Thread for December 2010 Applicants

[shykitten]

Has anybody in here landed at Toronto Pearson after getting their COPR and visa? Im wondering if the immigration officers search your baggage when you are landing as a permanent resident ...My husband will be landing from the UK on June 4th and we are curious to see if he will have to endure "the search " ;D

 

[pinklady]

He'll probably be 'landed' before baggage claim right?

 

[quakingaspen]

hehe I'm very excited for you, Kaz. And glad that it's finally worked out!

I hope we have more news this week!

@ shykitten - I doubt it. He'll go through customs and immigration before he picks up his luggage.

 

[CandC2009]

Congrats to thoes that received PPR

Its good to see that Buffalo is moving (even if it is at a snails speed)

 

[lnl]

We need ALL visa offices to get moving, things are creeping along at snail speed for us and it's very frustrating when Feb applicants are getting PPR's gggrrrrr

 

[lnl]

Today is becoming a day of angry frustration...we need news soon or its scream time!!!!!!

 

[maja22]

I'm not sure which province you're in, or what their health card ID requirements are, but I just wanted to add that you should probably take a look at it ahead of time. For example, in addition to needing the PR card and a passport, in Ontario you have to prove that you're a resident of the province. I didn't realize that, and now I have to wait to apply for OHIP so I can receive bank statements with my name and address on them.

A valid drivers license would also do it... but I didn't realize they'd make me give up my US license to get one! :'(
Not too happy about that part. :

I have to do the same thing, how funny it is when they ask for bank statements but it's impossible to open a bank account in canadian bank unless you have PR or other legal status other than visitor. I opened one with Credit Union but someone told me that OHIP might not accept that. I didn't apply for driver's licence yet, which is alos long process. Don't you have to pass road tests and etc.?
How long do you think it will take you to apply for OHIP now? Until you get bank statement? Maybe you have phone or utility bills on your name?

 

[lnl]

@maja22 I opened a Canadian bank account and Im a visitor, they have it listed as just visiting on my notes with them and they had no problem at all.

 

[lnl]

Its been 160 days since my hubby was approved as sponsor!!!! I shouldn't have counted, this process is driving me to want a glass of wine :-X

 

[quakingaspen]

I have to do the same thing, how funny it is when they ask for bank statements but it's impossible to open a bank account in canadian bank unless you have PR or other legal status other than visitor. I opened one with Credit Union but someone told me that OHIP might not accept that. I didn't apply for driver's licence yet, which is alos long process. Don't you have to pass road tests and etc.?
How long do you think it will take you to apply for OHIP now? Until you get bank statement? Maybe you have phone or utility bills on your name?

It depends on where you're from and where you're going. I know that some Americans can just get a driving abstract, and then exchange their US license for an Ontario one. I'm not sure what the rules are for other countries. Here's a link with helpful information:

http://www.drivetest.ca/en/license/OutOfCountryDrivers.aspx


I'm not sure about bank accounts. I've heard of people opening them before they're PR's, but I've also heard it varies by bank and even bank location regarding whether they'll let you do that or not. I waited until after I had landed, and then took my passport and SIN paper with me (I hadn't received my SIN card yet, so I just took the paper they gave me when I applied that showed my new SIN number.)

You can use bank statements, but I'll probably wait until I've collected at least two or three before I apply with those, as the document list implies that they'd like more than one. So... as soon as I have a few statements, or as soon as I get my new license. Whichever happens first.

 

[quakingaspen]

Its been 160 days since my hubby was approved as sponsor!!!! I shouldn't have counted, this process is driving me to want a glass of wine :-X

Hang in there, lnl! You're going to make it. And maybe a glass of wine wouldn't be such a bad thing. It can take the edge off, as long as you don't make yourself sick!

 

[lnl]

i actually counted wrong, thats from our initial application, from sponsor is i think 52 days less BUT i might add it feels like 552 lol

 

[chrimano]

Regarding the paperwork after landing - that's my story:

I opened a bank account the next day I landed. I showed them my passport and the COPR and my US drivers license. You do not need a SIN for that.
The next day I went to Service Ontario and exchanged my European driving license. I got a temporary on ( which is just a piece of paper and is valid a few weeks. After apps. 2 weeks I had my Ontario drivers license in the mail.
The same day I applied at Service Ontario for the OHIP. There is a 3 month waiting time until the OHIP kicks in. Meanwhile I do have an insurance with Blue Cross. I showed them my Passport and the COPR and also a paper showing my address. (in my case this was the registration paper for our car where my wife's name and my name are on it.)
In the same week I went to Service Canada to apply for my SIN. I showed them my passport and the COPR. I got the number right away and the card was mailed to me apps 2 weeks later.

Finally my PR card arrive exactly 30 business days after I landed.

Hope that helps - contact me should you have more questions.

 

[spiritrac]

I Finally sent off the additional information that the Visa office in Trinidad had requested, the packet was sent express mail and was received and signed for at 10AM on May 18, 2011 at the visa office. Keeping my fingers cross that they will ask for any more info.

 

[lnl]

We have a question, when we got our request to pay our RPR(or whatever the acronym is lol) fees they also returned our personal info ie photos, marriage licence, birth certificate and personal letters/ postcards etc.

They didn't request any further info just the $490 to be paid to continue, does this mean our interview has been waived?