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Our landing experience at CIC-Halifax!

lauralee15

Star Member
May 19, 2015
192
6
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC - Missassauga
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
6-11-2015
AOR Received.
29-4-2016
Med's Done....
Upfront
LANDED..........
6-7-2016
Yesterday my husband had his landing interview at CIC-Halifax and we feel so very lucky to have completed this nerve-racking process in only 8 months. We owe so many thanks to this forum as we would have been lost throughout this process had it not been for all the help and answers we received – I’m sure the application would have been sent back many times had it not been for many of the tips we received from many of you. Even after submitting the application, the great support and reassurance we have received has been much appreciated. It feels not long ago the CIC Call Centre informed us our application was likely lost when we received no acknowledgement that they received our app after 4 months. If it was not for the forum sharing stories about the Call Centre’s incompetence I would likely have taken this as truth and lost my sanity!! Special thanks to Ponga, AquaKitty, sophieee, Rob_TO, floomy, Scylla, canuck_in_uk and so many others for answering so many of our questions over this past year or so!!

Our landing experience….

As CIC-Halifax is a small office, there were no admin or anyone to let us know we were really in the right place. There were two interview office doors that said “If you have an appointment, don’t knock – please take a seat.” We were there super early and there was no one else there! The waiting room was very underwhelming and not at all what I was expecting. We were a bit nervous we were in the wrong spot, but the number on the door matched what was in our letter so we waited. We were taken into the interview room right on time.

The interview took about 20 minutes. The only documents they wanted to see were both of our passports and his 2 photos (though we took the photocopies of our entire application and all original documents just incase). The lady was initially quite serious, but eventually became more jovial, which reduced the anxiety. She did ask my husband a few questions, like what he has been up to in Canada, if he likes PEI, why we had two wedding ceremonies, etc. – but then she started telling us some good sightseeing places in Halifax, which made me question whether many of her questions were more out of curiosity then for PR purposes! She explained PR status and what is and isn’t permitted, as well as SIN and Healthcard information. Asked the questions regarding criminal record, etc. and then congratulated my husband on obtaining his permanent residency!

She told us the PR card would normally come in 8-12 weeks, though the Canada Post strike may have an impact on the time. She also stated that travel outside of the country should be avoided until the PR card arrives.

Overall, we had a good experience and are absolutely relieved to get to this point, as this has been such a stressor in our lives for a number of years working toward this moment!

Again, can’t thank this forum enough. I am still far from an expert when it comes to this process, but I will stick around and help any way I can!! :)
 

Aquakitty

VIP Member
Mar 21, 2011
3,015
162
BC
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Ottawa
App. Filed.......
04-03-2015
AOR Received.
14-04-2015 - SA Received: 20-04-2015
Med's Done....
28-01-2015 Upfront
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
N/A
VISA ISSUED...
25-06-2015
LANDED..........
11-07-2015
Awesome! It's a great feeling huh? Thank goodness it all worked out for you. :)
 

CrazzzyCatLady

Star Member
Jun 27, 2013
57
2
Hello there!

Congrats on your landing! How long did it take them to notify you of the appointment?

We have been waiting for over a month now =((

Cheers!
 

lauralee15

Star Member
May 19, 2015
192
6
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC - Missassauga
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
6-11-2015
AOR Received.
29-4-2016
Med's Done....
Upfront
LANDED..........
6-7-2016
CrazzzyCatLady said:
Hello there!

Congrats on your landing! How long did it take them to notify you of the appointment?

We have been waiting for over a month now =((

Cheers!
On June 14th we received sponsor approval letter. On June 19th we saw Decision Made on ECAS and on June 20th my husband received an email with the landing interview date, time and location. If it is a more popular office though, it may take longer to get an appointment??
 

DBHC

Star Member
Sep 22, 2014
128
1
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC Ottawa
NOC Code......
2113
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
16-02-2016
Doc's Request.
Requested 02-05-2016; Submitted 20-05-2016
AOR Received.
AOR1 19-03-2016; AOR2 08-04-2016
File Transfer...
24-03-2016
Med's Done....
24-11-2015
VISA ISSUED...
DM 23-06-2016; COPR 07-07-2016
LANDED..........
01-09-2016
Congrats on landing! :D

I'm a bit confused about the interview, though. Did you only have to book an appointment because you live in Canada already? (That is to say, if you're entering from another country you just turn up?)
 

lauralee15

Star Member
May 19, 2015
192
6
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC - Missassauga
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
6-11-2015
AOR Received.
29-4-2016
Med's Done....
Upfront
LANDED..........
6-7-2016
DBHC said:
Congrats on landing! :D

I'm a bit confused about the interview, though. Did you only have to book an appointment because you live in Canada already? (That is to say, if you're entering from another country you just turn up?)
From what I understand, when you apply inland, once a decision has been made, the CIC local office closest to your home address emails a letter with an appointment time to officially land.. at least this was our experience!
 

