Finally reached my end goal of this journey. I am now a Permanent Resident of Canada!
I started as an international student on 2017, graduated and got my Post-Graduation Work Permit in 2018, submitted Express Entry and got my Permanent Resident status in 2019. All of the information about this journey is documented in my previous posts. Please note that these are just information I know based on my experience. Always refer to the official Canada Immigration website.
Below is my general timeline. I also uploaded in the bottom of this blog, the detailed timeline and costs since Student visa application to Permanent Residency application
Below are the documents that I submitted for my PR application. These are all scanned copies uploaded and then submitted online.
When I filled up my forms for the PR application, Upfront Medical Exam was required. So I had to call for an appointment and had to wait 2 weeks for the scheduled medical exam. On the same day, March 7, 2019, I was able to submit my PR application also. The clinic where I did my exam gave me an e-medical sheet that I used to upload for my PR application. Physical exam was done in the clinic and then they gave me an endorsement letter for my blood work and X-ray which has to be done in a hospital. It only took me 2 hours and a half to complete this whole medical exam process. Medical fees varies per province. The cost I put here is for NB. Please ensure to bring your NB Medicare card as this will lower the fee of your blood work and X-ray. I did not ask how much the fee would be if I was not able to bring my card. The clinic assistant just reminded me to bring the Medicare card so I can save bucks.
In the Philippines, when I did my student visa application, I already got medical passed update after 2 weeks. But for my PR application here, it took almost 2 months until I got a medical update for my application. It got me really worried and made me do lots of research on timelines if mine is still on track. I even made 2 follow-up with the clinic to ensure that they had really submitted my results to immigration. But anyway, based on my research, medical results update from immigration for PR application usually takes at least 40 days.
I also researched ahead on where I could potentially do my biometrics and police check (RCMP) in Canada. But fortunately, I wasn’t required to submit these.
On May 27, 2019, I received another heart-pumping email first thing in the morning! I received the Passport Request! Usually, these emails from CIC would just to notify me that I have a new message in my online account. But this time, the instructions are all in the email and when I logged in to my online account, there was no update or change of status. I had to ask a friend to re-read it for me since my mind is floating already and I cannot focus anymore on what the action required is from my end.
Basically, the email is asking me to submit the following via mail:
1. Passport
2. Two (2) photos – I initially thought that this is the same as the visa photos and I even told the photographer to take visa photos of me. When she asked me to show the specifications, she corrected me and told me it is a different size. She took a permanent resident photo instead based on the specifications in the link provided in the email. I would advise to bring the photo specifications to the photographer. Also there is an instruction that at the back of one of the photos, you have to write your name and date of birth. This photo also needs to have the name and complete address of the photo studio and the date the photo was taken.
3. The completed and signed Annex A listing my current mailing address. This is included in the email body as a table (not as an attachment) and you just have to fill it up, print and sign. What I did with mine is I copy+paste this in a word document before filling it up and printing.
4. One pre-paid return envelope so that they can return my passport and confirmation of Permanent Residence documents. I went to Canada Post to mail my requested documents (number 1 to 3 above). When I got there, I just asked for the pre-paid return envelope. They would know what this is.
I mailed my documents to Ottawa on the same day that I received the passport request email. The address on where to send and full detailed instructions would be in the email request.
The following week, on June 4, 2019, I checked my online account and it was already updated to APPROVED!!!
Below is my timeline and costs from Student visa application to Post-Graduate Work Permit application to PR application (Express Entry and NB PNP). I did all of these process by myself. DIY way all the way!
To validate my PR status, I have to get out of Canada, enter another country and re-enter Canada to become a permanent resident at an international airport or Canadian land border. When I received my Confirmation of Permanent Residency, I went to St. Stephen-US border (approx. 3 hours from Moncton) to do my landing process. What I did is called flagpoling - term that describes the process of exiting Canada, being refused entry to the USA, and re-entering Canada to validate your new immigration status in Canada. More information about this and the requirements can be seen in this link.
Other ways of validating your PR status if you are inside Canada is found in the official Canada Immigration website.
My next step is to update my documents here like getting a permanent SIN and updating my Medicare validity.
I believe I am truly blessed. I know my family back home is constantly praying for the success of my journey. God has been with me the entire time smoothing the path for me.
To those who have been reading this blog from my student visa application up to date, I hope this documented journey inspires you. Take that leap of faith. Chase your dreams. Pray. Believe. Make it happen.
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