dieseltank

I'm sure the answer is no, but I feel that its a good forum to just air our frustrations. After nearly 35 months and still no medical request I'm starting to feel this will never happen.

Luckily we are in Canada on a TWP, but we really want the security of our PR as my job like many others in the current climate is not as secure as I would like. My having employment in Canada has not seemed to have sped things up either which I thought it might.

I know the sensible response is that every case is looked at on its own merits, and just to wait it out, but I just wanted a little rant to clear my head... FYI the sun is shining again in Vancouver (not that I can really see it from my desk at work)

Thanks for reading!

Judy in Calgary

Frustrating as it must be for you, I don't think there's anything you can do to speed things up.

Since you applied for PR in 2005 (based on what your signature says), I assume you did not go through the steps outlined in the Wiki article called Fast Track PR Application-Canada. As far as I know, the expediting of PR applications on the basis of permanent job offers to temporary work permit holders was introduced only relatively recently -- I believe well after 2005.

Since you applied for PR under the old rules (before they started expediting the PR applications of TWP holders who had permanent job offers), I don't know of anything you can do to speed up the processing of your application. As far as I understand the rules, there never was a time when having a temporary job in Canada led to the expediting of a PR application. That is, a temporary job, on its own, was never considered to be a basis for fast tracking a PR application, as far as I understand.

I don't know that it would be helpful to re-submit your PR application now. You've said that your job is not as secure as you'd like it to be. I totally sympathize with what you're saying on that front. But, since that is the case, your employer may not be willing to write a letter stating that he would employ you on an indeterminate basis if you were to acquire PR status.

If your employer was willing to write such a letter, I'd be interested to hear the immigration experts' opinions as to whether or not it would help to re-submit your PR application.

That is, since you've waited this long, would it be better to sit tight and let the process take its natural course?

Or would it be better to intervene with a PR application that is backed up by a permanent job offer and that replaces your previous PR application?
x

dieseltank

Thanks for your response Judy.

To give you a little history, I applied in Nov 2005 and completed the full application rather than the new simplified version. While waiting an opportunity arose for me to get a working visa based on a 3 year Intra-company transfer as I have a specialist skill knowledge. That got us over here this Feb, and since then we have bought a house and are trying to find some roots. We thought about renting until we had our PR, but we'd been renting for so long in London and as the house market seemed to be going from strength to strength in BC we thought it best to at least get on the ladder.

The CHC in London has all our updated information requested in the 90 Day letter that we received in Jan 08, and prior to sending this we went to the CHC in person to give them copies of our marriage certificates and deedpoll name change (when we applied we were not married, and when we married we merged surnames). When we check the 'Online status' they have updated our surname, so we at least know that this was information has found the right file.

I've also looked into obtaining a PNP, but this would require me to withdraw my current PR application and then resubmit it. Its very tempting, but like waiting for a bus we are worried to walk away from our current application.

Fingers crossed it all works out soon.

benjy25

I appreciate it seems like this is taking a while to finalise, but why would you go into all the hassle of finding an alternative route when you are at the very cusp of being invited to completed a medical?! Seems bizzare to me that you would even consider that.

We are on study/temp work permits but only applied in Jan 2007, making this sort of thinking more sensible for us that it appears to be for you.

Good luck,

Ben.

dieseltank

no, there is no way I'd pull our application. I just wanted to see if there was any routes we could explore to speed things up seeing as we have arranged employment at present.

As I said we are not sure how long this employment will last, so we don't want to be stuck in Canada with a new house, and no job and no PR. My working visa ties me to this current job, so I don't like having all my eggs in one basket.

kiton6

I know you said your job situation is currently not great, I take it there's no way that your currently employer could, or would, write a letter offering a permanent position?

As if you could get that letter and send a copy of that with a copy of your TWP to CHC in London, it might help expediate your PR application (I'm not saying it would definitely). I'm in a situation which is not too far off from your own, and the above action did help us.

dieseltank

Thanks for your help.

