Successful interview at Montreal and landing at Detroit

[prithis]

Folks

Though I have posted this on the Montreal thread, I have taken the liberty of posting it in this thread as well as there are some aspects of my case which would be of interest to other Indians going through the GC process. I will be revisiting this forum, so please feel free to ask me questions.

My experience has been uploaded as a word document. File attached

- Prithis

[alren]

Congrats and Good luck.

Prettty smooth timings in the earlier stages.

[lucienmike]

prithis,
Is it true that when I decide to land on the US permanently, I have to give up my Canadian PR resident card?

[Garry5224]

can u guide me how u got the PCC from India and RCMP. I live in Windsor

[kd1403]

prithis:

Congrats on getting your gc. And gret job with sharing all details in the word document.

Also there is an individual 'jalabaljings' who is in the same position (Canadian PR and going for USA PR soon) and he needs some advice. Would appreciate if you could share your thoughts in the following thread:
http://boards.immigration.com/showth...hreadid=120587

[prithis]

Garry5224:

Indian PCC - You need to make a trip to Toronto. The Indian Consulate (http://www.cgitoronto.ca/) is on 1835 Yonge Street, 4th Floor. You can download the form from the website. The fee is CAD 20 per person. You need to take your original passports (Indian and/or Canadian) and PR cards. You can also give them a self-addressed envelope with CAD 7 extra for mailing the pcc to your Windsor address. They will take 6 weeks. They will return the passports immediately.

Canadian PCC - It seems that you are resident in Canada, so a "name check" pcc from the RCMP should be sufficient (as opposed to the fingerprint check pcc which takes several months). If you are not a Canadian resident, you will probably need the fingerprint based PCC. I did my name-check PCC through International Fingerprinting Services (http://www.policecheck.com/), a company contracted by RCMP for providing this type of service. I went to their Scarborough office in Toronto at 4002 Sheppard Ave. East, Suite 206, Scarborough, Ontario MIS IS6. They charge CAD 25 for the name-check PCC. The certificate actually comes from RCMP in about 5 days. It is an official RCMP document. Unfortunately they do not mail the PCC, and you may have to make a second trip to Toronto to pick up the certificate.

- Prithis

[prithis]

lucienmike:

The Canadian PR will not cause any problems in the green card process, but if they know that you have a Canadian PR, you will be asked to surrender it when you go for the landing for the first time on the US immigrant visa. In my case, I am a Canadian PR who has just got the green card. The INS agent informed me that I needed to give up my Canadian PR, but I would be given reasonable time to do this and move to the US. However if I continue to hold on to the Canadian PR, then the INS could revoke my green card. He told me that he had put a note to this effect in the system against my A number. When I asked him what he meant by reasonable time, he said "a few months". To be on the safe side, I am going to surrender my Canadian PR in 3 months, after moving permanently in the US.

This is in spite of the fact that I have completed 730 days in less than 5 years in Canada and met the requirements for retaining the Canadian PR. I called the Canadian Immigration about this. They said that as long as I met this condition, I can retain the Canadian PR and get a new PR card after 5 years. But if after the next 5 years, I do not meet the requirement of 730 days, I will have to give up the Canadian PR.

The INS does not seem to care about this. They insist that you must give up your Canadian PR when you get your US green card.

Incidentally, my daughter is Canadian as she was born in Canada. She can sponsor me back as a Canadian PR when she is 18 years old, but that is too far out in the future.

- Prithis

[lucienmike]

Prithis,
Thank you for your reply. I have another question. I want to know how to surrender my PR resident after I emigrate to the US. Thanks.

[jalabalajings]

Prithis,

First congratulations on your successful interview and becoming a PR in the US.

I am also in the process of obtaining my PR in the US through CP. I am almost in the final stages of collecting all documents that are needed for the CP interview.

I am also a Canadian PR. I have not yet landed in Canada, will be doing so next month. I don't plan to stay in Canada, land and then come back to US.

