This is my immigration timeline for both the permanent residence and the citizenship process.
Note that I was very lucky, my application was processed extremely fast, which is unusual.
CIC publishes current application processing times on its website.
- March to April 2005: Prepared the application, filled out the forms and gathered all the documents.
- April 19, 2005: Took the medical exam in Ottawa at the CIC-approved University of Ottawa Health Services (with Dr. Vincent F.G. Nadon).
- May 19, 2005: Sent the application to Mississauga, Ontario.
- June 13, 2005: The application was sent back because it was not clear whether I was living in Canada or in France. Just a small bump on the road…
- June 18, 2005: Amended my application and sent it back.
- July 7, 2005: Sent our marriage certificate that was originally missing (getting it from Thunder Bay took months!).
- June 30, 2005: Received the first acknowledgement letter: Feng is eligible to sponsor me.
- August 5, 2005: My application is forwarded to the Canadian embassy in Paris.
- September 27, 2005: The Canadian embassy in Paris acknowledges receipt of my application.
- October 20, 2005: “Decision made”, my application is approved and I am granted permanent resident status.
- November 17, 2005: Five days before the expiration of my one-year Working Holiday Visa, I became a landed immigrant. I had to travel to Prescott, U.S.A. in order to become a landed immigrant.
- August 5, 2008: I am eligible to apply for citizenship. I sent my application.
- November 12, 2008: I receive the acknowledgement letter.
- June 11, 2009: I took the citizenship test in Ottawa.
- July 3, 2009: I took the oath of citizenship and became Canadian around 12:30 p.m.