CIC AOR

We finally submitted our online application to CIC after 10 days of receiving our ITA. We received the golden ITA from CIC on 18 December 2015. Submitted our online application on 28 December 2015 and received on the same day, actually after 5 to 10 minutes, our CIC AOR.

Thank you to our NBPNP application. It has prepared us in the CIC stage. Documentation and scanning of the voluminous papers all done. Except of course for NBI, upfront medical, new sets of bank certificate and bank statement, and of course new LOEs.

After ITA, we were given 60 days to fill up forms and upload supporting documents online. We were also given a choice to either pay the processing fee and upfront right of permanent residence fee (RPRF) for a family of 2. We chose to pay for the processing fee only of CAD$550.00 or a total of CAD$1,100.00. Why? Because waiting game really comes into my nerves, LOL. Three to four or five or six months is way too long for a waiting game and I rather that the CIC processing will take a while or hearing nothing at all from CIC for a span of how many months. Don't worry, this can be done. I read it before deciding to pay only for processing fee. And you know what, once a message from CIC says that we can now pay the RPRF then this only means that PPR is only around the corner of the waiting game (smiley, LOL). Anyway, below are the online forms which I filled out through MyCIC. It is just like the express entry forms but a more thorough one.

 

Once finished on the online forms, it will now direct you to the uploading of the required documents basing on your filled out forms. Since, we were only allowed one slot of the LOE, I included a cover letter or an LOE to some of our uploaded documents, i.e., legal name change, proof of medical and proof of means of financial support. Then I again put all together our LOEs which we submitted in our NBPNP application particularly on our landing slips on our passports and proof of funds. Below are the required documents which we uploaded online.

Afterwhich, CIC will ask for your signature and then it will prompt you to online payment of the processing fee through credit card only. Then we received a message from CIC of our AOR and the confirmation of payment. Below now is the new look of our permanent residence application.

Thus, the waiting game for permanent residency visa has started. Praying for a smooth processing. Oh my, still cannot believe this is happening to our application. All glory and praise to our dear Father God for helping, leading and directing us in our Canada dream for our little R.

CIC ITA

We are so happy to share here that we finally received an ITA from CIC through its 23rd draw which happened yesterday, 18 December 2015 and I quote:

MINISTERIAL INSTRUCTIONS RESPECTING INVITATIONS TO APPLY FOR PERMANENT RESIDENCE UNDER THE EXPRESS ENTRY SYSTEM (DECEMBER 18, 2015)

Determination — number of invitations

1. (1) For the purposes of paragraph 10.2(1)(b) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, the number of invitations that may be issued during the period beginning on December 18, 2015 and ending on December 19, 2015 is 1,503.

Required rank

(2) Foreign nationals who, on December 18, 2015 at 15:56:10 UTC, have been assigned a total of 460 points or more under the Comprehensive Ranking System that is set out in the Ministerial Instructions Respecting the Express Entry System, as published in the Canada Gazette, Part I, on December 1, 2014 and as amended from time to time, occupy the rank required to be invited to make an application for permanent residence.

Our CRS is sitting at 919 after an addition of 600 points because of our nomination to NBPNP. Since our nomination last 8 December 2015 with NBPNP, I have been expecting an ITA from CIC and is just waiting for the draw. I never knew that the waiting game for the draw will still bring butterflies on my stomach, LOL, followed by tears of joy after receiving the good news.

We were travelling from Manila going home to the province when I receive the good news. I thought there will be no more draws. I honestly thought about it because usually the draw will come at around past 10:00 PM, Philippine time. I have been checking CIC and the forum to see if there is a draw but when 12:00 AM came, I prayed and slept. When I jolted out of sleep and checked on my yahoo at around 3:54 AM, Philippine time, I saw a word CIC on my mail. I suddenly sit straight. I tried opening MyCIC but cannot go through so I opened Canada Visa forum and, boom, the draw is out. I tapped my husband with excitement and told him there is a draw that just happened and we are part of the 1,503 who were invited for permanent residency. We are so happy. Very timely for my birthday and our 7th wedding anniversary on the 20th of December. A very overwhelming gift it is. Indeed, God is so good. Thank you dear Father God.

Off now to the next stage. Yes, congratulations to us. We are closer, more than ever, to becoming parents to our little R. Again, thank you dear Father God for continuously guiding and leading us with our Canada dream for little R.