Do you think I would require a PCC from the Canadian authorities for my upcoming CP interview. I am not a Canadian resident so I am pretty sure that I wouldn't require a namecheck PCC. Do I require a Fingerprint PCC?

Based on your experience, would you advise me not to land in Canada as a PR before my CP interview?

FYI, I am living in the US for the past 5 years and have been to Canada as a tourist.

Your thoughts in this matter is highly appreciated.

Thanks,
DA

[prithis]

lucienmike:

I asked the Citizenship and Immigration Canada exactly this question - how to give up my Canadian PR once I am settled in the US. The CIC agent told me that I could give it up at any of the Canadian Consulates in the US.

- Prithis

[prithis]

jalabalajings:

You would need a PCC from Canada if you have lived in Canada for at least 6 months. Since you have not, you will not need a PCC from Canada.

Your second question is rather complicated, so bear with me while I try to explain the options. Please note that I am a layman in immigration matters and not a lawyer, and my advise is based on purely personal experience.

I am assuming that the reason for your decision to land in Canada as a PR is that 1) your Canadian immigrant visa expires soon, 2) you want to keep Canada as a back-up option in case something goes wrong with your US GC application and 3) your US green card interview date is still unknown to you, and it is not due immediately.

If the above assumptions are correct, I would advise you to do the Canadian landing next month. I think it is important to keep Canada as a back-up, and not to let the Canadian immigrant visa expire without landing. If however your Canadian visa is not expiring soon, I would advise you to land in Canada as late as possible, maybe a few days before the expiry date.

In the above scenario, you would land in Canada. The CIC will process your PR and put a Landed Immigrant stamp on your passport. Your Canadian Immigrant status will be accessible to both the Canadian as well as the US immigration authorities as they have access to each other's systems at every border point.

If however your GC interview is coming up soon and the Canadian visa expiry is some way off, I would advise you to simply go for the GC interview without doing the Canadian landing. If you get through the GC interview successfully (and chances are that you will if all your documentation is complete) then you can simply forget about the Canadian PR. If for some reason your US GC is turned down (normally this will not happen), you could do your Canadian landing at that time.

In any case you need to know that holding on to two PRs is risky. If you get the Canadian PR first and then get the US GC, then you will need to give up the Canadian PR assuming that you are more interested in the US GC.

- Prithis

[lucienmike]

Prithis, thanks again. A final question. The INS can won't give me a green card after I land on the US till I give up my Canadian PR?

[prithis]

lucienmike

The INS will process the immigrant visa and put the I-551 stamp on your passport at the POE, but, as in my case, they may put a note in the system against your A number about your Canadian PR and that you need to surrender it within a reasonable time.

- Prithis

[jalabalajings]

Prithis,

Thank you very much for your reply. The answer to my first question was pretty straight forward.

The answer to the second question was also straight forward but has created a dilemma in me.

As per my earlier post, the Canadian PR is stamped in my passport but I am yet to land in Canada. I have to land by the 9th December 2004.

Now, my current position in obtaining the U.S. GC is ina few months. I am waiting for the P3 from NVC. Based on this trend I may get an interview in August, 2004.

I was under the asumption that I could land in Canada in May, 2004. The reason I did the Canadian PR is that it would serve as a backup if something goes wrong with the GC process and also if my brother applies for Canadian PR he will get five points based on me being a PR. So, at any cost I have to complete this process.

The questions is when to complete the landing process?

Based on your answers I think it wouldn't be a harm if I land in May, 2004 and then attend the GC intereview in August, 2004. I also understand that holding to two PR's at the same time is risky. But I also know of friends who has both. Of course these friends did not do CP , instead they did the 485 process. But they weren't asked any questions during the GC stamping.

Please help me decide based on your experiences and suggestions.

Thanks again,
DA

Originally posted by prithis
jalabalajings:

You would need a PCC from Canada if you have lived in Canada for at least 6 months. Since you have not, you will not need a PCC from Canada.

