Question regarding my MP's status report..re Immigration Canada.

[brown_girl103]

Hi all,

It's been a while since I have been here .... I was just hoping that I'd hear something, anything by this point. But, I did contact my MP and it's a good thing that I did, because I guess PAP came back to tell her that I need to pay the second half of the sponsorship fee, which I had no idea I had to pay upfront. Now, I could have sworn that the application states you pay this fee after they contact you and tell you to pay it. Hmmmmm, well, I am glad I found this out. So, I further probed my MP's immigration person and asked her what else they stated. She said they are pretty much just waiting for the money and that they received the medicals and they will be expiring on January 26th and then she added in there that cases take from 11-18 months. I freaked out and was like.... ummmm, they emailed me and said 9-18 months and on the website it says, 9-18 months, where the heck did 11 months come from? She was like, well, it usually takes longer than what is listed. Now, I don't know if she is telling me this because she doesn't want to raise my hopes too much or what. But, she did tell me to call her again during the first week of January after I send the payment in order for her to do another status check before my husband's medicals expire. She also provided me with my B-file number so that I could make the payment. I also never received an AOR like many on here. I did also ask her if there were any issues thus far with my case, but she said the only thing they said was that I need to pay the fee.

Can anyone make something out of this for me?

I am especially miserable, because I will not be able to spend Xmas, my bday or our 1 year anniversary with my husband. It will be 1 whole year since I saw my husband in one month. It looks like it will be even longer than that from what it looks like. I started a new job and can't take much time off and I don't think it's smart to pay 1500 dollars for a couple days in Haiti for a flight during Xmas. This is all just killing me..... I was so mad, frustrated, sad and felt pulling my hair out of my head today, which led to me just leaving work out of sheer frustration.

Now, I am all worried that they will try to question us as to why I haven't gone to visit him in Haiti. I am just going to apply for another visitor visa for him..... Although I know they'll probably deny it.

Any words of wisdom anyone, on anything that I said?

Sorry, I know I must sound like a complete bummer.....

 

[kacy]

its true you can pay a portion later - but I think it also says right on the website that they won't finalize processing until you pay the last portion - so i just paid it all so that there wasn't any reason to slow things down.
as for the months - the website time is based on last year's completed files - so actual can differ based on changes in the current year - but I wouldn't worry - send in your payment maybe when they get that things will start to move quickly. if there was other things noted they likely would have passed that on to the MP.
I dont' think i would do another visitor visa - just wait - at least until you hear back from your mp in january - they will deny it because if you're waiting on a resident visa they know his intention is to stay in canada - and to get a visitor visa you have to show you'll leave.

What's an AOR?

 

[El_Uruguayo]

Hmm what could have happened is that they may have sent you an email that went straight to your junkbox. First, you should put the email on your safe list - it si something like pap-im-enquiry@cic.gc.ca - thats not it, but something like that. What they wanted was the right to permanent residence fee. It makes sense that you should pay it afterwards, however there is somewhere on the guidelines that says it should be paid upfront and can delay your file by at least 2 months if its not done. If thats all they are waiting for than there is a good chance that things might get completed soon - if they have had your file that long, chances are its near the end. Pay for it asap. As for seeing your hubby. You might just have to bite the bullet and take a trip - it probably will be worth your while, and even though you just started a new job, they should be ok with a few days off. If you take the 3 days off between xmas and new year you can get 10 days total - not bad. Other than that, the only other preemptive strike I can see you doing is coughing up another 140 for the medicals, and get a second set of police records - just in case things arent processed before those expire. Its a couple hundred buck that might bring you a couple months closer to your loved one.

 

[El_Uruguayo]

Actually, you know what, at this stage its basically approved. They wouldnt be asking for the RIGHT TO PERMANENT RESIDENCE FEE if he did not have the RIGHT to permanent residence. Hurry up and get that done - and also put the email addy on your safelist. If you need to, send 1 complete concise email, with all your questions etc - see where you're at. I'll give a pre-mature congrats on that.

 

[kacy]

I see you did your medicals quite a bit before you sent in your file - from the timeline post - so you might end up having to do them again as El Uruguayo indicated.
but I would wait and see what happens after you send in the fees - I remember reading what El Uruguayo said about how it can delay things if not paid up front - that was what made me pay early.
I also think this may be a positive sign - no inidication of needing a interview etc.
On that note - we were asked in our interview how many times we'd seen each other since our wedding so it might be worth the money to make the trip in the event you are interviewed and if it take a bit longer - but given this news I might just wait and see what happens after the fees - you might be closer than you think!

 

[brown_girl103]

Hi Kacy,

An AOR is acknowledgement of receipt I believe. It's supposed to contain your B-file number. I m just curious, how many have went to their MP's for assistance? And at what point during their process?

I think that the visitor visa I am doing pretty much to let them know that if I could I would visit, but we obviously want to see each other and I am not able to come, so it would be better if he were able to. I know they'll deny it.... but, this way I am gooing to include my new job info in the letter and an explanation of why it's been so long since we last saw each other and us not spending the holidays or our anniversary together. In case they question this.... I guess I'll include all the emails, chat messages and thoousands in phone bills that have accumulated since May as well....

