Thank you all for your congrats - much appreciated.
For those wondering why it took so long... here is my timeline.
I am English married to a Canadian and have applied as an Inland Spousal submission (Vegreville) and my son is an Outland dependant submission on my application through CIC London.
It's frustrating!
Application received by CIC Vegreville February 2005
Application processing begun May 2005
Request for information August 2005
Information submitted September 2005
Sponsorship approved by CIC January 2006
Letter received from CIC London stating my son was non-accompanying June 2006
(It took several e-mails and many weeks for them to find his file and acknowledge he was accompanying).
Medical Request sent to wrong address January 2007
Medical Request sent to correct address March 2007
Police Certificate requested March 2007
Police Certificate submitted April 2007
Medical for my son completed April 2007
Medical for me completed April 2007
Further Medical testing for me required July 2007
Medical Clearance for me given December 2007
Letter confirming I could apply for OHIP card January 2008
We then heard nothing for 8 months. CIC call centre told me repeatedly they were waiting for London to close the file so they could issue our PR. CIC London would not answer e-mail requests for updates. CIC Vegreville contacted London but could get no further information.
E-mail to Minister of Immigration sent August 2008
Letter received 13th September 2008 from London CIC stating they had lost my son's police certificate, his medical had expired and they required updated background information.
They had not looked at his file in over a year and it was only when the Ministers' office contacted them that they checked it.
Confirmation from the Ministers office received September that once CIC London had the requested information PR would be granted within 8-12 weeks.
Police Certificate, photo's and background information submitted and received by CIC London Oct 14th 2008.
November 2008 - Immigration London finally gave my son a file number and stated "we started processing your application on November 8th" - 3 years and 9 months after they received it.
I have never been given an explanation as to why they did not issue a file number prior to this.
Medical forms (old system) received from CIC London January 16th 2009 despite assurance they would be issued as soon as the photo's were received (it took 3 months for them to send the forms from receipt of the photo's). My son was in Canada and did not get them until he returned to England on 12th Feb 2009.
Medical re-done and submitted March 10th 2009.
Letter received from Medical Division requesting Psychiatric evaluation for my son as he had admitted to infrequent and ocassional social use of marijuana as a teenager.
After attending the interview in June it took 9 weeks to get the report from the psychiatrist and a further 9 weeks for that report to be evaluated by the medical division in London.
November 16th 2009 - request for new Police Certificate (the 3rd one!) and confirmation that the my son had passed the medical requirements. Request for updated forms IMM0008 and IMM5406E as well.
We were instructed to submit the ACPO and forms within 30 days otherwise my son would have to have another medical as his expires in March.
ACPO and forms received by CIC London on 2nd December 2009 and acknowledged on 14th December and confirmation given that the file was with an Immigration Officer for final assessment.
I Called CIC 6th January 2010 and was told a decision was made on Monday 4th January... and "welcome to Canada"
It has been the longest most stressful 5 years of my life!
Now to wait for the letter...... hope it's not too long in coming!
PS: Advice - do not ever split your application between 2 offices - they do NOT communicate!!
