I thought waiting for AIP was boring. Wrong. The open-ended wait for CSIS is far worse. I just called the director's office again today... earlier this week they told me the relevant department would call me, but that didn't happen. I don't even know for sure yet whether CSIS has finished processing the background check and it's CIC now dragging their heels. It's over 4 months now since my "background check" was initiated with CSIS.
To be fair, the woman who answers the phone at the CSIS director's office is friendly, and remembered me, which is more than can be said for any CIC call centre agent.
/rant
Matthew
My CSIS took 6 weeks exactly, and they were very nice about letting me know when they were finished. They had mine done before AIP. I've had security clearance before, so that may have made a difference since they didn't have to start from scratch.
I thought CSIS was the cause of the delay for me but it turned out to be the RCMP. Took CIC 3 requests to the RCMP to receive my clearance from them according to my FOSS notes.
It is boring indeed, especially when you realise that the system is not transparent at all, and you cannot see what's going on.
CSIS called me today. Apparently they send a letter out in response to my fax a couple of days ago. She didn't really tell me anything over the phone, except that they had received a request for screening from CIC.
I guess I'll just wait and see what this mysterious letter says.
Matthew
Quote:Canadian Security Intelligence Service
Service canadien du renseignement de sécurité
Nov 26 2007
Mr Matthew Carroll
xxxxxxxxxx
Vancouver, B.C.
xxx xxx
Dear Mr. Carroll:
Thank you for your correspondence of September 26, 2007, regarding your application for permanent resident status in Canada.
The Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) has received a request from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) relative to your application and the security enquiries for this application are in progress.
Although it is not possible to say how long it will take to complete the review, please be assured that CSIS is pursuing its screening function as expeditiously as possible and will provide its advice to CIC upon completion of its review.
I trust that the foregoing information will be of assistance.
Yours sincerely,
[signed]
John M. Dunn
Director General
Communications Branch
Yawn.
I'm yawning with you! I am so sorry that this letter didnt really give any detailed information for you. Why do they waste time writing those stupid letters if its not going to tell a person anymore than they already know?
that one is my favorite:
"I trust that the foregoing information will be of assistance."
- Oh, yes, such helpful information, thank you guys SO much!!
Yeah, it's pretty much a typical "Dear Sir, Please f*** off, Love, The Goverment" letter, but at least I know the file is with CSIS, and they haven't finished yet. I didn't know that for sure before. If they had finished and CIC was dragging its heels processing, I'd be able to push CIC - what I wanted to avoid was that situation - CSIS finishing, CIC doing nothing, and a never-ending wait. I'll check with CSIS again in another month, and try and forget it again for now and enjoy the holidays.
I think this is a test . . . are we strong enough to endure the madness!
Matthew
We've got the same reply from CSIS back in October. I wonder if they use some sort of template, which they probably do in replying to the correspondence. It does not matter what you'd written in your letter of request, the reply would be one and the same.
It is a torture and madness, totally agree with you.
Cheers
Ramina Wrote:I wonder if they use some sort of template, which they probably do in replying to the correspondence. It does not matter what you'd written in your letter of request, the reply would be one and the same.
Of course they have templates and not only one. After I received the same kind of letter back in June and kept sqweezing more information from CSIS about BC on my husband by sending more letters and faxes they replied with modified template. Never mind, the meaning was the same: "f....off, love, Gov."
I'm with you - Matthew - this AIP to DM waiting is even more soul crushing than waiting for AIP...
Will it ever end?!