logicators
Registered Users (C)
All,
I received my 2nd letter to pick up the PR card at the end of June (with an appointment on July 10th). The letter also said that I might have to reapply for the card if I miss the appointment. Since my passport was sent for visa revalidation, I did miss the appointment. In the 2nd week of July, they sent a similar letter for my wife (we applied for the PR cards together) with an appointment on July 28th (this Monday). Since we received our passports last Wednesday, we decided to go to Toronto and pick up her card. Although I missed my own appointment, I decided to take my letter and give it a try (I was not so hopeful as Vault and others said that its not going to work).
We started our trip last Friday and flied from Oakland (California) to JFK, NY. We attended a wedding on Saturday and started driving for Toronto midday on Sunday. NYC had a bad traffic Jam (as usual) and it took us several hours to enter NJ but it wasn’t too bad after that. When we reached the Buffalo / Niagra border, I realized that mapquest directions advised to take the Lewiston bridge which doesn’t have special registration counter and decided to take peace bridge. I had to keep pressing the button to call an INS officer outside the trailer they placed for special registration. When nobody came for a long time, I crossed the freeway and went to the INS office on the other side. After waiting 10-15 minutes, I had a chance to talk to someone who refused to talk to me and asked to go back to the trailer and wait (suckers!). Finally, two officers arrived and processed the departure. The Canadian customs guy was nice and he was amazed when I said that I am coming back after 7 months (I decided not to lie for this trip since I had entry/exit stamps because of special registration). I ended up wasting 1+ hour because of INS and reached Toronto after 11 in the night.
As we were fairly tired, we didn’t make it to the appointment on time (scheduled for 8:30 in the morning) and reached the PR card office at 9:15. My wife’s letter was brown and mine was green in color. Luckily, the Brown counter was free but there were 100+ people waiting on the Green counter. We went to the Brown counter and presented my wife’s letter. The lady inspected her landing paper and asked for a secondary photo ID. She didn’t have a Canadian one (it’s a long story why) so I asked her to present her US University ID. The lady on the counter asked if we have any other ID. My wife presented her California ID and the lady asked if we my wife has a driver’s license or health card from Ontario. I said no and she started thinking for a while. Finally, she started activating the card. In the mean time, I noticed that there was no line on the next counter and asked the guy if I could ask a quick question. He smiled and said yes. I explained that I missed all of my appointments and if there is a way I could get my card instead of re-applying. She asked if its one of my family members on the other counter. After hearing yes, he said that in this case I might be able to help you and asked me to wait. After a few minutes, he surprisingly asked if I want to pick up my PR card on the same day. Happily, I agreed. He informed that it could take a lot of time and if I want to wait that much. I replied that I could wait the whole day if I can get my card J he asked me to stay in the waiting area and not to ask status until somebody calls my name
After about 2.5 hours, a lady called my name and explained that they started a new facility for families that are receiving different appointments for family members. She said sorry to keep me waiting
and handed over my card.
Afterwards, we went to the OHIP office and successfully applied for health cards.
On our way back, the INS wasted 2.5 hours to process the special registration (and no, there was no waiting time. I was alone in the office and spent all that time in front of the officer). The officer was a complete idiot and he didn’t have any idea on how to process special registration. He initially wasted 40 minutes and processed a departure instead of arrival. After that, he took another hour in order to figure out how to revert it J. 3-4 other officers were trying to help him but it was fairly useless. Once they figured it out (I started sleeping with my head on his table by that time), they tried to fingure print me. The machine was really dirty and was not getting any fingerprints They spent another 10-15 minutes in cleaning the glass, and finding a bottle of lotion to apply on my finger. The first one they found was empty. Finally, I went out of that mess after 2.5 hours and I was half dead!
All is well that ends well.
logicators
I received my 2nd letter to pick up the PR card at the end of June (with an appointment on July 10th). The letter also said that I might have to reapply for the card if I miss the appointment. Since my passport was sent for visa revalidation, I did miss the appointment. In the 2nd week of July, they sent a similar letter for my wife (we applied for the PR cards together) with an appointment on July 28th (this Monday). Since we received our passports last Wednesday, we decided to go to Toronto and pick up her card. Although I missed my own appointment, I decided to take my letter and give it a try (I was not so hopeful as Vault and others said that its not going to work).
We started our trip last Friday and flied from Oakland (California) to JFK, NY. We attended a wedding on Saturday and started driving for Toronto midday on Sunday. NYC had a bad traffic Jam (as usual) and it took us several hours to enter NJ but it wasn’t too bad after that. When we reached the Buffalo / Niagra border, I realized that mapquest directions advised to take the Lewiston bridge which doesn’t have special registration counter and decided to take peace bridge. I had to keep pressing the button to call an INS officer outside the trailer they placed for special registration. When nobody came for a long time, I crossed the freeway and went to the INS office on the other side. After waiting 10-15 minutes, I had a chance to talk to someone who refused to talk to me and asked to go back to the trailer and wait (suckers!). Finally, two officers arrived and processed the departure. The Canadian customs guy was nice and he was amazed when I said that I am coming back after 7 months (I decided not to lie for this trip since I had entry/exit stamps because of special registration). I ended up wasting 1+ hour because of INS and reached Toronto after 11 in the night.
As we were fairly tired, we didn’t make it to the appointment on time (scheduled for 8:30 in the morning) and reached the PR card office at 9:15. My wife’s letter was brown and mine was green in color. Luckily, the Brown counter was free but there were 100+ people waiting on the Green counter. We went to the Brown counter and presented my wife’s letter. The lady inspected her landing paper and asked for a secondary photo ID. She didn’t have a Canadian one (it’s a long story why) so I asked her to present her US University ID. The lady on the counter asked if we have any other ID. My wife presented her California ID and the lady asked if we my wife has a driver’s license or health card from Ontario. I said no and she started thinking for a while. Finally, she started activating the card. In the mean time, I noticed that there was no line on the next counter and asked the guy if I could ask a quick question. He smiled and said yes. I explained that I missed all of my appointments and if there is a way I could get my card instead of re-applying. She asked if its one of my family members on the other counter. After hearing yes, he said that in this case I might be able to help you and asked me to wait. After a few minutes, he surprisingly asked if I want to pick up my PR card on the same day. Happily, I agreed. He informed that it could take a lot of time and if I want to wait that much. I replied that I could wait the whole day if I can get my card J he asked me to stay in the waiting area and not to ask status until somebody calls my name
After about 2.5 hours, a lady called my name and explained that they started a new facility for families that are receiving different appointments for family members. She said sorry to keep me waiting
and handed over my card.Afterwards, we went to the OHIP office and successfully applied for health cards.
On our way back, the INS wasted 2.5 hours to process the special registration (and no, there was no waiting time. I was alone in the office and spent all that time in front of the officer). The officer was a complete idiot and he didn’t have any idea on how to process special registration. He initially wasted 40 minutes and processed a departure instead of arrival. After that, he took another hour in order to figure out how to revert it J. 3-4 other officers were trying to help him but it was fairly useless. Once they figured it out (I started sleeping with my head on his table by that time), they tried to fingure print me. The machine was really dirty and was not getting any fingerprints
They spent another 10-15 minutes in cleaning the glass, and finding a bottle of lotion to apply on my finger. The first one they found was empty. Finally, I went out of that mess after 2.5 hours and I was half dead!All is well that ends well.
logicators