Nonetheless, I have started to read and re-read the guidelines and be familiar with the forms to be used when packaging our application since January 2015!
We submitted our application last January 16 to CIC Mississauga and it was received last January 18, 2018. While waiting, I was researching and found a forum like the Canadavisa for those in the same boat and was directed to FB pages for applicants like me vying for a spousal visa or wanting to migrate to Canada. Through those encounters, I found new friends and great support where I can freely ask or even rant when I felt that waiting for the update was agonizing. I realized I was not alone after all! We encourage each other and keep each one updated on the feedback received from CIC.
To equip me with more knowledge and skills that could aid me in my life as a full-time mom and life in Canada in the future, I enrolled in Alternative Learning System courses. This semester, I enrolled in a Bookkeeping class and was lucky to have a very effective teacher. While in class, I get to check my mobile and was appalled when my husband messaged me that our application was returned! It was our 53rd day since the day it was received. Imagine the agony that my husband and I have been through checking almost every minute of our emails. Yet, it was a sign of relief and gave us somehow peace of mind because we were given the reason why after all those weeks that passed we did not receive any updates at all.
Why was it returned? Simply because there was a birth certificate lacking--- my birth certificate. How could it be when I submitted all three (my husband's, my son's, and mine)! Most likely CIC lost it or what, who knew! Moreover, we need to send a police clearance certificate (NBI clearance for us Filipinos) as well as additional payment for our son which is $150 CAD. You can check the updated application package at this site, Sponsoring your Spouse and dependent child/children. Here is the list of all the forms as an overview:
Forms for the sponsor to fill out
- Application to Sponsor, Sponsorship Agreement and Undertaking (IMM 1344) February 2018
- Sponsorship Evaluation and Relationship Questionnaire (IMM 5532) April 2017
- Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] September 2015
For the person being sponsored (principal applicant):
- Generic Application Form for Canada [IMM 0008] February 2018
- Additional Dependants/Declaration [IMM 0008DEP] August 2014
- Additional Family Information [IMM 5406] February 2018
- Schedule A – Background/Declaration [IMM 5669] February 2018
- Use of a Representative [IMM 5476] September 2015
I could not help but still be thankful just the same even if it means another two months less our timeline. The processing timeline for Filipino applicants is 12 months from 17 months. We are just thankful that they have another round of updates that happened last February 2018. So since we will be submitting the updated forms.
Tomorrow I will be getting a new birth certificate from PSA (Philippine Statistics Authority) and get my clearance from NBI. Getting a birth certificate has been easy now. You can go to the nearest PSA office and fill out the gray form for the birth certificate. For the NBI clearance, you need to sign up online and get an appointment. You can go to the NBI Clearance online application site. As for the payment, you will be given options, too. The online tool is very easy to use which is a good thing for tech noobs like me. So hopefully, we will be able to pass our application within this month or early next month.
Will be making an update blog as to how we packaged our application this time. Who knows we will be seeing the maple leaves before the year ends!