Upfront Medical, NBI and Others

We now have every reason to prepare for the next CIC draw as discussed during my previous blogs. Thus, my husband and I opted to do the following:

Firstly, I asked my husband to secure a new TOR and diploma to his school which cost him P390.00. 

Secondly, on 8 December 2015 (my 6th week in our NBPNP Application), even before we received our nomination to NBPNP, my husband and I decided to apply "again" for an NBI. Why again? Because we already applied for it last May 2015. So do not follow what we did. Wait for a nomination and/or an ITA from CIC before getting your NBI. I felt short in reading the NBI requirement for Filipinos. NBI has a validity of 1 year but CIC specifically states in their instruction that it must not be older than 6 months before uploading it in your application. We paid P140.00 each for the renewal of our NBI plus transportation and meals. A total of P1,100.00 added in our expenses.

Thirdly, my husband and I decided to consolidate our 2 bank accounts into 1. This can be done as per my NBPNP fellow applicant, fjd2011, we just have to indicate in a LOE that we closed our LDB account and deposited it to our PNB account. Thus, on 11 December 2015, we went to LDB and closed our account in the form of a Manager's Check (MC). On the same day, I deposited the MC to PNB. The problem is, it is late for clearing. So the amount will be posted only on 14 December 2015, a Monday. So, I need to attach the debit memo, Manager's Check, the closed LDB passbook and the PNB deposit slip to our LOE. I will just secure a bank certificate and statement of account by Thursday, 17 December 2015. We paid for the MC and since it is located in Cavite, where we have to pay for the cost of travel and meals, a total of P650.00 added to our expenses.

Fourthly, on 12 December 2015, we again opted to get a new Canada Visa picture which is in line with CIC requirement as follows:

• The frame size must be at least 35 mm x 45 mm (1 3/8″ x 1 3/4″).
• The photographs must show the full front view of the head, with the face in the middle of the photograph, and include the top of the shoulders.
• The size of the head, from chin to crown, must be between 31 mm (1 1/4″) and 36 mm (1 7/16″).
• Crown means the top of the head or (if obscured by hair or a head covering) where the top of the head or skull would be if it could be seen.
• If the photographs do not meet the specifications, you will have to provide new photographs before your application can be processed. (See CIC Photo Requirements)

We have had a picture submitted to NB but the problem is we failed to get a soft copy of said pictures. Thus, the repeat of the pictures. We spent P600.00 for the pictures plus a CD where the jpeg format of the pictures are saved.

Lastly, we did our upfront medical yesterday, 14 December 2015, at St. Lukes Medical Center in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig City Branch. We chose to have an overnight stay in a hotel in Makati Avenue on the 13th of December 2015, which is a 30 minutes taxi drive to St. Lukes, to save ourselves from heavy traffic brought about by a Monday medical. We spent a total of P3,548.00 for the hotel accommodation, transportation and meals.

Thus, we arrive at St. Lukes at 5:30 AM. No problem getting there so early, we got numbers 10 and 11 in the registration. We are the 5th family to do the medical but I do not know why we are the first one to pay our fees and do the xray, LOL. We paid for P7,953.00 each for the upfront medical non ede category or a total of P15,906.00.

So, first things first, when we entered the clinic, they took a photo of us, like when taking an NBI or passport. No smiling again, LOL. No more biometrics for us but instead they required us to sign our e-Medical Information Sheets. While a nurse was processing our papers, meaning encoding our details in his laptop (I think an e-online application), a nurse called us to check our eyes. So, do not wear your contact lenses. Good thing I just used my eye glasses that time. You will need only to read the letters in front of you, just like in an Optical Clinic. Afterwhich, the nurse got our BPs, weight and height. Then wait for your name to be called by the registration nurse. When all is okay in the registration, they will ask you to sign the e-Medical as stated above, gives you copies of it where the UMI numbers are also indicated then off you go to the cashier for payment.

