Over a year and no PR card!

No sign of my PR card at Tim’s sister’s house yet, so I phoned CIC again.

Even using VOIP, I couldn’t get through on +1-888-242‑2100 this time, but we discovered that calling the Department of Foreign Affairs & International Trade on +1-613-944-4000 and selecting the immigration option actually transfers you to the CIC call centre!

If you don’t get through to an agent immediately, try again. The first time I rang them, I got right through the menu options, before being told that they were too busy. The second time, I got through to an agent, but my mobile signal was rubbish, so I gave up. The third time was too busy again. The fourth time, I got an automatic message saying that the toll free number wasn’t available in my area. The fifth time, I got through!

The agent checked my file and said that the card had been returned again. He triple checked my address details – “are you sure there isn’t an apartment number or anything?” – then put in a request to have the card sent out again.

He said it would take six weeks, which is less than the current CIC processing time of 58 days. I’ve got a reminder on my calendar to chase them immediately!

If the card doesn’t get delivered again, I guess my next option is giving them Tim’s cousin’s address or just waiting until we have our apartment rental in September and using that.

If I don’t get my PR card before we move, it’s not the end of the world, but it would make getting through immigration quicker and I’d like to be able to show it to any landlords / employers that ask.