Aid of MP or lack there of...re Immigration Canada

[Moar]

I wish to share my experience and what I learnt today:
I was lied to at my MP's office, basically the recieptionist who deals with Immmigration issues told me she had emailed Haiti on our behalf when she had not. So I thought of contacting the Mp himself and thought she would just stop my concern from being brought to his attention.
So just to see what would happen, I called another Mp's office and asked if I have to deal with the Mp for my riding. Apparently we can ask to have our files transfered to another office and the office I contacted today was way more helpful than the other one has ever been. She also mentioned that she likes to contact Haiti every 2nd or 3rd month to see the file progression. This was most shocking to me because I like so many of you was told "Haiti is well within the timeline".
So my advice is to rock the boat and not wait suffering in silence like so many of us are. Good luck and hopefully we are all reunited with our spouses post haste. Moar

 

[AnnaC]

So you are saying is that any MP can call Haiti on your behave not just the MP in your riding? Wow, that's good to know.

Thanks

 

[Santos]

Moar,
I had the exact same experience. My MP is Navdeep Bains. Who is your MP, I think it?s worth sharing the names. This last week on monday I was told that the immigration rep had contacted Haiti and they said there was no information. I didn?t believe that because at least they would give some standard ?within the time frame?response, or that we?re in process etc. Well, I had been woried that if any correspondence had been sent out we wouldn?t recieve it because of the way the streets are in my husband?s neighbourhood. Sure enough, last week on Friday the embassy called saying that my husband needs to drop off his passport, that they had been trying to reach us for a while. This confirmed my suspicion that the MP?s office did nothing and lied to me. I?m in the DR right now, but when I get home I plan on going to the office to call them out, and also to the local paper. They need to be held accountable.

 

[Moar]

requested

Anna C it actually isn't that simple I guess you must request the file transfer and the office manager gives a Yea or Nay. I guess it would depend on the reason for request and how busy the new office already is.

 

[Johana]

I went to see my MP during our Immigration process. The CIC website under my id never changed - always remained Not Available. After posters that applied before and after me stated their status had changed to In process I got concerned and did not want to wait 18 months to find out something was wrong.

I sent a very detailed email to my MP. The office called within a day and set up an appointment. I thought this was great. I spent all of about 2 minutes with the MP. He grunted some kind of hello at me, wanted to know why I was there (I'm thinking buddy I sent you a detailed email so you would know all this), he called someone - which turned out to be a young assisstant. So after the MP asked how many Canadian citizens were in my household (just so he can calculate potential votes for the next election) I was sent off with the assisstant.

At his desk I could see he had speed dials set up for various Visa offices - so I figured they were used to dealing with this kind of situation. He didn't want to hear anything I had to tell him about the fact that my status had not updated while others had. He gave me the same line about every case being different but finally sent the email. The email address was for the MP's office so it doesn't matter who actually types the message.

I had checked with other poster's that were working with their MP's at the time - and found out they usually got a response within a day or two. After a week I contacted the assisstant again to find out if he had a reply and he said no and it could take 2-3 more weeks. I had to argue with him to get him to send another email - which Haiti then replied to in about 20 minutes.

I called again 4 months later as I wanted them to request a status update. The assisstant I had dealt with no longer worked there - and a very nice young woman gladly sent the email this time. She got a reply back from Haiti within 2 days and it stated they were ready to issue the Visa.

Haiti emailed to the MP's office that they had sent a letter to my husband telling him they were ready to issue the visa but could the MP's office please let us know. There was no such letter ever sent - and funny enough Haiti called my husband's house later that same day saying they were ready to issue the Visa and for him to go to SD to drop off the passport.

Clearly there are some MP's that are more willing to help their constituents than others. I think that is something people have to keep in mind when they are dealing with their MP - and if you're not happy with them just reiterating the wait times to let them know and get them to do something about it. They do work for the people - whatever their personal biases might be. Hopefully not too many people will end up in Moar's situation where you actually have to contact another MP from a different riding!!!!

 

[hammerdown]

sorry to put it this way, but don't you think the mp's have more important things to worry about, ie: jobs for canadians, the economy, the dollar.....

 

[AnnaC]

They are there to serve us

sorry to put it this way, but don't you think the mp's have more important things to worry about, ie: jobs for canadians, the economy, the dollar.....

Here is the responsibility of a member of Parliament

In the Office

To meet their constituents’ needs, MPs have an office in Ottawa and one or more in their riding.

Their offices are often the first stop for people who need help. Members act as “ombudsmen,” helping constituents with questions about visas, pension benefits, income tax — anything that is the business of the federal government. Members and their staff are good resources because they understand how federal departments are organized and where to find answers.


Aside from time in the Chamber and committee meetings, a typical day in the life of a Member of Parliament is filled with meetings, activities and other duties. Journalists call for an interview on a bill being studied by the Member’s committee. A visiting constituent wants to talk about a federal program. A meeting is scheduled with parliamentarians from another country. A constituent is in Ottawa to accept an award and extends an invitation to attend the ceremony. Time has to be set aside to prepare a speech to give in the House. Plus there are letters, phone messages and e-mails to answer. Fortunately, Members have dedicated staff to help them in their work.

Taken from http://www.parl.gc.ca/information/about/process/house/guide/member_parl-e.asp

 

[sherri]

sorry to put it this way, but don't you think the mp's have more important things to worry about, ie: jobs for canadians, the economy, the dollar.....

That is a very insensitive thing to say considering this forum is for information and most of all support. If you were in process waiting for someone you love you would never make such a comment.

Good Luck to everyone still in process and keep at your MP...they are there to help.

Sherri

 

[Santos]

sorry to put it this way, but don't you think the mp's have more important things to worry about, ie: jobs for canadians, the economy, the dollar.....

MP?s shouldn?t get to pick and choose which parts of their job descriptions they fullfill.

 

[MBG]

Santos, Sherri and AnnaC,

I can't find anything else to add but ''THANK YOU FOR SPEAKING ON OUR BEHALF''

As always,

Thanks for your greatly appreciated support!