Once payment is done for the upfront medical, another nurse will get your papers on the cashier section, calls your name then off you go to the Xray room adjacent to the clinic. Funny story, the Xray room is so cold, colder than the clinic, so after doing my xray, I told my husband I need to pee only to come back for a urine sample collection, LOL. So, I pass the urine collection for half an hour. A nurse called me so she can do a blood extraction first. My husband both did the urine collection and blood extraction. After it, they directed us to a room for a doctor's physical exam. So, for female, having a monthly period is a big NO because we are required to remove everything. Don't worry, a female doctor will be checking on you while a male doctor for your husbands. In the room, the doctor will check on your eyes, throat and ears. The doctor asked me to lie down on the bed. From there, she checked on my 2 hands (she let me stretch it, maybe because I stated in my form that I have an operation due to a fractured left arm), then my abdomen, my anus (LOL, she asked me to open it) and then my breasts (for lump, just in case you have one). Afterwhich, she interviewed me again if I have other operations aside from my left arm. I opted to tell the truth and told the doctor that I have an operation in my left ear when I was 7 or 8 years old. I told her, my doctor has to remove my leaf eardrum to save my life. The next part is a headache.  For my husband's physical exam, I cannot give more details because he is in another room with a male doctor. All he told me is that he were also asked to remove everything and he underwent the process like mine.

After the physical exam, we were asked to go to the reception again and wait for our names to be called for further instructions. When a nurse called us, the sad news came for both the husband and I. My husband needs to pay an additional P2,765.00 because of an ear piercing, which is already close. Note that for male applicants, if you have your ear pierced and also a tattoo, you will be required to do an additional tests for hepatitis B and anti-HCV. The breakdown of the fees will be as follows:

On my part, I was required by the doctor to provide for a medical certificate for an impaired hearing condition on my left ear. Ouch, I never expected this because my operation was way back 1986, 1988 or 1989, whichever. Good thing, I was allowed to go to any ENT specialist for said medical certificate, we are in the hospital and we finish everything at 9:00 AM. So, we went to the information to ask for an ENT specialist. At the ENT doctor, I was required to do 3 hearing tests as indicated below. These tests made me dizzy. There is even this one test which requires a machine being connected to my ear and to my brain. Dizziness overload. Final assessments: within normal hearing range, right; and profound mixed hearing loss, left.

We went back to the ENT doctor for the medical certificate. That was 11:15 AM. I felt bad when the doctor told me that he cannot give me the medical certificate and asked me to come back today, 15 December 2015, because he told me he cannot finish doing the certificate because the Canadian Clinic (10th Floor) of St. Lukes is requiring so many details on it. OMG, the paper is just asking for his license number, date, clinic, specialization (which is ENT specialist), result, am i required for a maintenance medicine, opinion on my case for the next 5 years. OMG really. But I pleaded that I need the certificate on the same day because I came all the way from Cavite just to do my upfront medical. He frowned and told me to wait outside. He will give the certificate if he can finish it because he has patients waiting outside (but there is none). At around 11:45 AM, he issued the medical certificate to his secretary. We were asked to pay P1,500.00 for his professional fee and maybe for the medical certificate too. No need to debate on this (so no need to post the receipt too) so we just paid and went directly to the 10th Floor. I honestly did not see the date only what is written in the certificate. (I forgot the xerox copy, I will upload the medical certificate tomorrow)

At the 10th Floor, at around 12:00 noon, I gave my medical certificate plus the result of my hearing tests. I thought everything will go smoothly after we have taken our lunch. Note that we did not went out of St. Lukes premises because we are hoping to catch up for my MMR (Measles, Mumps and Rubella) interview too along with my husband. This can only be done if my medical certificate will be accepted by them. Sad to say, this one has taken me so long because of my age on the result of my hearing tests and the date of my medical certificate. Stress go away, my patience is testing me. Good thing I am done with BP, xray and blood extraction, LOL. Imagine, I gave my medical certificate at around 12:00 noon, my husband went to the reception twice or thrice just to follow up my case because the doctor who did my physical exam told me that I need to go back to her for go signal. Test of patience, isn't it? At around 2:45 PM, I stood up and went to the nurse. He told me that what is written in my medical certificate is accepted by the doctor in-charge but I need to change my age (from 36 to 35) in my hearing tests result. My bad, i rounded it of because there is only 6 days left (from 14 December) in my 35 years. Also, my medical certificate is dated 15 December 2015 just like the date when the ENT doctor told me to come back for it. The papers must be changed. OMG. Good thing, they allowed me to do the MMR interview (this one is a different story, LOL). So, we went down to Neurology Section to ask for a change of age in my hearing tests which they gladly change. The problem is with the ENT doctor. Closed clinic. Good thing is they accepted my medical certificate even if it was dated 15 December 2015.