It just really sucks, because even though I sent in my application in May.... I was married in December of 2008 and this process feels like a year to me, because it took me 5 months to gather all the necessary documents. I feel like if it was going to take this long anyways, why did I bother nit-picking and making sure I had every last thing? I should have done a half-assed job and sent it in.... knowing it would be the same length of time as someone who spent 5 months ensuring everything was in place. My husband even went to his childhood church (6 hours away from where he lives now) to get baptized! So, that is why I am feeling so disheartened right now by all of this.... I coould have been 11 months into the process right now.... had I just sent in the application without having gone the extra mile to have everything they wanted!

But, I think your right Kacy, they didn't mention any issues, so I am hoping once I send the money, maybe he'll be here at the 9 month mark of March, (in terms of them receiving our application in PAP).

 

[brown_girl103]

El Uruguayo...
LOL, I just posted my post and then saw yours afterwards! I really hope that this means the end for me. I have gmail as my primary email with them... I always check my junk mail... could it possibly still have been filtered out somehow? I always check it just in case this kind of thing occurs with important immigration emails!

I am going to pay the fee ASAP and send my husband our original marriage certificate and all this additional proof.

As far as going to Haiti, I will check with my work and maybe start looking online to see if I can find some good deals.... I guess I didn't want to ask my work for time off because I am in a 6 month training proces.... but, I guess they can't be expecting us to not take off for a whole 6 months! I'll just explain my situation to them!

Thanks so much for your advice El Uruguayo and Kacy!

 

[brown_girl103]

Is there anything else that he should have just in case they call? I know he'll probably need our original marriage certificate for sure....

 

[kacy]

yeah - that's totally true - I would say you're done too - send the fee before you send any additional proof - I always say no need to send them more than they ask for - if you're done but they see somehting else - they may look for it..
and no wonders i didn't know what an AOR is - we never got one...
I never went to my MP but may just keep that in mind if after the 45 days they promised us we still don't have our visa in hand....

all the best!!!

 

[twillis]

Hi Kacy,

It just really sucks, because even though I sent in my application in May.... I was married in December of 2008 and this process feels like a year to me, because it took me 5 months to gather all the necessary documents. I feel like if it was going to take this long anyways, why did I bother nit-picking and making sure I had every last thing? I should have done a half-assed job and sent it in.... knowing it would be the same length of time as someone who spent 5 months ensuring everything was in place. My husband even went to his childhood church (6 hours away from where he lives now) to get baptized! So, that is why I am feeling so disheartened right now by all of this.... I coould have been 11 months into the process right now.... had I just sent in the application without having gone the extra mile to have everything they wanted!

Brown girl, I sent my application in 3 weeks after I was married, but I can guarantee I also ensure everything was in place. My application was very detailed. I don't think anyone sends it in with going the extra mile to ensure we have all they ask.

I know its hard, but your timeline isn't very long. Hang in there.

 

[kacy]

oh yeah - I got too excited there - I'd send the original marriage certificate but I wouldn't give them additional proof unless they asked for it - but that's up to you.

 

[brown_girl103]

Twillis,
I didn't mean to say anything negatively towards those who sent in their applications right away.... I guess in the other forums... (immigration.ca) I have read about people who barely sent in anything and get approved.... but, I guess in all fairness they are dealing with different visa offices. I suppose anyone going through PAP has to be on the ball with thier applications, considering it's got a 34% rejection rate.... (depressing in itself!) I guess what's done is done.... If I keep beating myself up over decisions we made, it will just make me more miserable....

Kacy,
I think I will hold off on the additional information and just send it to my husband in case they ask for more info. from him. That way if they request it, he can have it to them the same day! (He lives literally 1-2 miles from the embassy!) lol...

It sounds like your at the end of your process as well.... I wish you a speedy reunion with your hubby!

 

[kacy]

excellent idea..

yes - we're super close - I have an email and we were told in the interview we're approved and it would be 30-45 days and he could pick up his passport - 30 days from when we were approved was this past weekend so I think it should be any day now...
we're excited and anxious... and I"m racing to finish my work so I can take time off to get him settled and oriented to his new home and stocking him up with winter clothes!

all the best!

 

[brown_girl103]

Kacy,

LOL... the winter weather may take a little getting used to for your hubby, especially if he's never experienced it! I guess my hubby is all set to experience the cold here, considering he spent a couple years in Wisconsin! He has all his boots, winter jackets and winter clothes sitting in a suitcase that hasn't even been opened since he went back... lol. I honestly think he can't wait to wear his timberlands here, because at least he'll have an excuse with the snow and cold! lol...

But, I do wish you the best and hope that you hear something real soon! It really does brighten my day when I see that someone is being reunited with their loved one, especially from this SLOW visa office!