Your second question is rather complicated, so bear with me while I try to explain the options. Please note that I am a layman in immigration matters and not a lawyer, and my advise is based on purely personal experience.

I am assuming that the reason for your decision to land in Canada as a PR is that 1) your Canadian immigrant visa expires soon, 2) you want to keep Canada as a back-up option in case something goes wrong with your US GC application and 3) your US green card interview date is still unknown to you, and it is not due immediately.

If the above assumptions are correct, I would advise you to do the Canadian landing next month. I think it is important to keep Canada as a back-up, and not to let the Canadian immigrant visa expire without landing. If however your Canadian visa is not expiring soon, I would advise you to land in Canada as late as possible, maybe a few days before the expiry date.

In the above scenario, you would land in Canada. The CIC will process your PR and put a Landed Immigrant stamp on your passport. Your Canadian Immigrant status will be accessible to both the Canadian as well as the US immigration authorities as they have access to each other's systems at every border point.

If however your GC interview is coming up soon and the Canadian visa expiry is some way off, I would advise you to simply go for the GC interview without doing the Canadian landing. If you get through the GC interview successfully (and chances are that you will if all your documentation is complete) then you can simply forget about the Canadian PR. If for some reason your US GC is turned down (normally this will not happen), you could do your Canadian landing at that time.

In any case you need to know that holding on to two PRs is risky. If you get the Canadian PR first and then get the US GC, then you will need to give up the Canadian PR assuming that you are more interested in the US GC.

- Prithis

[prithis]

jalabalajings

The fact that you MUST become a Canadian PR to help your brother get 5 points somewhat changes the equation.

Given the facts of your case, I think you should do the Canadian landing first in May. After that you can go for the US GC interview. I am assuming you have opted for India for the interview. The Canadian PR should not create any problems during the interview process. If the Consular officer or agent at the POE asks you about your status in Canada (seeing your passport), you must answer honestly. But you must convince them that your intentions are to move to the US when you get your GC.

Chances are that they may not ask you about your Canadian status, as your Consulate is in India. In my case, my consulate was Montreal, so they knew it anyway.

It is true that there are people who have both Canadian PR and US green card, but the retainment of the PRs in either case is based on physical presence in the country. Hence in most cases people who have dual PRs will lose one of them anyway as they cannot meet the residence requirements in both countries.

- Prithis

[motown]

Hello Prithis,

Thanks very much for all your posts, it really helps. I have two questions, and I was wondering that if you can help me out.

I lived in US for about three years before I move to Canada for PR. Right now, I already filed Canada Citizen in January, and expecting get the card around Nov. And my Package 3 is on the way to my home now.

1. Should I prepare for the police certificate for the period that I lived in US from 1997 to 2000?

2. You mentioned that you get name check in Toronto for the period you lived in Canada. We know that fingerprint clearance check in Canada take about 5 months, while the name check is faster.

My question is: Is the name check works for Consulate? do I need to do the fingerprint anymore? What should I say to the RCMP in order to get name check?

Thanks in advance for your help!

Best regards,

Motown

[prithis]

Motown:

According to the pkt 3 instructions which I received, "Present and former residents of the United States should NOT obtain any police certificates covering their residence in the US". If your Pkt 3 mentions the same (and I believe nothing has changed in this area), you do not need any police certificates for your stay in the US.

If you are resident in Canada, which I presume you are, a name-check certificate is sufficient and is accepted by the US Consulate in Montreal. You need not do the finger-print based PCC for Canada. I did my Canadian name-check pcc through International Fingerprinting Services, a private company contracted by RCMP for this type of service. I got my pcc in 5 days. This pcc is an official RCMP document. This company's website is www.policecheck.com and they have branches in several cities in Canada.

- Prithis

[motown]

Hello Prithis,

Thanks very much for your quick and detailed response!

Have a nice day!