Okay so back to the MMR interview. I was still next to my husband. Yehey. He was already given a form for him to pay a MMR vaccine fee of P1,300.00. On my part, the doctor ask me basically the same questions during my physical exam but an added question of: when is your last contact? (LOL, married couples know this). I told her on the 6th of December 2015. She asked me if I am sure of it and answered yes. I have my app, LOL. BUT...BUT...I was not allowed to do my pregnancy test (required for adult women) and my MMR vaccine not until 21 December 2015. I told the doctor, I am sure I am not pregnant because when we had our contact I am not yet in my fertile window plus I need to take fertility drugs for a chance to get pregnant. That I have infertility issues. But the doctor, even if she is so friendly and accommodating, was very firm to say NO because she is thinking for a 1% chance of conceiving for our last contact of 6 December 2015. Okay, so my advise, no contact for 2 weeks or better yet do the medical a week after your last period, hahaha (I will laugh this time). I told the doctor that I am only here in Manila until the 18th of December because I will be going home to the province by 19 December 2015 and will only be back on the 3 January 2016. She told me that it is okay that I will not have to do a pregnancy test and MMR vaccine and just do it on the 21st of December in any private hospitals. I just have to make sure that I ask for a Certificate of Vaccination because I will need it at the port of entry stage. Relieving. I asked again if it will affect my medical. She answered, NO, because just like what she said I need it only when we land in Canada. She even told me that my husband can also do the same but the problem is she already ask him to pay for his vaccine. Good thing he did not pay yet because he was waiting for me. So, the doctor just asked us to sign that we will just do the MMR vaccine outside of St. Lukes. Please note that the MMR vaccine is a new requirement given by Canada immigration and is required for ages 1 to 39. The most important of everything that the doctor told us is that all our tests are normal. Thank you, Lord.

After doing the interview. The nurse told us that they will just call us if and when there will be problems in our medical but so far he confirmed that all our tests are normal. He also instructed us that we can scan and upload our e-Medical Information Sheet to CIC after 2 weeks from 14 December 2015.

The total expenses we incurred for our upfront medical is at P25,395.00. We still need around P4,000.00, more or less, for our MMR vaccine. It is either, I go down with my husband on the 21st of December which will entail us an additional bus fare so we can have the vaccine at St. Lukes or we do the vaccine in Baguio City at P1,500.00 each for the MMR plus doctor's professional fee. Let's wait and see. We are just so happy we accomplish so many things for the last 2 weeks.

NBPNP Nomination Accepted

So after accepting our nomination in our EE profile yesterday, 10 December 2015, the following pictures will show you how our EE has been updated:

From the pictures above, you can see that from our previous CRS of 313, it is now standing at 913 CRS. A whooping 600 points added to our CRS as an effect of our nomination by NB. So, our advise, if you have low score, target on provincial nomination programs offered by different provinces of Canada. Read and be informed. Do not wait for a drop in CRS draws given by CIC. Make the most out of your ECA, IELTS and your documents. You can do it, just like we did.

Afterwhich, on the same date, we also received an email from NB attaching thereto our Nomination Certificate as shown below.

To date, we are now waiting for the next CIC draw and we are praying we will receive an ITA before the year ends.

NBPNP Nomination

Hello my blog, it has been a while. Did you miss me? I did.

So, I am back with a very good news. I finally received our nomination to the NBPNP EELMS stream last night, 9 December 2015, at 10:08 PM (Philippine Time). Actually, I did not received an email from CIC. I opened my account in MyCIC after reading the following nominations: (1) Canada Visa forum with username doravmon; Whatsapp group for Filipinos (2) fjd2011 told us that username hogiamisan is also nominated; (3) genuinelyjenny's friend received her nomination; (4) our whatsapp friend Vince; and (5) yours truly, LOL. Note, however, that I received an email from CIC 5 or 10 minutes later for said provincial nomination.

