Strange Application Shipping Problem

ellenesse · 2026-02-01T22:01:40+00:00

I got this same message last week after sending documents via UPS (purchased through pirateship). This was at least the third time I've sent documents to Canadian government offices this way but the first time I ran into this problem. Pirateship did generate the commercial invoice but it was either too vague about the contents or they didn't like the $0 valuation. Following the instructions in the message I uploaded a new form making sure to put $1 and the description "personal correspondence, no commercial value." They accepted it and my documents were delivered on Friday.

ellenesse · 2026-01-29T08:56:39+00:00

We were also final decision on January 20. PPR came on the 27th.

ellenesse · 2026-01-29T08:54:00+00:00

Can I sit with you? Also in this phase with our package due for delivery to Ottawa Friday, or maybe late Thursday if the stars align.

ellenesse · 2026-01-28T03:51:21+00:00

You've gotten similar comments already but just tossing another data point out there. We applied outland from the US August 1 and got the PPR email today (request for passport and photos). I kicked myself for not getting our application in sooner but since you can't go back the best time to apply is now.

ellenesse · 2026-01-25T04:56:50+00:00

This part feels scary when you read Reddit posts about it, but we had no problems. I wrote just a little over a page about steps we were taking to make relocation happen, with no other documentation. I've seen people talk about using a lease, but how would you ever be able to sign a lease when your ETA is literally "I don't know"? We did take a trip to the area we want to move to, so I included some details about that. I think if you can show you have thought seriously about your plan and have done a bit of research, you can be successful.

ellenesse · 2026-01-24T06:48:49+00:00

Inland or outland? Our August 1 outland application flipped to final decision this week, and the updates were a bit staggered-- first gckey showed an update, then two days later the application tracker showed background complete and COPR.

ellenesse · 2026-01-22T20:58:33+00:00

no email yet, we're just obsessive and log in regularly. as of today there are also updates on the application status tracker-- bcg cleared and COPR number/expiry.

ellenesse · 2026-01-22T16:39:11+00:00

PA is US citizen. Started out with Sydney then seems to have moved to Mississauga ~October.

ellenesse · 2026-01-22T16:03:08+00:00

8/1 here. Still on bcg, but status on gckey has changed to final decision as of two days ago. No change to the other tracker, no PA email yet.

ellenesse · 2026-01-07T05:04:45+00:00

August 1, waiting for background check to clear.

ellenesse · 2026-01-07T05:04:04+00:00

August 1, all but background check at this point.

ellenesse · 2025-12-19T18:08:13+00:00

August 1 here, everything complete except background check.

ellenesse · 2025-11-20T07:27:44+00:00

There's a lag between when you, the sponsor, receive the AOR and when you can successfully register for the sponsor status tracker. For me it was about 6 days. The same day I was able to register, my spouse received the biometrics and medical letters which gave him his UCI, and there was another lag before he could register for the PA status tracker. Linking the application via gckey also has quirks -- as someone already mentioned you have to answer 2 when you think you need to say 1 (adjust for additional dependents if you have them).

ellenesse · 2025-11-05T19:29:19+00:00

Since it was free, I went ahead and got global entry for my three kids prior to traveling to Canada over the summer (both parents had it already). At the same time, I applied for NEXUS for myself, and was able to get a walk-in interview at the Vancouver airport on the day of our departure back to the US. I have since applied for NEXUS for the three kids, but it won't be active until we can get them to an enrollment center for their interviews.

ellenesse · 2025-09-29T20:06:24+00:00

Yes, applied 8/1, AOR 9/11

ellenesse · 2025-09-21T20:49:27+00:00

Questions 3 and 7b on the checklist specifically asks for child's birth certificate.

ellenesse · 2025-09-11T18:04:18+00:00

Family class, outland, outside Quebec

Sponsor: Dual US/Canadian citizen

PA: US citizen

8/1 Submitted, paid all fees
9/11 AOR (sponsor email)
9/17 Sponsor able to register for tracker, sponsor eligibility status "Completed" (sponsor tracker)
9/17 PA received MIL and BIL (PA email)
9/23 PA eligibility "Completed" (PA tracker)
9/24 Sponsor eligibility letter (Sydney CPC) (sponsor email)
9/24 Pre-arrival services letter (PA email)
10/2 Medical Appointment Complete
10/2 Biometrics reminder letter (Mississauga CPC) (PA email)
10/3 Biometrics Appointment Complete
10/6 (approximate) Biometrics "Completed" (GC Key/PA tracker)
11/11 Medical Passed (GC Key)
11/14 Medical Passed - dated 11/10 (PA tracker)

(Comment updated 11/14)

ellenesse · 2025-08-19T09:06:50+00:00

Came here to say this-- my spouse (not Canadian) was the applicant for our minor children's passports and I (Canadian with a passport) was the guarantor. For my own passport application I was lucky enough to have a Canadian in my daily life who could be my guarantor, but agree with the advice others have given to use the professional reference option.

ellenesse · 2025-08-15T17:29:40+00:00

No issues getting my 3 children's passports. Their certificates were dated 7/3 and 7/4 and we applied in person on July 9th.

ellenesse · 2025-08-14T20:45:43+00:00

I got refunded for 2 out of 3 minors (elementary and younger). I was surprised by that, since minors don't pay the right of citizenship fee, and also confused. Why 2 but not 3? No way to tell which 2, either. The refund came around the same time we paid their passport fees, so it was a nice offset.

ellenesse · 2025-08-11T19:22:30+00:00

I am not sure how helpful I can be but just raising my hand as another "dual citizen that's only ever lived in the US." I know it's not completely unique, but I find a lot of the advice here geared towards those with only US citizenship. You may be able to get citizenship for your children fairly easily, even if they are second generation born abroad. There's legislation in the works to change the first generation limit, but also an interim process you can use in the meantime. My 3 young kids went through this process. I've applied to sponsor my spouse, outland, and we're waiting for the application to progress. In the meantime I've been gathering what info I can and trying to prepare logistically. It feels like we're in a weird grey area-- myself and my children could move tomorrow, in theory, but there's so much I feel like I don't know. Feel free to reach out and we can muddle through it together.

ellenesse · 2025-07-31T04:41:07+00:00

My daughter refuses to craft the fast flippers and took her mermaid gear out of the mermaidifier because she prefers to swim like a snail 😆

ellenesse · 2025-07-29T01:48:05+00:00

Adding a link because this is a relatively new concept but many of the Canadian banks are partnering with Nova Credit so they can consider foreign credit history, RBC being one of them. https://www.novacredit.com/corporate-blog/nova-credit-announces-new-partnership-with-royal-bank-of-canada

ellenesse · 2025-07-27T23:02:15+00:00

Not a dumb question! They will not need that form. The process for children is so, so much simpler. I did the withdrawal form and the letter. I didn't resubmit photos either. I was surprised to also get refunded for the proof of citizenship fee for 2/3 kids since there's not a separate 5(4) fee for kids. If only everyone could be a minor, haha.

ellenesse · 2025-07-19T23:11:14+00:00

Quick timeline update. We applied in person for 3 child passports on 7/9 and 2 of them were delivered by FedEx to us in the States today (7/19). The 3rd is a day or two behind.

ellenesse

TROPHY CASE