CIC making errors in file -- how do I get them to fix it?

[margobear96]

I don't think this is a common problem, but I thought I'd put it out there in case anyone had any ideas how to fix it.

After my husband sent in the PR application, I crossed into Canada in mid-December (Peace Arch/Blaine) and got a 1 year visitor record. The officer stapled the VR into my passport and folded it up before handing it to me, and it didn't occur to me to look at it until we were back on the road. Surprise. There was a typo in my name and they got the citizenship wrong. In early January, I sent in the VR and IMM 1436 to have the mistakes/typos amended and the VR reissued. I was told processing time was about 1 month. I haven't gotten anything back yet about it.

Today, I checked my PR application on eCas. My name is now spelled wrong (same mistake as on the VR). It was correct when I logged on to eCas previously, about a month ago. So, it looks like some overzealous, nearsighted CIC employee went into my PR application file and made changes based on the IMM 1436. The IMM 1436 has no info about other applications with CIC and nowhere on the form did I disclose my husband's UCI or my PR app file number...it took some initiative for the employee to do this. Anyway, I'm worried that this problem isn't limited to eCas, but the change has been made to my actual file (the electronic record populated by the generic form). Obviously, all my supporting documents (marriage certificate, passport, police certificates, etc.) have my correct name (and citizenship) on them. I don't want there to be a delay because of a bizarre CIC f-k up. I sent an email to OttPilot-Immigration about the problem and asking that it to be corrected. Anything else I can do? Do the folks at the help centre have any power to make notations in the file?

Thanks.

 

[tuyen]

Anything else I can do? Do the folks at the help centre have any power to make notations in the file?

The e-mail should be sufficient, as long as you made it clear and they can understand what the "before" and "after" should be.

You can try the call center, and when you get through to someone, explain your situation. If the person you're speaking with doesn't have the authorization to make the change, they'll be able to transfer your call to somebody who can do it.

 

[OhCanadiana]

You did the right thing in e-mailing CPC-O. For outland applicatons you need to e-mail your visa office with any changes.

If you don't hear back, make sure you mention it again when you get your passport request so that the CoPR is (hopefully) issued in the correct name. Also consider sending a follow-up note in a month asking for confirmation that it was done.

 

[user828]

Yes, they have stamped the wrong year in my passport when I entered Canada via US

 

[margobear96]

Thanks for the replies and good to know I'm not being singled out for bizarre CIC errors ???. Thing is, I thought the IMM 1436 asking for the VR to be amended was pretty darn clear as to what was correct and incorrect...and CIC went out of their way to make a different document incorrect. I just wanted to talk to a live person about it. Any advice about when to call the help centre? I called today around 4:30 pm west coast time and was kicked off -- not put on hold, just kicked off because of high call volume.

Thanks.

 

[tuyen]

Thanks for the replies and good to know I'm not being singled out for bizarre CIC errors ???. Thing is, I thought the IMM 1436 asking for the VR to be amended was pretty darn clear as to what was correct and incorrect...and CIC went out of their way to make a different document incorrect. I just wanted to talk to a live person about it. Any advice about when to call the help centre? I called today around 4:30 pm west coast time and was kicked off -- not put on hold, just kicked off because of high call volume.

Thanks.

The best thing to do is to start dialing a couple minutes before their posted office hours. If you do it during the middle of the day - and especially near the end of the day - you might as well forget about it.

 

[Steph C]

You can try the call center, and when you get through to someone, explain your situation. If the person you're speaking with doesn't have the authorization to make the change, they'll be able to transfer your call to somebody who can do it.

No, they won't. I had a similar problem when somebody in the office at Ottawa changed my home address from BC to some random warehouse in Quebec. Perhaps it's different with a wrong name, but nobody at the call center could change anything on the file. They could guide me through changing it myself on the computer, and changes wouldn't take effect until a month later.. even though it was their mistake they would not, and could not, fix it right away.