PR Card processing
 

Hi
Does any one have experience with the replacement of a PR card, specifically the processing time to delivery?

I can see on my PR card processing that it was complete on Friday 16th Feb but still have not received it in the post!

Re: PR Card processing
 

Call the IRCC call centre with your file number and ask the agent if there is a record of when it was sent out or whether you'll be asked to pick it up in person from a local office. The Agent has access to more information than is available online. And/or send a webform enquiry.

Re: PR Card processing
 

Based on my experiences the application sits somewhere before finally being recorded on the system close to the time it takes to process (so not much help when enquiring really) and then the new card arrives a few days after that.

My card was in my hands a few months ago while the system was only saying something about process underway. The same happened to someone else on BE too.

If yours is actually showing complete I'd have expected it to have arrived by now.

Mine was for a straightforward renewal. By 'replacement' perhaps yours is to replace a missing one and maybe that's different. :unsure:

Re: PR Card processing
 

How do you see if it's processing? We've been waiting since December! Got a request for new photos in late January, sent them 1 February but not got a card yet. Is the PR card tracking different from the visa application thing?

Re: PR Card processing
 

When initial PR Cards are involved and there has been a photo retake required I've never been able to see the status online: only for renewals.
If you sent the new photos on Feb 1st, they're probably still in the queue.
I assume you tracked them and know that they arrived?

Other than that, I'd suggest what I wrote in Post #2: the Agent should be able to tell you the latest date the photos were received that IRCC are working on and whether yours are in the system (or send a Webform). You'll need the R number which should be on the Photo retake request letter.

Re: PR Card processing
 

What seems to happen for renewal PR Card is, say processing time is 80 days.
For 70 odd days nothing appears on their system.
Something on screen says if it's not showing, either they've not received it or it's not recorded yet because it only gets recorded when they start processing.

Then it does show up (finally) but then you get the card in a couple of days. So as tracking it's pretty useless. Doesn't even say if they received it until it's almost done.

I was keeping tabs on mine, checking every few days and then it turned up a few days after I last checked and found nothing.

Just saw Snowy's other response. Pay more attention to that than mine. :thumbup:

Mine can just be of a general nature.

Re: PR Card processing
 

Thanks. We senta webform enquiry this morning so expect them to get back to us some time in July or so :rolleyes:. We have holidays booked in BC in June so he needs hisPR card before that. It's going to my sister'shouse and I was hoping she could bring it with her when she's here in April.

Thanks again. You guys have been a great help along the way :)

Re: PR Card processing
 

Are you outside of Canada?
If the photo retake was done outside Canada (i.e. you left soon after landing) you might not get the Card sent even to your sister's house.
If that happens, be prepared to get a PRTD.

Re: PR Card processing
 

Snowy560, do you have more information on this? Does it apply to initial PR cards as well? I had a request for more photos for an initial PR and as I was outside Canada (as I'd landed but returned home soon after landing to finish up here), I had to get them done outside Canada. I have a Canadian residential address, so that's all OK.

Re: PR Card processing
 

I just think you need to be prepared that the Card might not be sent (because you are outside of Canada which will be evident by the photo retake) and that if this is the case (that the card doesn't arrive) you'll need to be prepared to get a PRTD.

IRCC doesn't want PR Cards to be sent out of Canada.

Re: PR Card processing
 

Well , I discovered why my sister didn't get the card. CIC input her address wrong. My partner wrote "123 Main St" and on the letter he got asking for photos it says "128 Main St". She's going to go ask the neighbours if they got an envelope from CIC. In the meantime we've done a change of address on the website.

Re: PR Card processing
 

Many thanks.

Won't IRCC actively need to refuse my application for a PR Card (it is showing as processing in MyCIC) for the card not to be sent?

If IRCC is actively assuming that a PR card "would be sent out of Canada" when it is sent to a Canadian address (such assumption made on the basis that compliant photos were taken outside of Canada when there is not a positive requirement that they be taken in Canada), that would be administrative decision making error amenable to judicial review. I'm not saying I'd go to the trouble of heading to court, but I'd hope that a governmental agency was not actively doing something that would fall foul of the law.

Are you aware of any express policy statement which evidences what you say is the IRCC position?

I can and will of course get a PRTD if it comes to that.

Re: PR Card processing
 

I may have partly answered my own question: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration...e-30-2014.html

That operational bulletin relevantly says this:

"Summary

This Operational Bulletin (OB) summarizes and clarifies the procedures for Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) distribution by the Case Processing Centre in Sydney (CPC-S), Nova Scotia, when an applicant has indicated the address of a third party representative as their residential and/or mailing address.

Background

Since May 2012, as part of a pilot project, the majority of Phase II (replacement or renewal) PR Cards are mailed directly to permanent residents (PRs). Previously, all Phase II PRs were required to appear in person at Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) offices in Canada to collect their PR Cards. By mailing PR Cards to immigration representatives, it opened the possibility that these cards may then be forwarded to the PR overseas, circumventing the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its Regulations.