Okay, so here is the story. In our Filipino whatsapp group, we are 5 in the batch of October who chronologically received an AOR: (1) jake cuenca (13 October 2015); (2) Vince (16 October 2015); (3) kojare (23 October 2015 with No. 765); (4) me (27 October 2015 with No. 769); and Tattoine (29 October 2015 with No. 770 or 780 +). To add to my story of sleepless nights, let me add od.barr with AOR 21 November 2015 and No. 800/820 +. Here goes the story, jake cuenca and Vince got their first communications from an officer of the Government of NB requesting for an additional document(s). Then came kojare's turn where he is automatically nominated by NB without additional document on 1 December 2015 (he got his CIC ITA on the 22nd draw, 4 December 2015). So, it is my turn now, right? My application is going on its 6th week but I never heard from NB. Worst that added to my anxiety of waiting is that od.barr who is No. 800/820 + told us that he received an email from an officer of NB requesting for an additional document(s) 2 weeks after his AOR. Then came the 5th of December, 4 December in Canada, Tattoine informed us that she also received an email from an officer. Oh no, what went wrong in our application? I am honestly very worried plus the fact that I am the nervous type of person. My comfort is every time I pray, God talks to me through instagram posts of @instagodministries where I calmed down for a while, LOL.

Then came this week, our 6th week, 8 December 2015 to be exact. Another nerve-wracking week. Also, did I tell you that MyCIC is down for 2 or 3 days since the last draw of 4th December. Funny but I cannot control anymore the anxiety so when the MyCIC is up on 8th December and after not hearing from NB, I checked my MyCIC account to see if there is any update but there is none. Guess what I did, LOL, yesterday, 9 December 2015, I emailed NB through their General Information email, copy furnished Sir Jake, LOL (there is no smiley in this blog), at 9:10 AM (Philippine Time). I told my husband that by night time I hope and pray for a reply on my inquiry about our application. Sir Jake replied and I received it at 6:27 PM (Philippine Time) and 5:24 AM (as per my yahoo email time, Canada Time I think). The mail says: "Good morning. Thank you for your inquiry. Please be aware that processing times average 6 to 8 weeks. Best regards..." Very funny me, okay and I know, LOL, but it helps to pacify my stressful and sleepless weeks. I also know that I acted too much but, Oh my, I felt left out in the application procedure for the second time. Just like in the NBPNP ITA when I did not change my NOC, they all got there ITAs except me. And this again, they all received communication from NB except me. So, please understand.

Still on 9 December 2015, I visited the church just like what I always do. I kneeled down and prayed hard to our Father God that a communication be given to us or better a nomination. It will be our 7th year wedding anniversary 10 days from now and also my birthday, I prayed and asked God to bless us with our nomination until CIC stage because we wanted so much to have a child and this Canada dream is not for us but basically for our little R, our dream of becoming parents. It has been 7 years now and all I wanted for my birthday is this Canada dream to become reality because I know and I feel we will become parents to little R in the maple leaf country.

You know what the last post I have read from instagram user @instagodministries: "God heard you. Be patient." It has always been "be patient", "it's coming" and the likes. And it did. As I stated earlier, I did not receive any email from CIC, I checked MyCIC account. After clicking the Identity Validation where the question asked is "where do I get my strength", my answer Father God, came the next page under "View my submitted applications or profiles" table. It says there "updated" in the details and "new" in the messages. That is not the usual wordings indicated in said table, right? It is "submitted" and "read". My heart is pounding and I am calling God. I told my husband this is not the usual thing. I clicked "check status and messages" and, Oh my God, it is there Province/Territory nominations, "Accept" or "Not Accept" I think. Of course, my eyes is only at the "Accept" button. I cried, I really cried and so is my husband. We just thanked God repeatedly. This is really His plan for us. Thank you dear Father God. Thank you. We are forever grateful.

I did not click on the accept button yet. I am afraid that it will be lost because of slow connection at home. So, I waited until today, 10 December 2015, to accept it here in our office. The picture says it all.

After acceptance. I received another message from MyCIC as stated below. My additional 600 points will reflect 24 to 48 hours after acceptance just on time for the next draw. Fingers crossed. So, we better gear up for the next stage.

Here is our timeline in the NBPNP EELMS:

ITA: 09/26/2015
AOR: 10/27/2015
No additional document
Nomination: 12/09/2015

Pray, believe and have so much faith. God is good. He hears us.