Cashier's Check Has Been Cleared (CIC Fees)

I called my bank earlier this evening and I have been told that my check has been cashed/cleared on May 7th (yesterday). My package was received by CIC Buffalo on April 23rd (second time). I know I will have to wait 2-3 months to receive the AOR and medical request, but I am glad to know that the application package is not coming back anymore.

CIC Buffalo Received My Application Again

The Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) Buffalo Office received my application today (again). The USPS tracking confirmed that and here is the exact message:

Label/Receipt Number: EB76 3243 ... ..
Status: Delivered

Your item was delivered at 10:42 AM on April 23, 2009 in BUFFALO, NY 14203 to CANADIAN CONSULATE . The item was signed for by M. O.

I hope and pray that my application will not be returned this time.

Resent the Application to CIC Buffalo

I resent the application to CIC Buffalo this afternoon after correcting two mistakes. Paid $17.50 and I have been told that the package will get there tomorrow before 12PM. We had forgotten to write 'present' in two places on my wife's form (IMM 0008 Schedule 1, #11 Personal History and #15 Addresses). The first one was under the 'Personal History' (#11) where we are supposed to list all the activities since turning 18 years old without leaving any gaps. For the most recent activity, we needed to write the start date and the end date. As the most recent activity being current or on going, there is obviously no end date for it. So, the end date should be 'present' or 'to date'. But it seems like the CIC people prefer 'present' as the instruction they have sent me asked for 'present' to be written. The second one was under the 'Addresses' section. We put the start date for our current place/address, but not the end date, which should have been 'present' as we are still living there. The form does not let you type texts (just numbers), so I left those blanks hoping to write 'present' later, but totally forgot about those. We checked the forms several times, but we looked at the information like DOB, passport number, signature and date next to the signature. Hope this time my application will be accepted and I do not need lose any more time, money and sleep. Thanks.

Happy Earth Day to all of you and please enjoy the earth day photo above. This time, I did not add Alberta related photo.

CIC Buffalo Returned My Application Package

My worst fear came true this evening. My application package has been returned by the CIC Buffalo people. The reason was, we forgot to write "PRESENT" in two places on my wife's forms (current address and personal history). I could not believe that I overlooked those when I had written 'Present' on my forms. I wasted 2 weeks of time and $17.50 for postage.

I think I will be sending the application back again tomorrow. One problem is that my home country police certificate expired yesterday (was issued Jan 20, 2009). I hope they would not make me request a new police certificate or return my application again because of that. I guess life is all about making mistakes and learning from them.

The Application Has Finally Reached to Buffalo

This afternoon, I received an message in my e-mail box letting me know that my application package has been delivered to the CIC Buffalo Office. Here is the exact message:

"Your item was delivered at 11:00 AM on April 8, 2009 in BUFFALO, NY 14203 to CANADIAN CONSULATE . The item was signed for by R MACIEJEWSKI."

By the way, the package was supposed to be there yesterday (April 7th) before 12PM, but that did not happen. I was informed by the USPS website and the lady at the local post office that if I pay $17.50, the package will get to its destination the next day before 12PM. I guess the lady and the USPS website lied to me. I called 1-800 number and complained about it and the lady on the phone told me that she has no idea on why it took an extra day for my package to be delivered, but she said, if I go to the local post office and complained and fill out a form, they will refund the money and let me know what happened.

Anyway, the package is already there and that's the most important thing. So, I am not going to waste my time and their time at the post office. One thing I learned from this experience is that don't wait until the last minute (if there is a deadline) hoping that the package will get there the day they said it will get there. Now, all I want is the CIC Buffalo to not send my package back and send me the AOR and medical request in next two months. Everybody, wish me luck. Thanks.

Finally, Mailed the Package to CIC Buffalo

I mailed our application package to the CIC Buffalo this afternoon at 1:04PM MST. They will receive it tomorrow before 12NOON. It cost me $17.50 for that, which comes with a tracking number and signature confirmation. It feels great to be able to send the application package after almost 2 months from the date I received the nomination (Feb 10, 2009). Now, I hope and pray that they will not send my package back to me for something that I forgot to do or something very minor that they could ask me to send instead of them sending the whole package back. As far as I know I have included everything they have asked for.

If I remember correctly, I had to sign at least 3 places or it could have been 4 places. My wife had to sign 2 places. I have included 16 photos (4 for each person) and a Cashier's Check of US$1190 for 2 adults and 2 kids.

Two things I am a little bit worried about are:

1) The photos do not have solid white backgrounds (one instruction says it has to be white and another instruction says it can be light-colored background, so not sure what they really want).

2) I did not attach the cashier's check and photo envelopes the way they wanted me to(their instruction did not make sense to me and did not seem practical). I did not staple them even though "the helpful hints" clearly said to staple them with the generic form's first and second pages respectively. Instead, I used a paperclip to attach the check and I used two paperclips to attach the photo envelopes. I attached the check on the top of the generic form and the photo envelopes at the bottom of the same page. As soon as they open the envelope, they will see both the check and photos. I also placed "the checklist" on the top of my application covering the check and photos, but it is stapled separately. Now wait for the AOR and medical instructions.

