Police Certificate Question

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coolcat21

285 posts

Ultimate Geek

#154073 17-Oct-2014 09:55

Hi guys,

So I've finally submitted my application for IEC-Canada (working holiday).

I got my Conditional Acceptance Letter 2 days ago and it will expires end of this month.

Stage 2 is applying for the visa through CIC (Citizenship Canada).

I've uploaded everything except the requested police certificate. I submitted my request for a criminal record through Ministry of Justice 2 days ago and they said it will take within 20 days (Excluding postage time !!) for it to arrive in the mailbox).

By that time, my conditional acceptance letter will have expired and there's a high chance that my visa request will be rejected eventhough i've been accepted into IEC.

Can someone help me on this ? CIC , IEC, and Ministry of Justice are all slow in answering phone calls and emails.....

It's strange that the acceptance letter is only valid for 2 weeks but the police cert takes almost 1 month to process.

:( ...I can't apply for IEC again as i've been accepted.

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128 posts

Master Geek

#1156613 17-Oct-2014 10:02

Not sure I can be much help with this other than to say send another request in. I applied for my record check before I started the process but even after 34 days I hadn't had a response to my first application. They responded to my second request within a matter of days.

coolcat21

285 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1156620 17-Oct-2014 10:04

So you got the record in the mail within days ?

is it to criminalrecord@justice.govt.nz ?

Oh man, i should've done this way before my IEC app.

If the conditional letter expires...i'm stuffed :(

gkjb

128 posts

Master Geek

#1156631 17-Oct-2014 10:12

Yep, that was the address. I think it came within 5 working days.

Your first request for it is probably fine but I'd resend the email and just ask for an update. Mention you're getting nervous as a working visa application is relying on it. Make sure you reattach the documents. I have no idea if they actually read the email body but fingers crossed for you.

As an aside, there are more jobs coming up than there were a couple of months ago. Once you are here pick up a retail job or something and just hammer out your applications. I've heard November/December are better for jobs.

coolcat21

285 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1156649 17-Oct-2014 10:30

gkjb: Yep, that was the address. I think it came within 5 working days.

Your first request for it is probably fine but I'd resend the email and just ask for an update. Mention you're getting nervous as a working visa application is relying on it. Make sure you reattach the documents. I have no idea if they actually read the email body but fingers crossed for you.

As an aside, there are more jobs coming up than there were a couple of months ago. Once you are here pick up a retail job or something and just hammer out your applications. I've heard November/December are better for jobs.

Thanks for this.

Have just emailed them again with the docs. ANd i put "urgent" along the subject line and explained it's for a visa.

I might call them too later today.

How long did CIC take to issue your Introduction Letter from when you submitted all the required docs & forms ? The LOI must've expired during the processing time of your application though right ?

And for jobs, I'll most likely (99%) go to Calgary,AB as my base. It's a pretty nice city from the looks of it. And I'm told there are more jobs there ?

I"ll def pick up a retail job first if i can't get a web dev job before I land. But I think I should be able to> I"m also learning angular js, mean stack etc..all the new tech.

gkjb

128 posts

Master Geek

#1156663 17-Oct-2014 10:43

Nothing expired for me. I figured it would take forever so got the record check before I started the application process.

I can't find the exact date I applied but I believe it was somewhere around 26 April. Got my acceptance on 6 May so it doesn't take too long. You might see a lot of email alerts about new messages but nothing in your inbox. I think that is just indicating that a different step in the process has been started.

Another bit of advice, hopefully you might get a few leads before you leave but either way get out and network. Join a few meetups on meetup.com, physically meet with recruiters, find the local kiwi group. Kia Ora Canada might have a group in Calgary and if they're anything like the bunch in Toronto its good to get to know them.

Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek

#1156904 17-Oct-2014 15:24

If you use LinkedIn make sure you join the KEA group and look for people in the area you are going to. Kiwis in BC do a lot of networking and most jobs are found through networks rather than ads.

Good luck with getting the police cert in time.

coolcat21

285 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1156905 17-Oct-2014 15:25

gkjb: Nothing expired for me. I figured it would take forever so got the record check before I started the application process.

I can't find the exact date I applied but I believe it was somewhere around 26 April. Got my acceptance on 6 May so it doesn't take too long. You might see a lot of email alerts about new messages but nothing in your inbox. I think that is just indicating that a different step in the process has been started.

Another bit of advice, hopefully you might get a few leads before you leave but either way get out and network. Join a few meetups on meetup.com, physically meet with recruiters, find the local kiwi group. Kia Ora Canada might have a group in Calgary and if they're anything like the bunch in Toronto its good to get to know them.

The acceptance on 6 May, was that the first letter from IEC ...or the actual Letter of Introduction from CIC (stage 2) ?

I was wanting to know the approximate time between submitting all the docs for the permit in stage 2 to getting the LOI.

I've just submitted everything (electronically signed). Except for the police certificate.

Per the Conditional LEtter instruction, I've included a short letter from me in place of the police certificate stating that i'm waiting for it to arrive.

Hopefully they wont' reject my submitted application if the acceptance letter expires while i'm waiting for the slowslowslow MoJ to process my crim record.

