And only 34 months after I activated my permanent residency!
To be fair, the biggest hold-up was getting the first card, in my maiden name.
However, I did apply for the updated card with my married name way back in January and I asked for urgent processing, as I was going back to Scotland for a wedding in February. They wanted me to have an appointment to pick up the card – rather than just posting it to me. Probably just as well, as my appointment letter was delivered to someone else! Apparently, two letters got grabbed and put in the same envelope, so the first I heard of it was a very apologetic letter from the CIC, with an appointment date in April.
Unfortunately, this was right in the middle of a period of lots of travelling for work, so I couldn’t make the appointment and the CIC said that the Vancouver office’s policy is to reschedule for six months after the missed appointment.
I was considering just buying a cheap or refundable train ticket and trying for urgent processing again, but then another Scottish wedding invitation came through, so I had real flights to use :)
I faxed everything to the Vancouver office on a Friday afternoon, on Monday they called to arrange a time with me and I collected my card on Tuesday. Hurrah!
It’s actually worked out quite well, as my first PR card ran from my landing date, so it would have expired in 2016. However, I won’t need to replace this new one until 2019 and (hopefully) I’ll be a citizen by then!
September 19, 2014
January 20, 2014
Even more cards
And now I’ve got my healthcare card too! I was told to chase them after 30 days, but the card arrived less than three weeks since going to the ICBC office.
I’ve also sent off my PR renewal form – to get a replacement card with my married name instead. As I’ve got a PR card now, there’s no great rush for it, but we’re going back to Scotland for a wedding in February, so I’m using the “urgent processing” method to try to push it through :)
If it doesn’t arrive in time, I’ll just use my existing card – with our marriage certificate and all my other ID just in case.
And then, hopefully, that's it – until it comes to applying for citizenship!
I’ve also sent off my PR renewal form – to get a replacement card with my married name instead. As I’ve got a PR card now, there’s no great rush for it, but we’re going back to Scotland for a wedding in February, so I’m using the “urgent processing” method to try to push it through :)
If it doesn’t arrive in time, I’ll just use my existing card – with our marriage certificate and all my other ID just in case.
And then, hopefully, that's it – until it comes to applying for citizenship!
January 02, 2014
Happy New Year (and happy new PR card!)
Over two years since my landing trip, I finally got my PR card.
I became a permanent resident in November 2011 and gave them Tim’s sister’s address for posting my PR card. According to the CIC call centre, they tried to deliver it three times, but there was no indication why it didn’t happen – the address they had was correct, but they didn’t leave a missed delivery card or speak to anyone at the house.
Earlier this year, I got a letter with an appointment to pick up my PR card in person (and the letter was delivered to the house, so the address was definitely correct!), but it was scheduled before we moved over. After several calls and faxes, and even going to the office and speaking to the receptionist, I finally got a rescheduled appointment at the end of December.
We arrived really early, but the waiting room was pretty full already and, even though people were dealt with fairly quickly, I was seen half an hour after my appointment time.
The appointment letter said to bring various bits of documentation and that they might question me about meeting my residency requirements, so I took along a copy of our lease and my employment contract, just to show we’re here for the long haul!
Of course, after doing all that and all the fuss we had to get to this point, I was dealt with in two minutes. I handed over my passport, COPR, BC driver’s license and marriage certificate, she asked if that was us living here permanently now and I walked away with my shiny new PR card :)
We immediately went to the ICBC office and explained the situation about needing my healthcard. I was served by the same woman as before, so it was hilarious to hear her say “ooh yes, someone made a mistake there” when I explained that I’d been sent my driver’s license even without showing my PR card. Apparently, there’s no card request on my file, so she made a new one and took my photo again (thank god – the last one was awful!). I should get my card within 30 days, but I’ve at least got a client number etc, so can call them to chase it up.
So the next thing to do is get a PR card with my married name! If I’m able to apply without sending the card back, I’ll do it now. Otherwise, I’ll wait until after our trip back to the UK in February.
I became a permanent resident in November 2011 and gave them Tim’s sister’s address for posting my PR card. According to the CIC call centre, they tried to deliver it three times, but there was no indication why it didn’t happen – the address they had was correct, but they didn’t leave a missed delivery card or speak to anyone at the house.
Earlier this year, I got a letter with an appointment to pick up my PR card in person (and the letter was delivered to the house, so the address was definitely correct!), but it was scheduled before we moved over. After several calls and faxes, and even going to the office and speaking to the receptionist, I finally got a rescheduled appointment at the end of December.
We arrived really early, but the waiting room was pretty full already and, even though people were dealt with fairly quickly, I was seen half an hour after my appointment time.
The appointment letter said to bring various bits of documentation and that they might question me about meeting my residency requirements, so I took along a copy of our lease and my employment contract, just to show we’re here for the long haul!
Of course, after doing all that and all the fuss we had to get to this point, I was dealt with in two minutes. I handed over my passport, COPR, BC driver’s license and marriage certificate, she asked if that was us living here permanently now and I walked away with my shiny new PR card :)
We immediately went to the ICBC office and explained the situation about needing my healthcard. I was served by the same woman as before, so it was hilarious to hear her say “ooh yes, someone made a mistake there” when I explained that I’d been sent my driver’s license even without showing my PR card. Apparently, there’s no card request on my file, so she made a new one and took my photo again (thank god – the last one was awful!). I should get my card within 30 days, but I’ve at least got a client number etc, so can call them to chase it up.
So the next thing to do is get a PR card with my married name! If I’m able to apply without sending the card back, I’ll do it now. Otherwise, I’ll wait until after our trip back to the UK in February.
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