Came home from work this evening and went out to have some good ice cream with the family to celebrate the sending of the application package. We will have a bigger celebration when we get the AOR and medical request and even bigger than that when they request our passports for PR visas.

Everything is READY to be mailed on Monday

Yesterday (Friday), I visited the CIC Buffalo website and downloaded all the CIC forms. Checked the dates when they were updated to see if I can use the old forms that I filled out when I sent my application to the AINP office. The two forms were updated recently, so I decided to use them instead the old ones. I had to update one of those forms for my wife as well. I completely filled them out and printed while I was at work and brought home. This morning, woke up at 7:45AM and took shower and ate breakfast and signed and dated all the forms. For the end dates for some of the things like current address and current job, wrote "Present". I heard that CIC does not like when you left a date field empty. Asked the wife to sign and date her forms. She made a mistake when entering the date when she signed one of her forms. The format of the date was changed and she did not realize that (year was first instead of day). I did not have an extra copy and my printer at home was not working. I needed to go to my work place to pick up my PNP certificate as it was left there and I forgot to bring it with me last night. I decided to print the page where she made mistake again at my work place.

I went to my work place around 10:00AM and picked up the PNP Certificate. I also printed a couple of things when I was there including my wife’s form. I went to the Springville Wal-mart. They have America First Credit Union branch that opens on Saturdays. Asked a teller to create a Cashier's check of $1190 ($465+$645+$130+$130) in the name of Canadian Consulate General. He did that and I asked if there is somebody who could notarize my documents. He said he is a public notary and he will be able to do so. Went in to his office and he looked at my documents and asked me if I have the originals with me. I said no and he said he needs to looks at the originals. Anyway, he also learned that I needed to notarize birth and marriage certificates too and he said he cannot notarize them as they are considered the public documents and I need to get originals of them. Anyway, my luck did not favor this time as the guy who notarized my documents when I needed them to send to the AINP was not there. That time, he did not even look at my originals and notarized all, including birth and marriage certificates. When I was in the Wal-mart, I printed some photos too which I had created using a free software. You can print eight photos (35mm x 45mm) on 4 x 6 photo paper. I also picked up a box of small envelops that I needed to put photos of me and my family members before sending those photos to the CIC Buffalo. I heard that I need to send 4 photos of each person.

Came home and went to Chinese Buffet with the family and on the way back, tried Wells Fargo Bank (where I have accounts too) and this time I had my originals with me. The guy said the samething that he cannot notarize birth and marriage certificates and he also said he cannot even notarize photocopies. He said I need to write a letter and he can notarize the letter, but he cannot stamp anything on my documents. He was worse than the guy I met at the America First earlier. I decided to go to another store branch of America First (located in Macey's Grocery Store) and talked a beautiful and nice lady and she said yes and did not even ask what documents I had or if I have an account with them. She brought her record book, stamps and notarized all the documents. Bless her. Thanks to her that I have everything is ready. All I need to do is arrange them the way the CIC wants them, staple the Cashier's check and photos and they are ready to be mailed on Monday (April 6, 2009).

Received PCC from Wife's Home Country

Today is a happy day for us. My wife finally received her Police Clearance Certificate from her home country. She also received her PCC from New York.

Now, we have all the PCCs here. All we need to do is print the CIC forms again with current dates and sign them and include all the supporting documents and send the package to the CIC Buffalo.

We also need to obtain a cashier's check of worth US$1190 (465+465+130+130). Adults $465 per person and children $130 per child. Hopefully! I can mail the package by the end of this week (Saturday, April 4, 2009).

Utah Police Clearance Picked Up

Today, my wife and I drove with kids to Taylorsville, Utah and picked up our Utah PCCs. It took us less than 10 minutes in their office and paid $10 each. It is the best looking PCC so far. The worst looking PCC was sent by Alabama.

Still waiting for wife's NY PCC and PCC from her home country. We were expecting them to arrive today, but they did not. Hopefully! tomorrow.

PCC from Alabama is Here

I received a mail from Alabama Bureau of Investigation (ABI). There was a page inside the envelope and it looks like an e-mail header (from, to etc.). It also has my name, social and it says NO IDENT. I am guessing this is the police clearance from Alabama, but it really does not look like it. The page does not even mention Alabama anywhere. Only term they have used is ABI. ABI can be Arizona, Alaska etc. I sent them two fingerprint cards. I wish they had returned one of the cards with the search result stamped on the back (like the FBI and the State of New York). As long as the CIC Buffalo accepts it and does not ask me to get another PCC from Alabama, I am fine with that. Hoping for the best.

Now we need to receive PPC from my wife's home country and her New York PCC. After that, I am ready to send my package. Can't wait to do that.

