Former Lancastrian

Just don't go on a long weekend or after midnight. Any time after 8am is OK bearing in mind weekends are busier.

beckiwoo

if the government revert back to IEC/TWP counting towards half time it will be sooner. Good to know that it is sooner then 6 years

kswoosh

Just shy of 3 months for me (11th August submission). Absolutely no update other than Medical passed. Sigh.

It wouldn't surprise me if higher scorers, or even just people with PNP/jobs get processed first, and the rest end up in the 'backlog'. I'm anticipating mine will take the majority of the 6 months, as I was the lowest scorer in my draw.

I'm not in any rush now, though. Probably won't be moving out for a while now. Going to activate my residency as soon as convenient, but won't be moving straight away.

On that subject, does anyone have any useful information on this? I shouldn't have any issue activating the PR, but not officially 'moving' in the same trip, should I? Is there anything I should be aware of?

beckiwoo

When did you get your ITA and what were you points score?

Ernie_wise

So my Express Entry journey is over, since I activated my PR status last Friday! After 6 months 15 days, it took about 1hr25mins at the Lewiston bridge crossing. But there were a couple of sticky moments that I should probably share for the benefit of others:

I arrived at the US crossing by car at about 7:45PM on Friday night and there was no line up. When I reached the border guard I handed him my passport and told him that I was intending to leave Canada, enter the US and return to activate my PR. He directed me to a building where I waited for another guard to give me the administrative refusal paperwork.

FIRST STICKY MOMENT: 8:10PM Got the paperwork and proceeded to return to the Canadian border. Once I arrived there, I told the CBSA guard that I wished to activate my PR. She asked where I had come from and I explained what had happened on the US side and handed her the US paperwork. She then told me that I should not have done what I did, and I had not actually left Canada because I had not intended to leave Canada and enter the US. She asked who told me that I was able to do that, and I would probably have to make an appointment to activate my PR and might be refused. Utterly confused, I responded that I had simply been honest at the US side and followed, to the best of my knowledge, the instructions on my COPR. She directed me into the building to be processed.

Maybe she was new, I don't know. But the guard inside explained that what I did was fine. Apparently this summer a lot of people had been walking onto the Rainbow bridge and walking straight into the Canadian office to be processed without going to the US side. They couldn't tell where the people had come from and there were line-ups for hours.

STICKY MOMENT TWO: Everything seemed to be going OK until the guard asked for my proof of funds, which I didn't have with me and didn't have access for various reasons. My heart sank and I thought that maybe that was it, until he suggested that a pay slip from work would be sufficient. Luckily I happened to have my most recent pay slip from work in my pocket and he accepted it!!

9:10PM After a roller coaster of an evening, my PR status was confirmed and I received a book for newcomers to Canada (ironically I've spent almost 5 years here). But no flag !

So the lessons of the story are;
1. If you can spend the day in the US, it's probably better since you'll avoid any confusion, but if it is fine to flagpole.
2. Bring your application documents, up-to date proof of funds and a pay slip as a backup (if you have it). I printed off a few docs as I rushed out of the office, but not the crucial things that I needed.

djaybi

So, I have my COPR in my hands... Here is the timeline :

17/04/2015 ITA
13/05/2015 Application ; 16/05/2015 AOR
29/09/2015 Background check to "in progress", ECAS "Decision Made"
14/10/2015 Passport Request form Ottawa. I responded them I am in Paris.
21/10/2015 I write via e-mail to the Canadian embassy in Paris.
23/10/2015 via e-mail, They tell me to send the Passport copies and photos to the Canadian Embassy in Paris.
31/10/2015 COPR in my mail.

I'll be flying to Canada in a couple of weeks, I'll let you know !

beckiwoo

Trying to fill in my EE profile and have managed all the sections apart from personal details - it is not loading up for some reason. Anyone else having this issues. I have tried different browsers and I find it strange that it is only this section?

beckiwoo

Success!!!!!

Have just submitted my EE profile (pending job bank registration)

Points - 468

Eligible: CEC and FSW

Edit: now jobs bank isn't working and not letting me use the activation code FFS!!!

Siouxie

Landing as PR-Canada : British Expat Wiki

kswoosh

ITA 12 June, Submitted 11 August. Score was 489 (lowest score in my draw).

bc2015

Interesting perspective on Express Entry

Irish skilled-trade workers feel ‘cheated’ by Canada’s new immigration rules | Toronto Star

Siouxie

The cabinet maker in the article could have applied under Alberta PNP (skilled trades) and got an additional 600 points. Apparently, he didn't look into it properly and is now blaming the system.

rivingtonpike

You get a lot of this I find. It's like the people that think they can just fill out a form or two, then pick up their PR status just like that! They're invariably the ones that slate the system when it doesn't go their way.

Shirtback

He could also ask his employer to apply for a no fee LMIA to support his PR application through EE...

withabix

Welcome to the 'superbly-functioning' CIC Express Entry website. Which only gets worse the further you get towards your goal, by the way...

Try another browser.