US outland applicants' thread :)

[Thaliada]

I just received my SA letter today in the mail. The visa office assigned to us was Los Angeles, not Ottawa. Anyone has any information about that? Is it better/worse? What does it imply? Anyone has Los Angeles as their visa office by any chance? Thank you so much.

 

[lawgrrl]

I just received my SA letter today in the mail. The visa office assigned to us was Los Angeles, not Ottawa. Anyone has any information about that? Is it better/worse? What does it imply? Anyone has Los Angeles as their visa office by any chance? Thank you so much.

My application was also transferred to Los Angeles. No idea if that's "better or worse," since I only had to deal with them this one time. Actually I was surprised at the turnaround from them. Granted, that was earlier this year, before the strike. They requested add'l info about my Canadian spouse's plans to "re-establish" himself in Canada. We had my COPR just one month after submitting the response. [Request: 01/07/13; response: 01/27/13; COPR issued: 02/22/13.]

There was a mistaken reference in the COPR to my prior passport. I renewed my passport after submitting my application, and informed the LA Visa Office of the new PP number and expiry date with our 1/27 response. They ignored it and issued the COPR with the old PP number and expiry date. They never responded to 3 email inquiries as to whether this was a "fatal error" or no. When we showed up at the border (Aldergrove, B.C., via auto) on May 22, the border personnel could not have cared less and stamped my COPR and passport--all good!

Now if I could just get my PR card, I could get a B.C. driver's license and a Health Services photo ID. ICBC won't accept the COPR stapled in my passport and it's been 60 days since landing. Oh, well, happy to be here!

p.s. There's also a LA Visa office thread you might want to look for.

 

[shanmba1174]

My application was also transferred to Los Angeles. No idea if that's "better or worse," since I only had to deal with them this one time. Actually I was surprised at the turnaround from them. Granted, that was earlier this year, before the strike. They requested add'l info about my Canadian spouse's plans to "re-establish" himself in Canada. We had my COPR just one month after submitting the response. [Request: 01/07/13; response: 01/27/13; COPR issued: 02/22/13.]

There was a mistaken reference in the COPR to my prior passport. I renewed my passport after submitting my application, and informed the LA Visa Office of the new PP number and expiry date with our 1/27 response. They ignored it and issued the COPR with the old PP number and expiry date. They never responded to 3 email inquiries as to whether this was a "fatal error" or no. When we showed up at the border (Aldergrove, B.C., via auto) on May 22, the border personnel could not have cared less and stamped my COPR and passport--all good!

Now if I could just get my PR card, I could get a B.C. driver's license and a Health Services photo ID. ICBC won't accept the COPR stapled in my passport and it's been 60 days since landing. Oh, well, happy to be here!

p.s. There's also a LA Visa office thread you might want to look for.

If You have US driver's license , you can get B.C. driver's license .

 

[lawgrrl]

If You have US driver's license , you can get B.C. driver's license .

Yes, I don't need to take an exam with my Oregon license, but I need "acceptable" ID and the COPR and visa stamp won't cut it:
http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/id

 

[IslandAnnie]

Yes, I don't need to take an exam with my Oregon license, but I need "acceptable" ID and the COPR and visa stamp won't cut it:
http://www.icbc.com/driver-licensing/id

Primary 4

Valid Permanent Resident Card (must not be expired)

or

Canadian Record of Landing/Canadian Immigration Identification Record (form IMM1000 only)

Primary 5

Your valid student permit, work permit, temporary resident permit OR

Visitor Record form (IMM1442)

weird....they haven't issued IMM1000 forms since about 2002 - they were replaced by COPR's!!

 

[writetosfa]

So after 3 emails to find out if CIC got the additional documents they requested with my hubby's ppr, I got a response on Monday night. It seemed very generic and just told me the application was in process and we would we contacted if they needed further info.

Do you think this means someone is looking at the application again? It's been a little over a month since we sent the requested documents with ppr.

 

[IvanP]

So after 3 emails to find out if CIC got the additional documents they requested with my hubby's ppr, I got a response on Monday night. It seemed very generic and just told me the application was in process and we would we contacted if they needed further info.

Do you think this means someone is looking at the application again? It's been a little over a month since we sent the requested documents with ppr.

I think this means the application is on someone's desk. Where that person is in relation to the desk is a matter of some debate.

 

[lawgrrl]

Primary 4

Valid Permanent Resident Card (must not be expired)

or

Canadian Record of Landing/Canadian Immigration Identification Record (form IMM1000 only)

Primary 5

Your valid student permit, work permit, temporary resident permit OR

Visitor Record form (IMM1442)

weird....they haven't issued IMM1000 forms since about 2002 - they were replaced by COPR's!!

Apparently you can still request an IMM1000 (Record of Landing) but it will take you six (6) months to receive it, rather than 60-odd days for the PR card!
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/other.asp

 

[writetosfa]

I think this means the application is on someone's desk. Where that person is in relation to the desk is a matter of some debate.

]

hahah, thanks IvanP

 

[jds07]

That's odd. I have medical coverage in BC and a BC drivers license. All they wanted was a document showing I was legally able to be here for no less than 6 months. But even before they issued me a "photo" license, they were giving me interim licenses, which suck. As far as MSP goes, we just had to provide proof that we applied for permanent residency, they even covered me on Pharmacare as well.

 

[lawgrrl]

That's odd. I have medical coverage in BC and a BC drivers license. All they wanted was a document showing I was legally able to be here for no less than 6 months. But even before they issued me a "photo" license, they were giving me interim licenses, which suck. As far as MSP goes, we just had to provide proof that we applied for permanent residency, they even covered me on Pharmacare as well.

True. My MSP coverage is pending, and will be effective August 1. I haven't gone the interim license route with ICBC because I didn't want to carry my passport (with COPR) around as photo ID. [For those watching this exchange, in BC you'll have to surrender your US drivers license for a BC license, whether interim or permanent.] My PR card "should" be coming any day now, but I think I'll go to ICBC this week for an interim drivers license and a photo for my BC Services card. After paying $434 per month for my husband's health care coverage in Oregon (my employer paid my premium), I'm actually looking forward to pay $120.50 per month for both of us.

 

[jds07]

True. My MSP coverage is pending, and will be effective August 1. I haven't gone the interim license route with ICBC because I didn't want to carry my passport (with COPR) around as photo ID. [For those watching this exchange, in BC you'll have to surrender your US drivers license for a BC license, whether interim or permanent.] My PR card "should" be coming any day now, but I think I'll go to ICBC this week for an interim drivers license and a photo for my BC Services card. After paying $434 per month for my husband's health care coverage in Oregon (my employer paid my premium), I'm actually looking forward to pay $120.50 per month for both of us.

I have 2 cousins that immigrated here via spousal sponsorship and though you didn't hear it from me, they actually got their interim (because they too were concerned about having to carry around their passport) while still keeping their US license for nothing more than a photo ID of course.

 

[writetosfa]

Do you get an email saying a decision has been made and they are sending you your COPR in the mail? Or do they just send the COPR by mail without notifying you?

 

[parker24]

Do you get an email saying a decision has been made and they are sending you your COPR in the mail? Or do they just send the COPR by mail without notifying you?

You get the email for PPR then you send your PP, wait, and it'll just show up haha

 

[writetosfa]

Thanks Parker! I've got ppr already but just wondering if I will get a nice surprise in the mail with copr if they send out an email saying its coming.