Sharon - how much exactly should I have paid ?

Canada Immigration Forum (discussion group)


 
       
Subject: Sharon - how much exactly should I have paid ?
  Hi Sharon, I´m asking you because I believe you´ve applied in the same category as me so might know what I´m talking about! But anyone else´s input is also appreciated.

I applied under the common law partner category, INLAND, in Jan. 2005. the total fees I calculated at the time were around $1525 ($975 for the RPRF and I´m not sure why the other part, admin fees? It was a while ago!).

When I got my PR interview in June 2006, the guy in charge told me I had paid too much not just because the fees are now $475 but for some error on my part. He led me to believe that I should have paid $475 for the RPRF and that´s it. He told me to call CIC and point it out, which I did, and they said they would refund me the extra (didn´t really confirm I had made the mistake but said if there was one, it would be rectifed).

I got my cheque refund from CIC for $485 - i.e. the old RPRF minus the new fee. I called CIC again and the lady said this was the right amount and that the guy in my interview was wrong, I should have paid $475 (the new RPRF) plus admin costs. So at the time, I was right to pay $1525 outright, and I´ve got the correct refund accordingly.

Can you tell me who is right? Did I pay too much initially or is it right that I received the $485 refund and that on top of this, there are a few other costs to pay?

Argh, CIC and their confusion, they can´t even get their stories straight! Thanks in advance!

[02-08-2006,14:53]
[**.203.42.6]
.
(in reply to: Sharon - how much exactly should I have paid ?)
CIC reduced the landing fee a few months back and your refund is the correct amount. At the time of your original payment, you also paid the correct amount.
[02-08-2006,15:03]
[***.20.33.62]
sharon
(in reply to: Sharon - how much exactly should I have paid ?)
Thanks.
[02-08-2006,15:04]
[**.203.42.6]
.
re:. (in reply to: Sharon - how much exactly should I have paid ?)
Hi Sharon and . ,

I´m going to apply under this category (common-law) inland as well. I am not 100% sure about the process. Would you be so kind that we could talk offline through emails about this? It just seems like there are a lot of applications to fill out which kind of confuse me. If you could provide your email address here, I´d much appreciate it.

Thanks

[02-08-2006,23:36]
[**.197.216.154]
smacca
(in reply to: Sharon - how much exactly should I have paid ?)
sorry, I do not know nearly enough about commonlaw inland to be helpful.
[03-08-2006,00:01]
[***.20.33.62]
sharon
(in reply to: Sharon - how much exactly should I have paid ?)
Smacca -

Go to CIC´s website, find the correct forms. Fill them in, get the evidence they ask for, do the medical (and police checks if necessary, it says if you need it) and send it ALL to Vegreville. Wait 7 months, get approval in principle, send off for a work permit if you haven´t already got one, apply for a social insurance number with the AIP and get medicare with it too.

After another approx. 2-8 months you will be called for interview to finalise your PR.

That´s it in a nutshell! Fairly logical if you follow their instructions but frustrating to wait so long!

[04-08-2006,00:32]
[**.203.42.6]
.
(in reply to: Sharon - how much exactly should I have paid ?)
Hey ., thanks a lot for the detailed explanation. I´m holding a post grad work permit right now and will expire in June 2007. In this case, am I going to have it extended or applied for a brand new open work permit?

Thanks again!

[04-08-2006,09:58]
[**.197.216.154]
smacca
(in reply to: Sharon - how much exactly should I have paid ?)
If you´re working in Toronto, Montreal or Van., you can´t extend it, the work permit is only valid for a year. If you´re elsewhere, you can work for two years (can´t be extended), so it depends where you are and how long you´ve been working on the permit. You will have to stop working when it expires in June 2007, applying just before it expires to ´extend your stay but as a visitor´ so that you stay legal. Then when you get approval in principle (8 months after you apply) you can reapply for an open work permit. I suggest you apply asap for PR based on common law so that you might get it before your grad work permit expires!
[04-08-2006,20:01]
[**.203.42.6]
.
(in reply to: Sharon - how much exactly should I have paid ?)
Hi ., thanks again for your advice. They´re very useful. I have one more question regarding the co-signer. In what circumstances that we need to have a co-signer to sign the application? If my common-law partner is fully eligable to sponsor me. Is having a co-signer a must?

Thanks !


[05-08-2006,00:46]
[**.197.216.154]
smacca
(in reply to: Sharon - how much exactly should I have paid ?)
No, I think you´re supposed to leave that blank. : )
[05-08-2006,20:10]
[**.203.42.6]
.
(in reply to: Sharon - how much exactly should I have paid ?)
ahh thanks so much! I hope you had a good long weekend! I have two more question, I hope you don´t mind. :)

1) If I apply inland, is my application going to Buffalo visa office or go to my country of origin? (after the first stage approval)

2) Is that true that during the whole immigration application process, I can´t leave Canada at all? If I did, they might reject my application? (I read something like that in the cic website).

THanks again

[08-08-2006,00:08]
[**.197.216.154]
smacca