't think of any way he can change his civil status and add you to his family book unless...you come at once to Lebanon and get marry, so he can register your marriage and do the necessary paper. They are contradicting themselves, they say they recognize the marriage as long it is recognize in the country where it was performed, you got married in Canada and civil marriage is recognized there. But maybe they also take in consideration the fact that you are both Originally Lebanese, so they think you perform a marriage in the church. Can't you come earlier to Lebanon?
3-Concerning the PRF, do you have a photocopy of the receipt? Or you can send them an email telling them that you have already paid for it, maybe they have missed it or something.
4-Farsi is the language in Iran, and this letter is a standard for all the country that deals with Damascus, I had the same letter when they asked about the FBI and state clearance. What they want from you is to send the photocopies and not the original because they won't return them for you later. and the translation they are talking about here is for the document they have asked for in this letter. You take the Arabic paper, translate them, notarize them (usually the translator can do it and he knows where to go).
From what I see, you have one solution, coming as soon to Lebanon, getting married and doing all the required document and send them. I hope Boujasim will reply to you, he had a dilemma like this as well, and he knows a lot about this issue.
I hope other will reply to you as well and we will see how to solve this issue, don’t worry everything will be ok, there is a solution for every problem and we are here for you…
I will check the forum later on in the day.

 

[MARLENA]

Rorita PRF was already sent with the application to CIC-M if you read the letler from Damascus they are saying not to send it to their office but rather to CIC-M who happen to send a copy of my receipt for them. I guess I'm getting a bit confused... I still have a copy not a big deal but why would I send it back to CIC-M if I already did....
Also they sent the email on SUNDAY???? and I guess they were half sleep. Some of that letter doesn't make any sense especially the marriage when it's so specific in the application that should be recognized in the country that was performed which is CANADA....

 

[MARLENA]

Also if I had put not applicable in all the questions on the Travel History supplementary form (from question 5 until question 15)do you think I should put no rather than not applicable.....
Not applicable and No have the same interpretation and meaning... or is there a difference.

One last thing what do they mean about this sentence:
Please note that if you do not comply with this request within 90 days of the date of this letter, your application for permanent residence in Canada will be assessed on the basis of the information already before the officer.

Already before what?????

 

[rorita_76]

Marlena concerning the PRF receipt, I am just making assumption here, maybe it was forward by mistake to Damascus along with the entire file, try sending an inquiry to Damascus and tell them that you have already paid for it and attach a copy of the photocopy of the receipt.
I agree with you concerning recognizing the marriage, they say if the marriage is legal in the country where it was performed, so it is legal...they are contradicting themselves...
I really don't know what to tell you anymore

 

[rorita_76]

Well in all the question in the application and all the form, we replied by not N/A where it wasn't applicable on us, I guess N/A is the right word to use instead of NO. I told you I am a women and I filled that form kind of question 2 time once in the application and once on the supplementary travel form...so don't worry about that...
and that sentence means that if you failed to provide the required document within 90 days from the date of the issued email, the officer is going to make his decision based on the document and material that you have provide earlier , and witch are in front of him.

 

[MARLENA]

There is good and bad news.
Good news the file in process bad news the pressure is high with the requested document. I told you I start pulling my hair. I guess my plan about the other ceremony is ruined... Another panic attack. Why does it always happen when u plan it in advance and seems everything is OK... :0). I slept only 2 hours yesterday and I'm not functional today... Sorry if I'm giving you some headache.

 

[rorita_76]

Don't worry about it Marlena, you were here for me when I had high pressure and panic attack...
I always say that: everything has a reason...look to the good side of the problem:
1-they are working on your application
2-I don't think they dough about your relation, but they are working following the book.
3-you will see your husband earlier

My advice, don't take any decision under stress, relax, put your option in front of you, and think what will be the best way to deal with this issue

 

[MARLENA]

BTW anyone else input is highly appreciated. How come no one is replying other than you lol!!! probably they are confused about it as well....

 

[boujasim]

hola! i just came back from work so i didnt have time to read ur post.
marlena querida, conerning the civil statuts, IT IS NOT OBLIGATORY, its rather proof that the couple are genuine..
now u dont have to stress about it my friend had the exact same problem, at the interview the IO asked him why u didnt register the marriage in lebanon and had her(his wife) name on ur civil status, he simply replied, a civil marriage cant be registerd in lebanon, the io replied:yes ur right. and thats it.
the IO are not stupid they know u cant register it unless u have a religious marriage in lebanon. just explain on a paper.


now i have a question,what the hell is the Supplementary Information Form??? i never filled that!

 

[rorita_76]

Boujasim....you always have the right answer...I am jealous...)
Marlana, I guess Boujasim is right, it is logic to tell them that...
First, did you drop your passport?
Second supplementary information form is the form that ask if you were in army, milishia, killed someone...sure you filled one, it is the travel history

 

[MARLENA]

Boujasim you are a life saver. I will be more happy to supply them with an explanation on why he can't change his civil status and add me on his family list. Thank you thank you :0).


On the Travel history supplementary information form just before question 8 it has been indicated all immigration applicants must submit official military service completion or exemption certificates. I guess he needs to get the exemption certificate since he never served in the military. Did you encounter any problem in this area....

 

[rorita_76]

Boujasim I have a question, my lawyer just sent me an email asking me if I mention in my package to damscus to contact me when the passport is ready. The lady in DHL told me that damscus will send me a new email to tell me when the passport is ready , so she will make a new order with my B number and bring the passport from damascus....I sear the day when I will see my lawyer, I will heat him sooo badly..
now I am worried , did I miss something in sending the passport

 

[boujasim]

Verga chama! su abogado es estúpido!!! por qué contratar a él????

no hay problemas! lo que hizo es correcto, la embajada le llamará cuando su visa está listo! confiar en mí.

 

[MARLENA]

Rorita what on earth is going on...... Don't listen to your lawyer do it yourself and forget about him. I think he wants more money out of your pocket... Like boujasim said go for it by yourself if I correctly understood.