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Hi LeisaP,

I was nodding, yup straightforward, until I hit:

LeisaP said:
...he was a failed refugee...

Re-read this:

canadiangirl78 said:
I am sure you will get the visa but it is definitely not straightforward. So don't feel worried that you haven't heard anything. I am positive they are working but your case will take longer than the average. Don't worry though, you'll get there!

They are going to want to make sure your marriage isn't just another avenue for him to get into Canada so they will scrutinize your proof of relationship. Think back to what you've sent and if there's additional info you can send them, it may be worth sending an updated package to reiterate the message.

We're not trying to burst your bubble, but I do believe it helps to know where you likely will be to manage one's own expectations. I wish you a lot of luck - hang in there :).
 
OhCanadiana, in your opinion, what is a straightforward case?
 
OhCanadiana said:
Hi LeisaP,

I was nodding, yup straightforward, until I hit:

Re-read this:

They are going to want to make sure your marriage isn't just another avenue for him to get into Canada so they will scrutinize your proof of relationship. Think back to what you've sent and if there's additional info you can send them, it may be worth sending an updated package to reiterate the message.

We're not trying to burst your bubble, but I do believe it helps to know where you likely will be to manage one's own expectations. I wish you a lot of luck - hang in there :).

I was just going to say. im living in mexico now with him. should i send more evidence.
but i asked our immigration consultant and she said it may slow the process if i send extra stuff.

but i mean im planning to stay here with him till its done. so
should i send a bunch of extra evidence anyways?
 
LeisaP said:
yes. i just want them to send me a stupid email just saying they have it!

Best you can do is send a case-specific enquiry through the link canadiangirl78 posted and hope they reply. However, if you've seen confirmation online that CPC-M got it, I would think that it's overwhelmingly likely Mexico received the forwarded application. AORs just aren't all that common, unfortunately.
 
OhCanadiana said:
Best you can do is send a case-specific enquiry through the link canadiangirl78 posted and hope they reply. However, if you've seen confirmation online that CPC-M got it, I would think that it's overwhelmingly likely Mexico received the forwarded application. AORs just aren't all that common, unfortunately.

yeah i sent an email just now from the link. :)
 
ALSO!!

the extra evidence we are going to send it.
do we have to mail it.
or can we drop it off at the embassy in person??

thanks
 
LeisaP said:
Yes. But we are working with a immigration consultant(very qualified) and she said they will not ask for an interview unless it is based on the genuiness of the application. in regards to the refugee they may or may not ask for an interview regarding the ARC.
and that our application should be processed as any other, the only thing that may make it longer is IF they require an interview, or if they ask for the arc later, than the arc will delay it.

What did they ask you at your interview??

I have spoken with a couple people and they were failed refugees from a couple different countries and never requested an interview. all they were requested was an ARC and passport. (some were requested the arc payment only and others the payment and letter)

i really think its different for every case.
Also i know they scrutinize if the relationship is genuine because it was a failed refugee, because they could just want access back into the country. butt i mean we were together for 3 years before he was denied, so i think it will be easy to prove our relationship is true and not for immmigration purposes.

also we have 2 friends that were refugees and they came back to mexico and were sponsored through canadian experience class, they went back to canada in may 2012, and they were never asked for ARC or anything to do with their refugee case throughout their process.

I think every case is handled different even if your situation is similar. :-\

And I genuinely wish you all the best and hope that you don't get an interview, you can cite as many examples as you can find, but as you mentioned, it will be decided on a case-by-case basis. You may or may not get an interview, either way you should be prepared.

My interview consisted of 70% regarding my (parent's) refugee claim and 30% vague questions regarding the application. I might add that the woman that interviewed me was the most obnoxious and rude person I've ever had the displeasure of meeting (and she's famous for it too!).

Hopefully you find something out soon, and regarding your last question. I NEVER mail anything, I always make a point of going there personally and giving them any additional documents. I've heard many cases of documents being "misplaced" by CIC. Take advantage of the fact that you're in Mexico City at the moment :)
 
mc1234 said:
OhCanadiana, in your opinion, what is a straightforward case?

Oh, gosh. It's one of those you-know-it-when-you-see-it type of things.

In general, things that help include:
- A well-established (long) relationship for a couple living together for an extended period of time in line with cultural expectations (e.g. met at school, long courtship, family at wedding, etc)
- Being sentimental pack-rats who have stored a bunch of evidence over the years in an easily retrievable format to be able to share the pictures, etc. in chronological format.
- No criminal background for the applicant or someone else who shares name/DOB/etc.
- Nothing to raise any major questions on compatibility between the couple or intent to return or something that would make a stranger pause and go hmmmmm - that's really odd.
- Didn't live in any countries with convoluted police clearance checks (and Mexico does not fit in this category with the whole Embassy-request-letter required for the PGR situation)
- And, since this process involves human beings...getting assigned to visa officers who are in a good mood :)
- Oh, and not having your Visa Office closed mid-way through the process

In general, I think it's clearer to know when it isn't straightforward than defining what is straightforward because I don't think there's only one profile on the family side (unlike FSW, for example where points are assigned for very clear criteria). Relationships are inherently subjective and, therefore, so is the process.

The most straightforward case of all is something like canadiangirl78's application this time around (and I'm not just saying it in hind-sight. There's an old post where I said this before she even had sponsorship approval). canadiangirl78 and soon-to-be-canadianPRboy had already had their relationship evaluated and accepted as genuine. No criminal/background issues and they didn't need a PGR certificate. And, the cherry on top was that canadiangirl78 moved all their stuff up to Canada early on in the process and shared the proof of her re-settlement in Canada with the VO. So, they were able to send in the full application and the VO didn't need to ask any questions. Therefore, the VO was able to make the decision the first time s/he touched the application.