For PR Cards issued to new immigrants upon entry to Canada (Phase I cards), it may be appropriate for clients to provide the address of a third party (friend, relative, service provider or a paid representative) in Canada in order to facilitate processing and issuance of the card following their arrival in Canada, as new immigrants may not have a permanent address.

Instructions

Phase I cards

CPC-S will continue to mail the PR Cards to the Canadian address provided by the new PR upon arrival, according to the process currently in place. However, where there are clear indications that the initial entry into Canada was only of short duration and the client provided a third party address for the purpose of forwarding their initial PR Card outside of Canada, these cases should be flagged with a note indicating that the client is outside Canada, and if relevant, the fact that the photo retake was done outside Canada and submitted to produce the first PR Card along with the date this information is recorded."

This suggests that the PR card should still be issued and sent to the Canadian mailing address supplied, but the file will be "flagged" if what is emboldened above applies. I do wonder, however, how the mere provision of a Canadian mailing address (in accordance with regulation 56(2)(iv) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227)) can provide the basis for an inference to be drawn that the provision of that address was "for the purpose of forwarding their initial PR Card outside of Canada", even if it is combined with an "initial entry into Canada...only of short duration".

The observation "by mailing PR Cards to immigration representatives, it opened the possibility that these cards may then be forwarded to the PR overseas, circumventing the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its Regulations" is curious. The only relevant regulation is regulation 55 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (SOR/2002-227), which states "A permanent resident card shall only be provided or issued in Canada".

What is not clear to me is why IRCC takes the view that a representative or other third party would be "circumventing" the Act and Regulations by providing a PR card to a PR overseas. The reference in regulation 55 to "provided or issued in Canada" is to the provider / issuer - ie, Her Majesty in the right of Canada.

I speculate that the "flagging" of the initial PR card application may be to encourage closer scrutiny of an application for a Phase II card and in particular the residency requirement. It is clear from the Act and Regulations that so long as a Canadian mailing address is provided, and the landing documents and photos are otherwise in order, then there is no basis for an initial PR card not to be issued, even if the photos were taken overseas.

Re: PR Card processing
 

The law (IRPR) says that a PR Card will only be issued or provided in Canada.

IRCC is trying to prevent them being mailed or sent outside Canada. Whether you would be successful arguing that they must be issued and sent to the Canadian address you provided, even if you are not in Canada, I can't say.

Re: PR Card processing
 

Yes (post #13).

If a PRC isn't issued within 180 days, of course, you have to reapply for a new one. And you can't reapply for a new PRC unless you're in Canada ...

Re: PR Card processing
 

Well, I'll be interested to see what happens in my case. As explained, there's no lawful excuse for IRCC to refrain from issuing the initial PR card on the basis that (i) I am currently (temporarily) outside Canada or (ii) that my photos were taken outside Canada.

The policy document I cited clearly states the initial PR card should be issued. My file may be "flagged" but that doesn't trouble me as I will either meet the residency requirements or be a citizen by the time my initial PR card is up for renewal.

Re: PR Card processing
 

How long since you sent your replacement photos?

Re: PR Card processing
 

I've been trying to get through on the 1-888-242-2100 for two days now and after going through all the options it always ends up saying it can't put me through as they are experiencing a high volume of calls (I did get through once early yesterday, but after 40 minutes of waiting my phone credit ran out, unfortunately). Even the 613 number just transfers back to this number. And from the website it looks as though they forgot to put in one line of my mailing address, hence I have not received the PR card the site says was sent nearly a month ago. I have raised a query on the email form now, but it says it can take 10 days to get a response. I can understand they are very busy, but it is frustrating. :-/

Re: PR Card processing
 

DHL tracking says they were delivered on 19 February, so almost a month ago. I'm checking MyCIC daily to see whether any change in status. I think it said "additional documents received" in the week of 19 Feb (but I stupidly forgot to take a screen shot). That subsequently changed to "we do not need additional documents" and "we are reviewing your eligibility".

So it looks as though it is about the time (anecdotal evidence suggests new photos take about 3 to 4 weeks to process) that I should either get another photo request (I was wearing a white shirt in my COPR photo (and in the photos I sent again) so I am now beginning to wonder whether the photo problem might be a contrast issue), or notification that my PR Card has been approved.

There's plenty of anecdotal evidence on another forum to suggest that supplying photos taken outside Canada should not be a problem. But in light of what I dug up in the form of Operational Bulletin 491, who knows? This is definitely a situation of all I can do is wait and see.

Re: PR Card processing
 

How frustrating. I thought our app might get rejected due to photos – not because there was anything wrong with them but because the photographer at Walmart said they would do them again free if they were rejected, and we had also read that a lot of people were having their photos rejected.

I eventually managed to get through to speak to someone yesterday, but they could not tell whether they had sent the cards to the correct address or not. Although they have our correct address, the 'mailing address' section on the website page (where it tells you the date they sent the cards) was missing one important line.

