PR Renewal - long wait

[vijusequ]

My PR renewal process started in Nov, 2012.
It is over eight months, still it is under process with local CIC office in Ontario.
To get a better rate, I booked my ticket for Christmus & New Year holidays in advance.
Now with this Strike, I am not sure when I will get my renewed PR.
I am not sure showing my ticket to the CIC office, they will renew my PR.
Of course, my renewal status is in line with CIC requirement.
I am currently working in Canada and want to go for a holiday out of Canada.
I have already taken approval of my leave, booked ticket.
It is a stressed situation.

 

[scylla]

Submit a request for urgent processing and include copies of the flight tickets you have booked:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/pr-card/apply-urgent-processing.asp

 

[vijusequ]

I do understand what you are saying BUT mine is a holiday plan. This doesn't fall into urgent service category.
Unfortunately I was not knowing about the strike when I applied. I came to know recently, i.e., end July, 2013 and that too because I did not receive my PR, I started checking on what is happening.
My PR expired in March, 2013.

 

[Leon]

I am not so sure that the strike also affects PR cards. If you go to the page for processing times at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/#citizenship you see that there is a strike alert on that page. It says that these union members are responsible for visa applications, both temporary and permanent. When you click on processing times for different categories, you see that there is also a strike alert on the pages for any type of visa or PR applications. However, there is no strike alert on the page for PR card processing times or for citizenship.

Trying to ask for urgent processing is about the only thing you can do now. However, if your application has already taken 10 months, that is definitely not normal. The strike only started months after you applied. I would assume that immigration has some kind of problem with your application. Did you have well over 730 days in the past 5 years?

 

[vijusequ]

Yes, I stayed here more than 730 days.
I worked here in Canadian companies where they have paid my EI, CPP and I filed my taxes regularly for all years.
I lived here. I have my own apartment, paid taxes for the apartment.
In Feb, 2013, they did ask my all pages of passport copies attested locally.
I did so and submitted immediately. However, since I came from Gulf country where I lived more than 20 years, my passport is full of visa, exist and entry stamps all over my passport.
But it should not affect as I have proof of living in Canada more than 730 days.

 

[vijusequ]

I keep reading forum. Most of the time when somebody requests for RP renewal on urgent basis, they get stuck-up for want of many clarifications.
In my case, as I said, I am in line with PR renewal requirement. I stayed more than 800 days in Five years. I worked for 4 companies during this period. These companies when they paid me, they deducted EI, CPP and Federal Tax from my pay cheque. In turn they pay to the respective authorities. These records are with Canada Revenue Agency. CIC can easily cross check my records with CRA. The companies where I worked are Incorporated companies with proper records in Canada. I submitted my T4 forms with my renewal.
According to me, my PR renewal application should have gone smoothly.

 

[Leon]

You could also talk to your MP and ask them to enquire into why your application is taking so long. Sometimes it helps.

I do not think immigration can cross check with CRA unless you specifically allow them to. Privacy act and all that. If they could just cross check, they wouldn't have to ask you to send your tax records.

 

[vijusequ]

Thank you for your response.
By the way, Tax records for past 4 years were submitted along with the application as a part of attachments.
I don’t think I will approach the local MP.
My current online status shows that ‘Your application has been sent to the local CIC office on June 3, 2013. The local CIC office may contact you’.
There is a ‘strike alert’ for PR renewal. But it is not clear as to how long it will take. The Processing time for PR renewal shows 115 days. (Earlier it was 60 days, then 114 days and now 115 days.) Surprisingly, I have crossed all these time limits!!!

It is a stressful situation for immigrant. We have to leave behind our education, experience, knowledge and make a new start. Very difficult to get a job. Upon that Economical melt down since 2008. Most of the time goes in looking for a job. When you get a job, the wages are low. You live under hand to mouth situation. It is very difficult to get a permanent job with facilities. It is over five years; I am still not having a permanent job with facilities.

 

[Leon]

If you are having a problem getting a good job, then by all means look outside Ontario. I know the people in Ontario sometimes think it is the only province but that is far from the truth. Many people end up finding jobs in AB where the unemployment is half of what it is in ON.

 

[vijusequ]

I did try all over Canada prior to getting my first job in GTA, Ontario. Thereafter I took a place to live and continued. Whenever, I lost job due to lay off or Contract completion, I tried job everywhere I see opportunity for me, no matter what city or region. I will do similar efforts once I complete my current contract.
My point is, it is not that easy to get a good pay job anywhere in Canada. There is an ‘unwritten rule’ of having ‘Canadian Education & Experience’ hence difficulty in entering Canadian employment market. After coming here, I upgraded my skills by taking a diploma. Now I have well established Canadian companies experience as well but still when I go in job market, it is the same struggle I have to go through.

Anyways, my current priority is PR renewal. I can still wait for couple of months. If no movements then I will contact them.