IMM5609 Step-Father or Bio-Father?

[FlashG]

This should be a simple question -   My wife and step-daughter are applying to immigrate from China. My step-daughter is 18. On her IMM5609 where it asks for "father" - should this be me (step-father) or the biological father she has not heard from in 10 years ?

[Fencesitter]

I'm pretty sure it means 'father' and not 'step-father'. 

Which part of China are you applying from?

FS

[FlashG]

Applying from Chengdu. I think I have the answer now. Thanks, I did call CIC information people on the Help Desk earlier a few months ago and forgot. I just checked my notes. Talked to two information people, a couple of months apart. One said putting myself down as father was OK. The other said put myself down, but make a note of it for the Immigration Officers. This last advice seems sound. The note will state the name and birthdate of the absentee biological father (who has had no contact for >10 years).

So that's what I will go with in our application, making this note. We will submit within about 2 months or so. What an ordeal! Understand that for Chengdu (to Beijing) average wait times are currently 89 days + 5 months.

Anyone know if sometimes people are pleasantly surprised with a shorter period? Does it happen?

Thanks for your trouble

[canadianwoman]

That 5 months is the time for 80% of the applications to be processed, so lots of people are done earlier.
And Beijing has one of the fastest timelines in the world - some countries have a wait time of about 2 years.

[FlashG]

Hi canadianwoman,

Just wondering where you get the data from? Is there a table or something you can point me to?

Thanks!

[OhCanadiana]

Hi canadianwoman,

Just wondering where you get the data from? Is there a table or something you can point me to?

Thanks!

canadianwoman must have missed your post - she's usually very good at getting back to folks

You can find general info at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp and more specific info (with statistics broken down to 20%, 30%, 50%, etc) at http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/case-processing-speed-at-visa-offices-step-2-t102206.0.html