Landed in December, getting letter for interview now?! HELP!

[Kiri]

Hi, I applied under family class. I was approved for PR as common law back in the end of summer/fall of 2013. I landed December 4th in the AM and everything went smoothly. I've been waiting on my PR card before going to Service Canada for my SIN and such, so today... 2 months to the date when I should be getting my card I get a letter.

"RE: Permanent Resident Card Referral

This is with reference to the above noted matter. You are required to attend an interview at the local CIC.

Please report to:
addresss

Hours:

Please bring the following documents with you:
Passport
Confirmation of Permanent Residence (IMM 5292)
Appointment notice
Photo (see enclosed notice to photography)

Regulation 58(3) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act
There is a 180 day time-limit for clients to provide required elements to produce Permanent Resident Card in Canada. Failing to do so will require you to complete a new application for a Permanent Resident Card and pay the $50 fee should you subsequently request one after the 180 day time limit"

Okay, what is that about?

Second, we were approved under the common law marriage and we went ahead and made official for our families at the end of November before I landed to be a legal marriage in America too. That means I've changed my name. I was going to wait until I got my PR card, get a new passport and request a new PR card (which I find a lot of people do) ... should I still go this route and not mention the marriage and use my maiden name in the interview like my passport states?

I'm so confused!

I also want to note that my photos they have are from May 2012... they never had me update them when they sent my app back and I resubmitted - could this be the thing? (we were missing some updated forms because they updated them during our waiting period for them to even OPEN our application - took them 6 months before they even bothered to open for first stage.... it was during the whole Buffalo closing crisis) They want updated photos and are having me do another interview? I don't know why I'd be interviewed. I heard Americans don't get interviewed hardly, and on top of that I'm already landed.

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Alurra71]

I think it's for quality control and they just want you to pick up your card in person.

 

[zardoz]

It's possible that the photo attached to the COPR is not correct, for whatever reason, for the purpose of creating a PR card.
The interview may be for verification purposes to ensure that the new photo is actually of the applicant. Just a guess...

 

[Kiri]

It's possible that the photo attached to the COPR is not correct, for whatever reason, for the purpose of creating a PR card.
The interview may be for verification purposes to ensure that the new photo is actually of the applicant. Just a guess...

Not correct? The only thing I could think of is that it's from 2012 so it's older than 12 months and they never requested new ones.

 

[zardoz]

Not correct? The only thing I could think of is that it's from 2012 so it's older than 12 months and they never requested new ones.

It might be the wrong size or bad contrast. The specification seems to be quite tight. Who can guess...

 

[Kiri]

It might be the wrong size or bad contrast. The specification seems to be quite tight. Who can guess...

That's odd... I got complete approval for PR with those photos. Oh well. Who knows.

 

[Msafiri]

......Okay, what is that about?.....

Only GCMS notes if not redacted would indicate the exact reason for interview. Seems there is an issue with the photos they have on file in relation to their PR Card specs...an easy check would be to see the specs back in 2012 compared to those in the current PR Card application.

......Second, we were approved under the common law marriage and we went ahead and made official for our families at the end of November before I landed to be a legal marriage in America too. That means I've changed my name. I was going to wait until I got my PR card, get a new passport and request a new PR card (which I find a lot of people do) ... should I still go this route and not mention the marriage and use my maiden name in the interview like my passport states? Any help is appreciated.

This is actually more of an issue...so you formally married in the US prior to returning back for landing? Did you tell the CBSA agent landing you of the marriage? You are required to notify CIC of any change in marital status pre landing. It may be disregarded because it doesn't affect your landing in the sense that there isn't an additional dependent on file that should have been examined. Best to tell CIC of the marriage. It may be an opportunity to apply for the PR Card in the married name which will make things easier with getting other ID. On the other hand 'misrepresentation' may be an issue even if its not material...you won't know either way till its brought out in the open if you never raised this at landing.

...... I don't know why I'd be interviewed. I heard Americans don't get interviewed hardly, and on top of that I'm already landed.

Any applicant for any immigration benefit can be interviewed but some nationalities get more of a pass. Usually those where CIC can get background/security checks without doubting their veracity.