I will find out at the end of October if my position is made permanent. I'm in a bit of a catch 22 until then. If my PR comes through in the interim then great, but if I'm not offered a permanent contract at that point then I will be up a Canadian river without a paddle.... ahhhh

Assuming I do get my permanent position, and my PR still hasn't come then I will get the letter to the CHC to hopefully move things along a little.

debbiem

Apologies if I'm being dim, but you have checked that they are using the correct address, haven't you? A 90 day letter in January, and nothing heard since?
Particularly as you have been updating stuff, and are on TWP etc etc, I'd be double checking if I were in your shoes - it wouldn't be the first time that an address change had been missed etc...
I'm sure it's not far away, but I'd be e-mailing for an update at the very least...

dieseltank

everything has gone to the right address. The 90 day letter had a little address sticker to put on the envelope.

I have tried emailing them about 4 times over the last 3 years and have had nothing back, nothing at all. My wife was back in the UK last month and went to the CHC in London in person and was turned away at the door.

It says on our initial AOR that we should expect a processing time of up to 36 months. We are now nearly at that point but I'm sure if we try and contact them they will tell us the processing time is currently 45 months. If we wait until 45 months will the goal posts have been moved again!

What makes me laugh is that if they had sent us the medical request and it was lost in the post we would never know. We would be waiting until the end of time for something that they think we have.

Tim Steer

Hi,
So you had your 90 day update letter in Jan 2008...When did you send the info in?
You are currently waiting for the med requests right...I would suggest that you try and talk to them...There are a few threads about contacting the CHC...
I have read quite a lot of threads on here since I joined and one thing that does stand out for me is that there seems to be quite a few cases where letters have been sent from CHC and have not arrived...I particularly remember this in relation to other med requests going missing...I am not trying to worry you but it does seem like a long time to be waiting and if it were me I would phone the number and talk to someone just to put my mind at rest...If they have sent out med requests and you haven't got them then they are only sitting there waiting for them and almost certainly will not chase you up...
I would seriously consider talking to them if I were in your position....Let me know if you need help finding the thread with the tel number..
Wishing you all the best.
Cheers
Tim

Rob_999

Only thing you can do is to try and fast track, and that can't be done without a permanent job offer. You need to do the following:

(From wiki)
Write a letter to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC), and ask them if they would consider adding additional points and fast-tracking your PR application.

Enclose with your letter the following documents:
1) Copy of your temporary work permit.
2) Letter from your employer, typed on company letterhead, stating that you currently work for them and that they would give you a fulltime, permanent position on an indeterminate basis if you were to be granted PR.
3) Some evidence that you are employed by and being paid by the employer who wrote the endorsement letter, e.g., copy of last few pay slips.

Its also advisable to include a copy of your current temporary contract as well, plus LMO if you have one.

If you can't do the above then just sit tight, nothing you can do. Pestering CHC will not help...

Tim Steer

I am not sure if you are responding to my post or not but I am referring to getting confirmation that the medical request has not gone missing not "Pestering CHC"....If they sent in their updates in January, then as it is now nearly October with no word then that is what I would be doing especially, as I put, that I have seen a few posts on here where peoples letters have gone missing...I would be wanting to check..They are in the final stages now and it would be a shame to be waiting for a letter to arrive that never comes...
Well that is what I would do in this situation
Cheers
Tim

Tim Steer

Exactly my point....It is not like they will think to themselves "We haven't heard back, maybe we should follow up or send out another request or check the address or something"

Coffeepot

Agree with Tim contact CIC via email and see what they come back with, thats a long time to wait check on other timelines on here Medicals have been sent out.

Agree, you must be so close

dieseltank

thanks for all your advice, really appreciated.

I'll send another email to see if we hear anything back this time. After receiving our 90 day letter in Jan, we sent all our updated info in Feb as we had to wait for new police checks. Saying that from the trackitt forum it seems that we are still looking like we are well behind the rest of the people on there (I appreciate the Trackitt is only a representation of those who have entered their info, but its still our only guide)

I will also look for the tread with the contact number on - please let me know if you know the best to hunt for it would be.

Thanks