09-14-2010, 01:27 PM
I am so relieved that this process is finally winding down and the new process of finding work in Canada can begin. I am also grateful for the help and advice received here from all the kind and friendly folk on http://www.roadtocanada.com There is so much "garbage" information and sheer nonsense and griping on the net about this process. Appreciate all the intelligent and thoughtful people sharing their experiences here very much. Thank you all.
e-CAS tracker is a wonderful idea and is implemented very well. However, I found it anticlimactic in a sense because by the time I got any update from it, I had already been to Buffalo, submitted my passport and received my IM-1 and COPR. Ready to land. And when I got home that day I had an update from e-CAS saying, "Medical Results Received". Great news! But the great news actually had arrived a few days earlier when I got the email from Canadian Consulate in Buffalo stating "We are now in a position to request your passports for visa issuance."
Anyway, all is well - and when you look at the "application processing time" charts, my process was right on the money. They started processing May 26 and four months later.... I'm landing.
And one last thing... for anyone sweating the details of what they did with their lives 30-40 years ago, just do the best you can and tell them in a statement attached that there may be some inaccuracies, but it is all according to the best of your recollection and ability to document. I was worried about them picking that apart but... not a peep.
p.s.
I have nothing but good things to say about all the Canadian Immigration personnel with whom I have had the opportunity to speak. They have all been kind, helpful and willing to understand.
2009-08-25 Married the Canadian love of my life in Outer Banks N.C.
2010-02-22 PR/Sponsorship apps mailed
2010-03-18 PR/Sponsorship apps returned - Use pen not pencil (oops, meant to overwrite with a pen) Returned in 1 day
2010-04-20 Sponsorship approved - Advised app sent to Buffalo
2010-05-26 Buffalo confirmed receipt of PR application and gave assigned file number & barcodes for mailings
2010-06-30 Requested payment of RPRF fee No interview needed, No additional docs required. Medical results received
2010-07-30 Confirmed receipt of RPRF $490
2010-09-03 Received email from Buffalo - Passport Requested
2010-09-07 e-CAS Updated! email from Mathew Caroll's tracker https://ecas.carroll.org.uk/ Update was "Medical Results Received"
2010-09-07 This was a bit perplexing as they were already asking for passport and medical was in original application
2010-09-07 Went to Canadian Consulate in Buffalo, received COPR and IM-1 visa in 90 minutes - Visa expires 2010-10-09
2010-09-27 Expect to re-enter Canada coming back from Chicago, and LAND!!! Now I need a job, pronto.
e-CAS tracker is a wonderful idea and is implemented very well. However, I found it anticlimactic in a sense because by the time I got any update from it, I had already been to Buffalo, submitted my passport and received my IM-1 and COPR. Ready to land. And when I got home that day I had an update from e-CAS saying, "Medical Results Received". Great news! But the great news actually had arrived a few days earlier when I got the email from Canadian Consulate in Buffalo stating "We are now in a position to request your passports for visa issuance."
Anyway, all is well - and when you look at the "application processing time" charts, my process was right on the money. They started processing May 26 and four months later.... I'm landing.
And one last thing... for anyone sweating the details of what they did with their lives 30-40 years ago, just do the best you can and tell them in a statement attached that there may be some inaccuracies, but it is all according to the best of your recollection and ability to document. I was worried about them picking that apart but... not a peep.
p.s.
I have nothing but good things to say about all the Canadian Immigration personnel with whom I have had the opportunity to speak. They have all been kind, helpful and willing to understand.
2009-08-25 Married the Canadian love of my life in Outer Banks N.C.
2010-02-22 PR/Sponsorship apps mailed
2010-03-18 PR/Sponsorship apps returned - Use pen not pencil (oops, meant to overwrite with a pen) Returned in 1 day
2010-04-20 Sponsorship approved - Advised app sent to Buffalo
2010-05-26 Buffalo confirmed receipt of PR application and gave assigned file number & barcodes for mailings
2010-06-30 Requested payment of RPRF fee No interview needed, No additional docs required. Medical results received
2010-07-30 Confirmed receipt of RPRF $490
2010-09-03 Received email from Buffalo - Passport Requested
2010-09-07 e-CAS Updated! email from Mathew Caroll's tracker https://ecas.carroll.org.uk/ Update was "Medical Results Received"
2010-09-07 This was a bit perplexing as they were already asking for passport and medical was in original application
2010-09-07 Went to Canadian Consulate in Buffalo, received COPR and IM-1 visa in 90 minutes - Visa expires 2010-10-09
2010-09-27 Expect to re-enter Canada coming back from Chicago, and LAND!!! Now I need a job, pronto.