DBHC

Star Member
Sep 22, 2014
128
1
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC Ottawa
NOC Code......
2113
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
16-02-2016
Doc's Request.
Requested 02-05-2016; Submitted 20-05-2016
AOR Received.
AOR1 19-03-2016; AOR2 08-04-2016
File Transfer...
24-03-2016
Med's Done....
24-11-2015
VISA ISSUED...
DM 23-06-2016; COPR 07-07-2016
LANDED..........
01-09-2016
lauralee15 said:
From what I understand, when you apply inland, once a decision has been made, the CIC local office closest to your home address emails a letter with an appointment time to officially land.. at least this was our experience!
Ah, I see. Sorry, I didn't realise you applied inland.
 

lauralee15

Star Member
May 19, 2015
192
6
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC - Missassauga
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
6-11-2015
AOR Received.
29-4-2016
Med's Done....
Upfront
LANDED..........
6-7-2016
DBHC said:
Ah, I see. Sorry, I didn't realise you applied inland.
No problem!
 

AladdinsGirl

Hero Member
Dec 3, 2014
255
8
Cairo, Egypt
Category........
Visa Office......
CAIRO
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
16-06-2016
AOR Received.
05-07-2016
File Transfer...
12-08-2016
Med's Done....
10-05-2016
Passport Req..
12-10-2016
Does everyone get an interview after landing???
 

DBHC

Star Member
Sep 22, 2014
128
1
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC Ottawa
NOC Code......
2113
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
16-02-2016
Doc's Request.
Requested 02-05-2016; Submitted 20-05-2016
AOR Received.
AOR1 19-03-2016; AOR2 08-04-2016
File Transfer...
24-03-2016
Med's Done....
24-11-2015
VISA ISSUED...
DM 23-06-2016; COPR 07-07-2016
LANDED..........
01-09-2016
AladdinsGirl said:
Does everyone get an interview after landing???
My understanding (based on this webpage http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/after-checklist.asp#crossing2) is that there are two interviews when landing: one for checking documents, the other for declaring your personal belongings.
 

AladdinsGirl

Hero Member
Dec 3, 2014
255
8
Cairo, Egypt
Category........
Visa Office......
CAIRO
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
16-06-2016
AOR Received.
05-07-2016
File Transfer...
12-08-2016
Med's Done....
10-05-2016
Passport Req..
12-10-2016
DBHC said:
My understanding (based on this webpage http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/after-checklist.asp#crossing2) is that there are two interviews when landing: one for checking documents, the other for declaring your personal belongings.
Thanks for that!!! Good to know, I guess I'm not worried until we get a DM.
 

Decoy24601

Champion Member
Aug 13, 2015
1,511
52
Vancouver, BC
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-04-2016
AOR Received.
28-04-2016
File Transfer...
SA 27-05-2016
Med's Done....
23-03-2016 Upfront
Interview........
Waived
VISA ISSUED...
07-06-2016
LANDED..........
06-07-2016
Congratulations ;D. It feels like a weight has been lifted, doesn't it? I'm glad everything went smoothly.
 

lauralee15

Star Member
May 19, 2015
192
6
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC - Missassauga
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
6-11-2015
AOR Received.
29-4-2016
Med's Done....
Upfront
LANDED..........
6-7-2016
Decoy24601 said:
Congratulations ;D. It feels like a weight has been lifted, doesn't it? I'm glad everything went smoothly.
It definitely does! So very grateful! Can't help feel guilty though that others that applied much earlier than us are still waiting. Doesn't seem fair!
 

Decoy24601

Champion Member
Aug 13, 2015
1,511
52
Vancouver, BC
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-04-2016
AOR Received.
28-04-2016
File Transfer...
SA 27-05-2016
Med's Done....
23-03-2016 Upfront
Interview........
Waived
VISA ISSUED...
07-06-2016
LANDED..........
06-07-2016
lauralee15 said:
It definitely does! So very grateful! Can't help feel guilty though that others that applied much earlier than us are still waiting. Doesn't seem fair!
I know the feeling. My application took just over 2 months total and I landed on Wednesday. It makes me feel guilty knowing that I was already here with my husband as a visitor in Canada and my application went through so fast, when there are people who can't visit their spouses who have to wait 6+ months.

But, we should still enjoy our new PR status ;D.