Received PCCs from New York and Illinos

Today, my wife and I received our State Police Certificates from Illinois and I received mine from New York. My wife still needs to get her from New York and I am still waiting for mine from Alabama. I mailed all these requests on March 11. My wife is also waiting for her police certificate from her home country, which should arrive by this Monday. Getting close to being able to send my application package to the CIC Buffalo.

Faxed a Letter of Intent to Alabama

This morning, I faxed a letter of intent to the Alabama Bureau of Investigation explaining why I am immigrating to Canada (they wanted to know). I wanted to say a lot of things, but I decided to keep the letter short and make it a little more positive, so I wrote this:

"The reason I would like to immigrate to Canada is for a better future for me and my family. I want to live and raise my children in a country which is peaceful, provides a quality education with an affordable cost, and most of all, provides a better medical care for its citizens with a minimal cost. Canada is the perfect country for me and my family."

I hope the ABI lady is not pissed off with my response and hopefully she will send my background check result soon.

Police Certificate from Wife's Home Country

Just learned that my wife's police certificate from her home country has been picked up by her mother this morning (March 23) and she will mail it to us tomorrow morning. It should be here in 5-7 days. Mother-in-law had applied for the certificate 2 weeks ago. So, they make you wait 2 weeks before you can pick up the certificate.

Today, I also received a letter from the Alabama Bureau of Investigation saying that they need a Letter of Intent from me and the letter has to include "a reason why you are immigrating to Canada". I thought that was pretty funny and made me a little angry too that they need to know a reason why I am moving (I do not even live in Alabama anymore). They are acting like the Canadian Immigration and Citizen people. Anyway, I am going to write a short letter tomorrow morning and fax them tomorrow. Good thing they are accepting fax.

Timelines: U.S. Visa Holder Category (H1B)

10OCT08-E-mailed documents to AINP for pre-assessment
17OCT08-Received confirmation e-mail saying the received the docs
10NOV08-Received invitation-letter dated Oct 31, postmarked Nov 3
24NOV08-Mailed full application package to the AINP (via USPS)
28NOV08-AINP received the application package (USPS confirmation)
17DEC08-Received the file number (xxxx-08-43x)
10FEB09-Received nomination-letter dated Jan 20, postmarked Feb 4

10FEB09-Received PCC from my home country (thanks to bro & sis)
17FEB09-Signed, dated and mailed the PN Acknowledgement to AB
17FEB09-Mailed the fingerprints and cover letters to the FBI in WV
28FEB09-I received my FBI fingerprint card back
02MAR09-My wife received her FBI fingerprint card back

11MAR09-Mailed documents for State Police Certificates (AL, NY, IL)
23MAR09-AL sent me a letter and wants to know why I'm immigrating
24MAR09-Faxed a letter of intent with an explanation why I'm moving
26MAR09-My wife and I both received IL and I received my NY PCCs
28MAR09-I received my PCC from Alabama (I hope it is a PCC)
30MAR09-My wife and I picked up Utah PCCs from their office
31MAR09-My wife received her PCCs from her home country and NY

06APR09-Mailed the complete application package to the CIC Buffalo
08APR09-CIC Buffalo received the application package (USPS conf.)
21APR09-Buffalo returned the appl. due to not writing 'present'
22APR09-Resent the application to CIC Buffalo (Happy Earth Day!)
23APR09-Buffalo received the application package signed by M. O.
07MAY09-Cashier's Check cashed/cleared (glad, no package back)
02JUL09-AOR and Medical Request arrived (postmarked June 29)

15JUL09-Medicals done of the entire family in Utah (4 people - $976)
22JUL09-Medical sent to Ottawa via DHL and tracking no. provided
23JUL09-Medical package is delivered and signed by MAILROOM

26JUL09-Change of address requested through an e-mail to Buffalo
28JUL09-My file transferred to New York from Buffalo (e-CAS)
03AUG09-My New Address is showing on e-CAS with a minor typo
10AUG09-Received the letter from Buffalo on file transfer to NYC
11AUG09-Submitted case-specific-enquiry to correct address error
31AUG09-Sent e-mail to NY Office to fix the error in my address
07SEP09-e-CAS updated with medical received and address fixed

01OCT09-Sent an e-mail requesting Case Status & PPR via e-mail
19OCT09-Received Passport Request, dated 10/15, mailed 10/16
21OCT09-Passports sent to the Consulate General of Canada-NYC
22OCT09-CGC-NYC received the passports signed by D. Chao
28OCT09-CGC-NYC mailed the passports back (per USPS Tracking)
29OCT09-Received passports back with PR visas in them (Hurray!)

15NOV09-Landed and became Canadian PR in Coutts, Alberta POE
19NOV09-Came back into the US using AP via Sweet Grass, MT POE
14DEC09-PR cards arrived for the wife and kids in Calgary
21DEC09-PR card arrived for me in Calgary (was mailed late)
23DEC09-PR cards and other documents mailed from Calgary (UPS)
28DEC09-Package arrived to Utah with PR, SIN, Health & Bank cards