Hope that helps.

OhC
 
Ah. okay i think thats where it becomes more difficult for your case.
your parents filed refugee? when you were young correct?

Ive heard over other cases with parents going to usa or canada and filing refugee with their children and later causing problems in the future.
i may be wrong but i have heard this happen to a couple people.
and did they deny after your interview? do you mind if i ask why.
it seems like they didnt care much about the genuniness of your relationship, more of your parents refugee. which i think is so wrong. you are applying independently and you shouldnt have to go through all this trouble because of a choice your parents made.
he interview should have been more about YOU and your relationship. not your parents case!! :(

Anyways okay! we will take it right to the embassy.
umm
whats the address for the embassy?? :D i have never been there.
thankss!! :)
 
OhCanadiana said:
Oh, gosh. It's one of those you-know-it-when-you-see-it type of things.

In general, things that help include:
- A well-established (long) relationship for a couple living together for an extended period of time in line with cultural expectations (e.g. met at school, long courtship, family at wedding, etc)
- Being sentimental pack-rats who have stored a bunch of evidence over the years in an easily retrievable format to be able to share the pictures, etc. in chronological format.
- No criminal background for the applicant or someone else who shares name/DOB/etc.
- Nothing to raise any major questions on compatibility between the couple or intent to return or something that would make a stranger pause and go hmmmmm - that's really odd.
- Didn't live in any countries with convoluted police clearance checks (and Mexico does not fit in this category with the whole Embassy-request-letter required for the PGR situation)
- And, since this process involves human beings...getting assigned to visa officers who are in a good mood :)
- Oh, and not having your Visa Office closed mid-way through the process

In general, I think it's clearer to know when it isn't straightforward than defining what is straightforward because I don't think there's only one profile on the family side (unlike FSW, for example where points are assigned for very clear criteria). Relationships are inherently subjective and, therefore, so is the process.

The most straightforward case of all is something like canadiangirl78's application this time around (and I'm not just saying it in hind-sight. There's an old post where I said this before she even had sponsorship approval). canadiangirl78 and soon-to-be-canadianPRboy had already had their relationship evaluated and accepted as genuine. No criminal/background issues and they didn't need a PGR certificate. And, the cherry on top was that canadiangirl78 moved all their stuff up to Canada early on in the process and shared the proof of her re-settlement in Canada with the VO. So, they were able to send in the full application and the VO didn't need to ask any questions. Therefore, the VO was able to make the decision the first time s/he touched the application.

Hope that helps.

OhC
Also for anyone reading in the future who might be in a similar situation, my husband is undocumented in the US since he was a kid and that had zero negative affect on our case. He just had to get FBI clearance. He never had to go to Mexico to get the visa and if he did he would have had to do the PGR stuff.
 
OhCanadiana said:
Oh, gosh. It's one of those you-know-it-when-you-see-it type of things.

In general, things that help include:
- A well-established (long) relationship for a couple living together for an extended period of time in line with cultural expectations (e.g. met at school, long courtship, family at wedding, etc)
- Being sentimental pack-rats who have stored a bunch of evidence over the years in an easily retrievable format to be able to share the pictures, etc. in chronological format.
- No criminal background for the applicant or someone else who shares name/DOB/etc.
- Nothing to raise any major questions on compatibility between the couple or intent to return or something that would make a stranger pause and go hmmmmm - that's really odd.
- Didn't live in any countries with convoluted police clearance checks (and Mexico does not fit in this category with the whole Embassy-request-letter required for the PGR situation)
- And, since this process involves human beings...getting assigned to visa officers who are in a good mood :)
- Oh, and not having your Visa Office closed mid-way through the process

In general, I think it's clearer to know when it isn't straightforward than defining what is straightforward because I don't think there's only one profile on the family side (unlike FSW, for example where points are assigned for very clear criteria). Relationships are inherently subjective and, therefore, so is the process.

The most straightforward case of all is something like canadiangirl78's application this time around (and I'm not just saying it in hind-sight. There's an old post where I said this before she even had sponsorship approval). canadiangirl78 and soon-to-be-canadianPRboy had already had their relationship evaluated and accepted as genuine. No criminal/background issues and they didn't need a PGR certificate. And, the cherry on top was that canadiangirl78 moved all their stuff up to Canada early on in the process and shared the proof of her re-settlement in Canada with the VO. So, they were able to send in the full application and the VO didn't need to ask any questions. Therefore, the VO was able to make the decision the first time s/he touched the application.

Hope that helps.

OhC

Thanks, it does! Hopefully they consider our case 'straight-forward' but we will never know until we get there. :)
 
mc1234 said:
Thanks, it does! Hopefully they consider our case 'straight-forward' but we will never know until we get there. :)
I think it is straight forward.
 
canadiangirl78 said:
I think it is straight forward.

Thanks you give me hope, hehe. The past few days I have been sad waiting for this approval that feels like its never going to come. The last few days have been unbearable :(
 
mc1234 said:
Thanks you give me hope, hehe. The past few days I have been sad waiting for this approval that feels like its never going to come. The last few days have been unbearable :(
How many days has it been? I know it is awful at the end. You are very very close. They are up to the 17th now.
 
Were at 85 days now. So we still have about 6 more days to go. The only thing I am counting on is getting the PGR letter from the embassy of Mexico in Canada to speed up the process for us rather than having to wait for it to come in the mail which will only take more time.