What will happen if we didn't include the FBI clearance letter?

[kandc]

My husband got his FBI clearance letter back in January. He gave it to me in Feb and despite being positive that I put it with all our other documentation, it has gone missing. We tried to come into Canada today, he as a 6 month visitor, but were denied because we have not filed for PR yet as we were going to wait until we were together to organize everything (he had some stuff, I had other stuff). We're trying to get our application together to mail TODAY so that he can come stay with me but we're missing the aforementioned FBI clearance.

I'm guessing he'll have to get his prints redone and go through the whole process again, making it weeks before the letter arrives. If I send our application without it, will that hurt us a lot? Or will they just send it back in a few weeks asking for the letter (and in the mean time, he'll get his prints done again and all that and hopefully the results will be on their way)? If I send it without, should I include a note saying that the FBI letter is to follow?

All I need for the border patrol is proof that the app has been filed (a receipt for the payment of fees). I'm feeling so desperate to have him here with me but I don't want to do it at the risk of really hurting us if I "forget" the FBI clearance.

 

[SocialMe]

If I were you, I would pay your fees online today... that's all the border officer wants to see to show that your PR app is legit. I know this because I did this with my hubby. We paid our fees in September but didn't actually mail the app until May (They did a VR for 1 year). This way it was paid for but we could be together to put it together. It sounds like you have almost have everything to submit anyway. As for the FBI letter, my husband had to redo his (and sounds like you're doing that anyway) because the CIC site says that it has to be dated within 3 months of submitting it... so I think you'd have to redo it anyway. I think it took about 6 weeks to get, but we waited to get it before submitting it as I wanted it to be complete. I'm not sure what happens if you don't include it..... maybe someone else has experience with this..... I'm not sure if they'd return the whole app back to you if it wasn't there or if they keep your app and just ask that you submit the clearance??

 

[SocialMe]

What's funny is that our first FBI clearance went missing too..... and the very day he paid and sent off for another one was the day we found it!!! But like I said, it was dated greater than 3 months so we were fine with sending for another one ;D

 

[SocialMe]

Sorry for the multiple posts... I just keep thinking of more things to say... So one more thing...

I'd be honest with the border officer... I'd go get the FBI clearance redone today and pay your fees.... go back to ask for the Visitor Record. Show them what you have and that it's ready to submit except that you had to re-do the FBI clearance and that you paid your fees too. They will have no real reason to deny you.

 

[kandc]

Thank you! You were very helpful... and I totally forgot about the clearance letter only being 3 months. For some reason I thought it was 9 or 12.