Hello To Everyone......
Let me first of all say I thank God for you guys for sharing what you guys are or were going through with the Port of Spain Office....
I too had have had some challenging times with them but its only God who is keeping me right now....
My history is I was born in Canada and I meet my husband about 4 years ago. He is from St. Lucia We got married in 2008 he basically
came to Canada in "2004" and has overstayed is time. After we got married we decided to put in his sponsorhip application. Before it
was put in he was detained and was at Rexdale holding Center. He was released the next day on a $2000 bond which I provided. With our first meeting with the Immigration officer I told him that I will be sponsoring him and was waiting for some additional info....
Anyways the immigration officer said he will give us some time to submit in the In Canada Application. I got all the required documents
and submitted it in. The second Interview with the immigration officer he told us that even though everything was submitted in we missed the dead line by one day...(I asked him where does it state that in our agreement he said it was an internal thing)...
Anyways to make a long story short I end up hiring a Representative who was excellent.... He educated us on the process for he use to
work in their.....and told us to pull the the In Canada Application and make him go home and we will do an overseas application for the process is faster. So that is what we did. While he was in Canada the application was submitted. Then we filled out a PRRA. that was
just to buy some time for him to still be in Canada but we all knew that it would of been rejected. My husband was then ordered to
to leave by End of Jan/2010.
My husband bought his own ticket to go home. Feb/10 my husband application was received from POS. also his medical...Aug/10 was
his interview. Where I went with him to Trinidad he was in their for almost 2hrs. When he came out I spoke to the Interview officer who
told me that they have no concerns with our relationship and handed him everything back (pics,basically what we sent in).....
Before my husbands interview we received a letter stating that things they required for the interview....So I packaged it up neatly and gave it to my husband to give them....
My husband had to do an ARC to come back before the year. They also requested to pay the Landing fees of $490. Everthing has been paid and processed. And now we are just waiting.....
But what I have learned from this experience is to be persistance.....And also know that providing more is actually better. When POS receives your application they file it away for three month because they want to know what is being done in the relationship with three month.... I was told by my rep to visit my husband. And I did I also send him money on a bi-weekly basis. As well I put credit on his phone through digicel top up. they send me email confirmation. cause it goes on my credit card so I had receipts.... So even though we use calling cards to call each other and their is no proof you have the digicel top-up as proof. As well if your workplace has benefits
add your spouse to it and provide proof. If their is Life insurance show proof that your spouse is listed beneificary...
When my husband had is interview they requested theses things and its a good thing I keep copies of everything... They basically wanted proof that I am supporting my husband. and they wanted boarding passes that I visit him... but when they seen I was their
with him to know that I travelled from Canada to Trinidad then going back on a plane to go to St Lucia. They were more surprised...(Oh and another thing send a barrel to your spouse things like that) sometimes its the little things....I am no expert or nothing like that but the best advice you can give is to be honest in the interivew if you are not sure of a question they ask do not guess. I told my husband to be honest... They may try to trick you in questions (here is an example. I have kids and none are for my husband, but their name is on the application for their are his step kids...So they asked him "do you have any kids" and he said "yes I have step kids and he told them their names..."he could of said NO because technically he does not have....but they were just watching out for his reaction and how he would answer.....)(another one "have you ever been in problems with the police?...he said.."No but their was a time when I was
arrested and detained for overstaying...blah blah blah...then you talk about the incident but then say you were never criminally charged so their is no record..." I was married before and I told my husband his name but you know men...very forgetful I told him that they will ask questions about him and I said if you do no remember his name do not guess just be honest and say you don't remember... Sure enought they asked about my ex-husband.../They asked if I was ever married and he said yes then they asked what was his name then he said he does not remember..Just so longs they know the basics of the ex-spouse...
I wonder does anyone know how they contact when you need send in the passport is it by mail of phone?
Immigration Forum