Motown

[ash_Can]

Hi Prithis,
Thanks in advance for the info shared. But, can you please specify the steps to get the RCMP clearance. I am a Canadain resident too and just received pack 3from NVC for US green card. I would really appreciate your favour.

Motown:

According to the pkt 3 instructions which I received, "Present and former residents of the United States should NOT obtain any police certificates covering their residence in the US". If your Pkt 3 mentions the same (and I believe nothing has changed in this area), you do not need any police certificates for your stay in the US.

If you are resident in Canada, which I presume you are, a name-check certificate is sufficient and is accepted by the US Consulate in Montreal. You need not do the finger-print based PCC for Canada. I did my Canadian name-check pcc through International Fingerprinting Services, a private company contracted by RCMP for this type of service. I got my pcc in 5 days. This pcc is an official RCMP document. This company's website is www.policecheck.com and they have branches in several cities in Canada.

- Prithis

[motown]

Hello ash_Can,

I think it really depends on RCMPs. Most RCMP will give back the result to you within one week. And some of them can give it back to you in about 15 minutes.

Steps:
0. Call the RCMPs around your area, ask their procedures, timing, cost.
1. Ask your lawyer to write a letter for you. Either give it to you, or fax it to the RCMP.
2. Bring the letter, cash, and passport, driver ID, and whatever other IDs to RCMP.
3. ...

Good luck to you!

Motown

[ash_Can]

Dear Motown,
Thank you for the prompt reply and clarity shown. But, i am not going through any lawyer. What is this letter you are referring to. Is it mandatory for me. If so- can you throw some light on this. BTW- how much time you think i will get the interview date after i send all this. FYI- i will be appyling for PCC from Indian consulate next week. Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thanks again for your time.

[girv]

I am a Canadian resident looking to do CP at Montreal.

I am in Toronto and would like to locate a photographer who would do those ADIT photographs. Can those folks who have already done their CP at Montreal please recommend?

Also, I am looking to use Dr. Seidan's office for medical exam. Any pointers???

Thanks in advance.

[dot70]

I'm hoping someone can answer my questions;

I'm thinking of switching from 485 to CP in Montreal (AC140).

My understanding is that I send in the 824 along with the ac140 to NVC and they create a file for me.

My questions are:

My 485 has been outstanding for 13 months (I'm expecting it to take one more year), would it be beneficial from a time point of view to do CP in montreal.

I WOULD URGE YOU TO LOOK AT CPTRACKER.COM TO GET A SENSE OF HOW FAST THE CP CASES ARE PROCEEDING. I WAS QUOTED 3-6 MONTHS BY A COUPLE OF LAWYERS.

The date on my medicals is 3/03. I got this done in the U.S. Would the medicals be good enough for CP or do I need to do it again in Canada?

FROM MY UNDERSTANDING, MEDICALS FOR CP CANNOT COME FROM A US DOCTOR, BUT MUST BE DONE IN CANADA.

Police/FBI/RCMP clearance. I've lived in the states for five years and prior to that I lived most of my life in Canada. Can someone please guide me or point me to the proper thread on what I would need to do here.

THE BEST SOURCE OF INFORMATION I FOUND ON THIS TOPIC WAS IN IMMIHELP.COM - LOOK UNDER IMMIHELP FORUMS\CONSULAR PROCESSING\RCMP police certificate: to fingerprint or not

also look at the
> Experience of a Canadian EB-2 & Montreal Processing thread in the above forum;

I am going through Montreal CP process -- waiting for NVC fee bill, packet 3,etc. I have gone ahead and obtained the name search police certificates, at the same time, when I was at the RCMP office, I went through fingerprinting. I sent the latter forms to Ottawa last week and am waiting. The fingerprint based PC can take a while, so I would advise you to proceed with these ASAP if you opt for CP.

[rosh75]

Hi.. i hope someone can help me out...

I am a Canadian PR/Indian citizen residing in halifax for the past 2.5 years waiting for my green card thru CP at montreal.... I have a few questions:

1. Do i need to have a fresh PCC from India ? - I have the pcc that was done prior to my leaving India. If the answer is yes, could someone give me some guidance on how to go about this...

