Just got an email from the NYC Consulate: it says my application appears to be complete, and I should submit my valid passport and 4 photos asap as the validity of my visa is 8 April 10. Not exactly detailed instructions, but I'm so excited! My spouse sponsored both my son and I; the message doesn't mention my son, but I'm assuming I'll need to get his photos done as well. Hopefully they will send me a formal letter with further instructions! I'm visiting my husband in Canada at the moment; been here since mid-February, and my plan was to return to the US on April 1. Is it possible to submit the passport while you're in Canada and have it sent back to your Canadian address? Or I guess I should leave now, and submit the passport from within the US? Does the processing take a long time? Thanks for any and all info.
I'm not sure how you deal with sending the passport back and forth to NYC (someone here will know), but you do need to act fast. Presumably one of your medical results (or passports) expires 8th April, so you will have to be landed in Canada by then. If the email isn't clear, it won't hurt to email them back asking for specific instructions (courier address to send it to, whether they can send the passport back to you in Canada.)
If it is the medicals that are close to expiry, you're somewhat lucky, as they could decide to make you get new medicals before issuing the visa.
thanks matthew. and now that i think about it, we did have the medicals done last april. and that was a very expensive headache, wouldn't want to do that again! i sent an email asking for more info, and the response was that they sent a formal letter to my mailing address with instructions.
Just wait for that then, and follow the instructions they send carefully. They obviously are satisfied there's enough time to get the passports turned around and back to you in order for you to land before April 8th, but you won't want to waste any time - have the photos done and the passports ready so you can send it all as soon as the letter arrives. The specs for the photos are in your region-specific guide:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information...asp#region
Thanks again Matthew. Need to get those photos done tomorrow! And hopefully I can get my 3 year old to sit through them with out crying this time!
When I emailed the second time, someone from the NYC consulate called me 5 minutes later! She gave me two options: I can go back to the States now, express my passport, have it mailed to my American address, come back to Canada and "land". or I can stay in Canada, mail my passport back and forth, and then cross the border to the States and come back in to Canada (she suggested a round trip flight). She indicated that it would take 15 business days to turnaround the passport, so time is of the essence.
Due to mail delays, it seems that if I do this from within the USA it will be quicker. Especially since my hometown is 45 minutes away from the Consulate! I wish I could go in person, but they only accept passports mailed.
Just thought I'd post more details in case anyone reads who is in the same boat.
While I'm sure she gave you accurate info about your options for getting the passport to them, she didn't give you the best info about how to land. If you go the route of staying in Canada and mailing the passports, you can land a couple of ways - you can either simply drive to the nearest border, turn around, re-enter Canada and land then (no need for a costly round-trip flight), OR you can request to land inland at your closest CIC office:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/m.../ob076.asp
You can call the CIC info line to arrange a landing appointment, once you have the passport back.
I don't think a trip back to the USA is a bad option in your case given the turnaround time they've said it will take, I just wouldn't want you to base your decision on incomplete info.
Hmm. I am in Sydney and there's an office here...
It's probably not the same office as where citizenship apps get sent (CPC Sydney). If you think that might be an option, call the call centre to find out where your closest office is that can process a landing, and whether they would be able to schedule you an appointment in time.
Sydney seems like a long shot but oh, that would be so nice.
We are just waiting for the letter to arrive - and hoping the mail is quicker than usual! Then I will go back to the US. I can't believe I'll be landing soon. Such a long wait and then all of a sudden a rush to get things in order. Doesn't seem real!
Thanks Matthew for your advice, and to anyone else I've chatted with along the way....