QE2Guy01 said:
Hello everyone,
This is my first post on this forum, although I have been a silent guest for almost one year. I applied to sponsor my spouse for permanent residence in October of 2011. Our application was recieved on October 12th and I received an email message from CPC Vegreville on 22 December advising us that processing of my sponsorship application had commenced. We had correctly filled in all of the forms for both portions of the applications, completed the medicals and paid all of the fees. We waited and watched as on the 22nd of August other applicants from the 7th through the 12th of October received good news by way of ecas and the post regarding AIP. Congratulations to you all!. However, our ecas did not change, nor was there any information available via the CIC automated telephone service. The following Tuesday August 28th a letter from CIC arrived at our previous address. We had advised CIC and CPC Vegreville of our move in December of 2011 and the correct information was updated on their system in January 2012, this being said we have no idea why the letter went out to our previous address. Thankfully the person who resides there is a family member and told us as soon as the letter was delivered. We received one of those letters which says that our file has been transfered to the local Calgary office for further processing and possibly an interview. I have rang the CIC call center 6 times on different days since we received this letter. I actually managed to get through and all of the service agents I spoke with were very polite and friendly. Each time I called I was given assurances that all was in good order and that there were no notes of a negative nature on my sponsorship application and my spouse's application for permanent residence. I was also told to wait another 2 or 3 weeks and a decision might be made. However I was not able to find out why our file was transfered, and, or what information they may, or may not require to complete the process. I cannot think of any logical reason why they should send our file to the Calgary office. From what I have read on this forum from others who found themselves in a similar situation I see that having one's file transfered to the local Calgary office is not a good thing and people find themselves waiting up to another 2 years to receive notification of an appointment for an interview or final decision. I am sorry but this is completely unacceptable. I myself am Canadian/British and my spouse gave up everything to come to Canada with me because I said we would enjoy a better life here. Instead we have had our lives put on hold for one year and we have been made to feel unwelcome and unwanted in Canada which happens to be my own country of birth where I was raised and educated!. I have had to sit by and watch as my spouse has become a depressed nervous wreck during this period of waiting. I am both disgusted and embarrassed by the fact that the government of Canada would mistreat people in this way by subjecting them what is basically a form of a long term open prison sentence and psychological torture. I would very much appreciate any insight and information from others on this forum thank you...
Our Timetable:
Application Sent: 10 October 2011
Application Received: 12 October 2011
Application in Process: 22 December 2011
Medical Results Received: 22 August 2012
AIP: WAITING
Decision Made: WAITING
I'm sorry you're having such a rough time. The whole process does feel a little bit like psychological torture - not being able to work, drive, etc. like other people, and being unable to leave to be with family....not to mention how much strain it puts on relationships (I have no idea how my husband hasn't gone crazy). The people on this forum are great though, and for me they've been a source of hope, which I had been starting to lack.
The mailing address issue happened to us too - we changed our address a couple months ago online and it took about 2 months to update. But even after it updated, and after submitting a study permit application to Vegreville and receiving correspondence regarding that to our new address, all of the permanent residency application correspondence was going to our old address. We called the CIC and the agent sent an email to me with the link that provides an email address I should write so that they can verify that they have my correct address on file.
If you would like to email them, the email address can be found at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/help.asp and they should respond within a couple of days.
The information that you should include, in addition to the issue you need them to address, is:
1. Surname (last name)- Exactly as it appears on the passport or identity document
2. Given name(s) (first name)- Exactly as it appears on the passport or identity document
3. Date of birth (YYYY-MM-DD)
4. Country of birth
5. Complete address (including the postal code). If the residential address is different from the mailing address, please provide both addresses.
6. Telephone number. If you have more than one contact number, please provide them all.
7. Client ID Number
8. Online application reference number
9. Type of application (work permit, study permit or visitor record)
10. Approximate date that the application was submitted