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Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek

#1156921 17-Oct-2014 15:41

Did you get the info about the 20 days via email from MoJ? If so, forward it on to IEC with a note requesting an extension of time if the cert doesn't arrive before the IEC acceptance expiry. While IEC is pretty strict about following procedure they are not unreasonable, especially if NZ's quota still has room. You lose nothing by asking.

One tip- keep your emails and calls to IEC and CIC to a minimum. An officer has to read every line of everything that gets sent to them. They will eventually get around to replying but emails and follow-up contact does tend to delay things. The easier you make their job, the faster they can process it.

gkjb

128 posts

Master Geek

#1156928 17-Oct-2014 15:51

coolcat21:

The acceptance on 6 May, was that the first letter from IEC ...or the actual Letter of Introduction from CIC (stage 2) ? I was wanting to know the approximate time between submitting all the docs for the permit in stage 2 to getting the LOI.

Whatever the final letter was. Sorry, did't have a copy of it with me to have a look at.

trig42

5816 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

#1156931 17-Oct-2014 15:58

On the record checking, at work we are commencing a large hire (for retail staff) and they require police checks. We were told that there is a large backlog, and results can take up to 4 weeks (which is your 20 working days).
Send an explanation with proof to IEC that there are delays in the NZ system. Nerve-wracking I'll bet, but I hope it all works out OK for you.

coolcat21

285 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1156958 17-Oct-2014 16:38

Elpie: If you use LinkedIn make sure you join the KEA group and look for people in the area you are going to. Kiwis in BC do a lot of networking and most jobs are found through networks rather than ads.
Good luck with getting the police cert in time.

Thanks !:)

I"ll be going to Calgary,AB as my base if my visa is approved.

From Reddit, i've build up a few acquaintances and one said to ping him 1 month before I land to do a remote interview (if anything, just a chat).

I"ll look up KEA on linked in and will be updating that alot in the coming months.

If you guys know anybody in that city, that'd be cool too :) Just trying to build up network.

In short (the long description is in my linkedin lol) , I am a front-end middle-end web dev that can do the full stack if required.
Currently learning the MEAN stack (AngularJS, NodeJS, Express, MongoDB) , I've worked in the past year in a .NET environment doing HTML, CSS, Javascript, C#, and some SQL.

My total exp (combined) is 2 years.

I graduated from the UoA in 2012 with a BSc (Cmpsci)

Pm me if you need my CV or linkedin :)

coolcat21

285 posts

Ultimate Geek

#1156961 17-Oct-2014 16:41

trig42: On the record checking, at work we are commencing a large hire (for retail staff) and they require police checks. We were told that there is a large backlog, and results can take up to 4 weeks (which is your 20 working days).
Send an explanation with proof to IEC that there are delays in the NZ system. Nerve-wracking I'll bet, but I hope it all works out OK for you.

Arghh that's 20 WORKING days ...I just realized that Loll :(

Well in my conditional acceptance letter it says if I can't provider some documents for any reason, I should write a letter explaining why + a timeline of when CIC can get it ..and then to upload it as the missing document instead.
So say if i can't provider a police certificate , i should upload a letter as the "certificate" for that section.

My worry is that while waiting, if it gets past 29Oct 2014 (exp date) and I still haven't received it...that they'll reject the visa + with my acceptance letter being expired..it's a one time thing ....no more will be issued.

Azzura

603 posts

Ultimate Geek

ID Verified

#1156964 17-Oct-2014 16:48

Did you try calling the Canadian Embassy in Wellington or Auckland?

Or perhaps ask this question over at expatforum.com in the Canada section.

Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek

#1156989 17-Oct-2014 17:27

Azzura: Did you try calling the Canadian Embassy in Wellington or Auckland?

Or perhaps ask this question over at expatforum.com in the Canada section.

There's no point calling an embassy or consulate in NZ because they don't handle immigration matters. Sydney is our designated office.

Elpie

1304 posts

Uber Geek

#1156992 17-Oct-2014 17:38

coolcat21:
trig42: On the record checking, at work we are commencing a large hire (for retail staff) and they require police checks. We were told that there is a large backlog, and results can take up to 4 weeks (which is your 20 working days).
Send an explanation with proof to IEC that there are delays in the NZ system. Nerve-wracking I'll bet, but I hope it all works out OK for you.

Arghh that's 20 WORKING days ...I just realized that Loll :(

Well in my conditional acceptance letter it says if I can't provider some documents for any reason, I should write a letter explaining why + a timeline of when CIC can get it ..and then to upload it as the missing document instead.
So say if i can't provider a police certificate , i should upload a letter as the "certificate" for that section.

My worry is that while waiting, if it gets past 29Oct 2014 (exp date) and I still haven't received it...that they'll reject the visa + with my acceptance letter being expired..it's a one time thing ....no more will be issued.

Don't worry too much. Get something in writing from MoJ about the timeframe, and a couple of days before 29th, if you haven't received the police cert, upload this with a cover letter. Delays happen and they are well aware of this. You won't be unduly penalised.

You can also try emailing the general enquiry address at MoJ to ask if there is anything you can do, such as providing a self-addressed, paid courier envelope, to make sure you get your certificate before your deadline. info@justice.govt.nz

Apart from that, just wait and try not to worry. Ha! I know that's easier said than done. I was in full panic mode when I missed deadlines with my PR application, due to governments not talking to each other. Deadlines had to be extended twice but what was a disaster in my mind was a meh, it happens, to them.

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