Hello,
I landed yesterday at CIC Etobicke office with my family. Experience was ok except for one thing, which pretty much ruined the whole joy of landing. We didn't have to wait too long, and VO fixed the incorrect entry dates and last entries.
One thing VO refused to fix was our last name, which CIC changed just before sending the COPR. I'm from Scandianavian country, so my name has charater ä in it. On passport it is presented with a having the dosts, so it's ä, but also on bottom section on format, that it can be enetered to any system. So there ä becomes AE.
When we originally came to Canada, the initial work permit I received on the charaters, the dots wee just dropped, so it they became a:s intead of ä:s.
Ok, long story short(ish). Officially my name has never had this AE:s in it. I paid taxes with name I was happy. My youngest child has Canadian passport, and there is no AE, but a. My drivers license has my name in the format I prefer. All other Scandianvians have their name without AE. The hockey player is Selänne or Selanne, but never Selaenne. Kimi Räikkönen is Raikkonen but not Raekkoenen, like CIC would now force him to be.
The VO explained that no, it MUST be like this, since it as to be the same it's in passport. I've never had any issues with workpermits being without any AEs in them.
I've never heard anyone else having this issue, but VO kept her mind. At the moment I didn't think it is such a big deal, but I didn't think all the possible things it will create issues. Just starting with my youngest child. In her birt certificate her parents, me and my wife, will have now different name. Her last name in her passport will now be different than her parents. Our house was bought with different name. Canada Pension Plan paid with different name. Drivers lisence, OHIP, bank accounts, credit history... none of them will match with the name in PR card. It will not just be invonvinient, it will have a huge impact for everything.
Already at next counter getting new SIN, this caused issues, since no one never uses this AE format for anything but chracter translation.
I filled the amend record already yesterday and sent it too with my explanation why the name has to be corrected.
Not sure if any one else had similar experiences. I don't think the French speaking Canadian would like their names with accents converted to something else when they arrive to Ontario, but they should be ok, with just dropping the accent from the character.
Any ideas?