So we now have to wait until the end of the month (total 6 weeks since they said they were sent). If they do not turn up by then we have to sign a 'solemn declaration'. I am hoping that once that is done they will send new cards quickly and it won't take another 80-odd days before it is 'received' at their offices.

Re: PR Card processing
 

I received an email today from IRCC, telling me my application had updated. On checking MyCIC, I was very pleased to see the update was to "Your application has been approved". So now I just have to await receipt of my PR Card.

Re: PR Card processing
 

PR Card received in Vancouver on 30 March, so 9 days after approval.

I've done some more research and it seems the most likely explanation for the photo request was the age of my COPR photo - it went over the six months validity just as they were processing my PR Card.

I didn't have any issues with the photo retake being done outside Canada. All's well that end's well. Now just need to finish up work here, get packed / sorted, and move!

Re: PR Card processing
 

I'm pleased to read this news ...

IRCC were probably concerned when they read on BE that you were making court noises!!

Re: PR Card processing
 

Thanks so much! I was very relieved too. I'd started cobbling together the necessary stuff to apply for a PRTD, but fortunately that won't be necessary now.

I've often found that the word "court" can have a useful effect...;)

Re: PR Card processing
 

Hi, I am waiting for my initial PR card. I landed inland on February 22, 2018 and gave my photos at that stage, which were brand new and met the IRCC photo requirements.
I then received an email request on April 5 for new photos. The email simply said the photos did not meet their requirements. I had further photos taken at Walmart and submitted these on April 6 along with a letter requesting that if the photos were not satisfactory that they let me know why.

I recently sent a web form with a request for an update and received what read like an automated response in reply. This simply states:

"Thank you for contacting Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).If you applied for a Permanent Resident card (PR card), or if you are waiting to receive your initial PR card, and the Case Processing Centre requires that you provide new photos, we invite you to:

• Send two photos according to the photo specifications, and
• Include:
  • if available, the letter/email received to that effect, or
  • an explanation letter (including your complete name, date of birth and UCI)."

• Is there a way I can track my initial PR card in process?
• What is the current process time for initial PR cards?
• Is anyone experiencing delays beyond the stated time scale for turnaround, or receiving repeated requests for further photographs?

Re: PR Card processing
 

Hi JasonTFord. I just went through this process. You can track your initial PR card application via MyCIC. You need to link the PR card application using the application no. that should have been on the request for photos. What you're likely to see is that your PR card application is in process. All you can do is check it every few days to see if there is a change in status. Once it switches to approved, keep a lookout for your PR card to arrive in the ordinary post.

The processing time for intial PR cards is somewhat variable, but the posted time is 57 days.

My timeline was:

23 Dec 17 - landing at YVR (COPR included compliant photos)
15 Feb 18 - request for new photos
21 Mar 18 - PR card application approved
30 Mar 18 - PR card received in YVR

Around four weeks from submitting new photos is a common (but not universal) timeframe people are encountering. You're just about at that time.

A request for new photos from the PR Card Proceeding Centre (no matter that the photos that were with the COPR were compliant) is pretty common. In my case I suspect that the reason (but one doesn't know because the PR Card Processing Centre doesn't tell you) new photos were requested was that my COPR photos were due to reach their six month "expiry" date within the 57 day processing period from landing. My new photos were taken outside of Canada and were accepted with no further ado.

There is various conjecture upthread about all of this, but from all the research I've done, the only conclusion I've been able to reach is that new photo requests are very common (but not universal - Hurlabrick did not get a request for new photos) and all you can do is be completely punctilious about compliance with the specifications (including the less obvious things like contrast, size of head relative to the rest of the photo etc) when sending the new photos, and then cross your fingers and toes.

If you go over 57 days from submission of your new photos (apparently the clock resets each time a request for new photos is made by IRCC), then definitely submit a case specific inquiry. Also keep an eye on the timing since landing - if you go over 180 days you'll need to submit a fresh application.

Re: PR Card processing
 

Thanks for the reply. I will link the application and hope I hear something soon.
Cheers.
Jason.

Re: PR Card processing
 

Hi all, thought I would tag this on here rather than start a new thread:

We have received COPR with expiry Dec this year and will be going to Toronto in October for a few days to activate PR. We will provide our friends address for the mailing of the cards. However our photos were done back in March at Snappy Snaps so will be expired for PR purposes on landing. To avoid the expiry issue, has anyone successfully taken along an additional recent set of photos which are more up to date than those that were attached to the COPR? Can you just hand over a more recent photo to use in the PR process?

As an additional backup, we'll take time to get some additional photos taken while in Toronto.

Re: PR Card processing
 

Do not worry about the photos. The PR Card processing centre in Sydney NS will often use the existing photos (they did with ours despite them being about a year old), it is entirely their decision. If they want more photos they will ask as and when they want them.