2. Is it possible to have the candian pcc done prior to receiving packet 3 and how do i go about this?

thanks

Roshini

[Raju595]

Hi.. i hope someone can help me out...

I am a Canadian PR/Indian citizen residing in halifax for the past 2.5 years waiting for my green card thru CP at montreal.... I have a few questions:


1. Do i need to have a fresh PCC from India ? - I have the pcc that was done prior to my leaving India. If the answer is yes, could someone give me some guidance on how to go about this...

{It looks like your PCC would be quite old at this time. You will need to
approach the nearest Indian Consulate/Embassy and apply for a PCC.
Go to the website of the respective Consulate and you should find
instructions on this}

2. Is it possible to have the candian pcc done prior to receiving packet 3 and how do i go about this?

{You MUST obtain your PCC (s) before you
can send back the Packet 3, because as far as my knowledge goes
the Consulates in Canada insist on receiving all the documents along with
Packet 3}

thanks

Roshini

{my responses}

My suggestion would be to move over to the threads that are specific to
US Consulates in Canada. You will get more current and accurate responses.

Raju

[sairam4599]

Hi Prithis and Others,

My husband and myself were approved Canadian PR in 2003 (while our US GC is under process). We landed in Canada and came back to US after 2 days. Now our Green cards got approved and received the cards also.

Do I have to Cancel/Surrender the Candain PR?
If I have to Cancel/Surrender, what exactly I need to do?

Please provide the information.

Thanks in Advance.

[rosh75]

thanks a lot Raju...

[rosh75]

Hi,
I made a trip to IFS in halifax to gather information on the canadian pcc and was told that right now there is a huge backlog with the RCMP in Ottawa and the fingerprint / PCC might take a minimum of 150 days to process.... also they told me that i would need to get the case number from montreal consulate starting with MTL to start the PCC process as they send a card with packet 3 that needs to be filled out...

i hope someone who has faced a similar situation can tell me how they went about this to avoid the delay....I am a Canadian PR - I am not sure if i need to get the fingerprint check done or only the name check pcc for montreal CP.

I would appreciate all your help...

thanks,
Roshini

[Raju595]

Hi,
I made a trip to IFS in halifax to gather information on the canadian pcc and was told that right now there is a huge backlog with the RCMP in Ottawa and the fingerprint / PCC might take a minimum of 150 days to process.... also they told me that i would need to get the case number from montreal consulate starting with MTL to start the PCC process as they send a card with packet 3 that needs to be filled out...

i hope someone who has faced a similar situation can tell me how they went about this to avoid the delay....I am a Canadian PR - I am not sure if i need to get the fingerprint check done or only the name check pcc for montreal CP.

I would appreciate all your help...

thanks,
Roshini

Sorry that you have realized about these delays now. There is a thread specific to Montreal Consulate at the top of the list. I have seen that another member has posted that they are indicating a delay of 5 to 6 months for this PCC process with RCMP now.

Post your queries in that thread for better coverage.

Raju

[motown]

Hello Prithis and others,

My Green Card case has been pending in NVC since June 4th, and no response since August 18th. Any body has ideas what might happen and what should I do? Thanks!

====================================
When I called NVC recently, I was told that my case is under clearance check. What I am concerned is that my case might be lost in the process, since no cases took so long for review. (Normally the case will need days or at most one month to clear security check - www.cptracker.com, while my case has been pending there for more than two months).

Time line of my case in NVC:
* June 4th NVC received package 3.
* June 16th NVC asked the proof of establishing eligibility to be processed for an immigrant visa in Canada
* June 28th NVC received copy of my Canadian Permanent Resident Card and Canadian Landing Paper
* August 11th, NVC asked DS-230 part one, since the previous document was lost.
* August 18th, NVC reviewed my case and sent my case for learance check.
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