 

[sandra65]

Bronw girls, good thing you contacted your MP! But if Haiti has not received the payment for the treatment of the Permanent Residency it means they have not process the application yet. Yes they have acknowleged they received medicals but they need payment before persuing with the application. At this point they need to evaluate your file to determine if your husbands requires an interview or not and then him and you will be notified. Do the trip to go spend the holidays with your husband, things slow down in December at the Embassy. If your husband do not require an interview you could be looking to be in the next ''wave'' of approvals and then they will request original birth certificates/marriage certificates and maybe to sign form regarding children (sent those when they require). If he requires an interview the next wave will be either in December or January but it does not mean he will part of it, it will depend where they are in his file...so hurry and send payment

 

[kacy]

info on the right of permanent residence fee - you can wait to pay this until the end of your application and they will continue with your application but they won't issue the visa until this fee is paid. they are still processing the application as per usual.

from the website:
This fee is payable by principal applicants (with some exceptions) and accompanying spouses and common-law partners. It must be paid before the immigrant visa is issued overseas or before the applicant becomes a permanent resident in Canada.

 

[kacy]

some more info:

What fees are required?
A. The processing fees, which must be paid when you submit your sponsorship application, consist of the following:

•$75 for the sponsor;
•$475 for a principal applicant (the person being sponsored) who is 22 years of age or older, or who is married or in a common-law or conjugal relationship, regardless of age;
•$75 for a principal applicant who is a under 22 years of age and not married or in a common-law or conjugal relationship;
•$550 for each accompanying family member who is 22 years of age or older, or who is married or in a common-law relationship, regardless of age; and
•$150 for each accompanying family member who is under 22 years of age and not married or in a common-law relationship.
B. The Right of Permanent Residence Fee, which may be paid at the same time as the processing fees or afterwards, but before the application for permanent residence of the person you want to sponsor can be finalized, is:

•$490 for a principal applicant and accompanying family members who are not exempted (see Table 3 — Immigration Fees).
If you pay the Right of Permanent Residence Fee at the same time you pay the processing fees, it will facilitate processing as we will not have to contact you later. If you do not do so,you will be asked to pay this fee when we are ready to issue the permanent resident visa. Failure to pay the fee at the time of submission of the application will result in a minimum additional two-month delay in the finalization of the application.

 

[brown_girl103]

Sandra65,
Thanks so much for letting me know how that works! I was having high hopes that maybe they looked at my application already and are asking for the permanent residency fee. Well, I guess asking me for something at least means we are moving somewhere with this. I honestly do not think that either of us will be able to afford the trip to Haiti... I was laid off from my previous job a couple months ago and just started this new one in October. That really set me back big time. My husband is working for a nonprofit organization, but he gets paid ridiculously little from the US org he works for. That is why I think I am going to go ahead and send a request for the visitor visa for him. If he is able to come here, it would be cheaper for us, because then we wouldn't have to worry about expenses of hotels and what not. He lives with his cousin and shares a room with him, so it wouldn't be possible for me to stay with him in his place due to this. I guess this is what happens when you fall in love with someone from a poor country and poor background. It frustrates me, because with his degree, I know he could get an awesome job here. On top of that, we spend so much money calling each other everyday. A phone card here that I pay 10 bucks for, gives me approximately 40 minutes to speak with him. I work fulltime and am pursuing post grad schooling and he graduated from the states a year and a half ago, to go back to Haiti and find only horrible paying jobs in his field. So, it's hard for both of us, starting our lives without each other in every sense. I guess I will have to send the embassy a letter stating all of this. Plus, I realize that we should probably both prepare to pay more money for criminal background checks from the states, Haiti and his medical background check. I am going to try to speak with my work about going mid-end of January.... The tickets seem to be half priced at that time.... as opposed to Xmas week. It does suck that we won't be together for the holidays or our anniversary though.
My husband doesn't have any kids or previous marriages, neither do I. I guess the only thing that they may question is us not seeing eachother for a year and I honestly cannot think of anything else. I am just going to pray that I will be in this next batch. One year is tooooooo long to not physically see your hubby and best friend.
No amount of phone cards could ever be the same as sitting with your spouse and watching Family Guy together.... lol... that was one of our favorite things to do together!

 

[kacy]

I still think based on the website info they are ready to issue the visa - so let's remain cautiously optimistic!

 

[brown_girl103]

Kacy,

I just saw your post regarding the right of residence fee. Gosh, I guess I should have read that in more detail. I would have paid it from the start (before being laid off)... lol. Well, it makes me feel better to know that they possibly were looking at my application then. I was thinking of what else they may question about us and the only thing I could think of, was my family and my friends not attending our wedding. However, I did explain in thorough detail, that we are having a big celebration in the states thrown by my parents and we had the ceremony in Haiti with his.... just in case they weren't able to attend our ceremony in the states due to visa issues. Plus, us being from two different cultures, we had the Christian-Haitian wedding, now we'll be having the Hindu-Indian one in the states. I probably bored them with as much detail as I put into it. Speaking of which, my mom is going to India next week to go wedding shopping for my unannounced, unplanned Indian wedding date... lol. It's quite weird having my girlfriends get their saris (Indian dresses) to be part of my wedding and not being able to give them a date. I originally had this stereotype in my mind that Canadian immigration was a cinch... and we thought we would have had it this past June or something.... BOY... was I ever wrong about that one! LOL!