First of all, I want to thank everyone who has ever assisted or commented or helped anyone on this site in any way. Thanks to God this website and others like it exist!!!!!!
Finally I will be the first to say to my own husband:
We were approved in record time there in Cairo [133 days] but the delay for us, was me paying the landing fee late [i paid on aug 4, they sent me a letter/receipt on Aug 6]. Passport request was made Aug 4, with the stipulation that I pay the landing fee. - I was using the landing fee as a gauge of when we would be accepted [not knowing what to expect in the process].
My advice to those after me, pay all the fees upfront, and you can use other means to track information [MP, CAIPS, Case Inquiry, etc....]
Anyway, as soon as I paid the fee, I immediately faxed Missisauga AND our home visa office a small letter with the case file, my case id, his name etc... and a copy of the receipt from having paid online. I think this pushed everything faster, as normally, they would have waited until the next bring forward date to even review our file. [We were called less than two weeks from the time they got the passport] and will receive it exactly two weeks to the day that they got it.
Finally, to those who are just beginning the process, I do have some words of wisdom/advice - and I do post regularly as much as I can...but
1.
Please read the guide and all paperwork well - avoid making careless mistakes. It's easy to blaze through these papers, but think well on what you are writing and saying.
Remember, you are presenting your life to these I/O's [immigration officers] assume NOTHING - take nothing to chance. Even if something seems obvious to you, it is probably not obvious to them, and nothing can be inferred. In research we have a saying, if it is not written, and there is not a paper trail, it was not done [meaning, if the picture is not crystal clear, nothing can be inferred or speculated or guessed]. I used this thinking in my own application - and it served me well. My husband [thanks to God] did not have an interview (it took 133 days from the time they processed his file til it was approved), and we went over and above what they required.
2.
Use all resources you have at your disposal - think outside of the box. This process is a very grueling one, and it's like your soul gets ripped out and then put back in. It's a rollercoaster of ups and downs [many here who faced me on a bad day can attest to that - I humbly appologize to anyone I ever offended or ranted to
]. You really need to find your unique way of making your story shine and be heard - within the context of the application rules. NO STAPLES, NO ELECTRONIC ITEMS ETC.....
Finally, I can't say this one enough......
3.
Have faith in God (if your practice any religion), yourselves and be patient. It will seem like forever, and it won't be that long, but it will feel like that.
-Stay on top things though.
-Keep copies of everything you submit.
-Track all packages that you send - as you might not receive any other confirmation.
-Pay all fees online [even for those who might not have credit cards, there are ways around that..be resourceful] paying by credit card will be the quickest payment method, and you receive an immediate receipt.
-
PAY ALL FEES IN ADVANCE TO AVOID ANY UNNECESSARY DELAYS -When you and your spouse are together, take every opportunity to document it via photographs and receipts etc.... [it got to the point for us, when we did something, I said, oh keep this receipt or menu or whatever, it's a proof lol.]
-Use this website well, and use the search tool. Anyone who has been through this process, wants to help everyone, but sometimes it seems people come here and don't really get to know the site well before posting, and probably their question has been asked a lot of times before. It will save you some grief in waiting, by searching your topic first, as you might get your answer immediately, instead of waiting for someone to post.
OK That's all for now :-) - See everyone around, I will keep posted as well on the landing process. Best of luck to everyone in this process, may you be with your loves one soon!
Ramandan Kareem!
salam
Rasha
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