Applying for Canada Spousal Visa Online from the Philippines (Part 7: Timeline and Tools)

This blog series is published months after we completed the entire process. The month and year the post was written is at the end of each post.

Outline of Part 7: Timeline and Tools

• Software/Tools
• Adobe Acrobat Reader
• ILovePDF.com
• Dropbox
• Microsoft Word
• More Tips
• Timeline

Software/Tools

Adobe Acrobat Reader

Adobe is used to open all the downloaded forms from the portal. We also used this to fill out the forms but note that the reader and even the pro version of Acrobat cannot draw signatures on the forms so if you need to sign the forms, you will need to print them out, sign and scan (or take clear photos) the documents.

Download here: https://get.adobe.com/reader/

ILovePDF.com

For some supporting documents, we had to either convert from JPG to PDF, merge them into one file or resize them since there is a 4MB limit (as of July 2023) per file. We used ILovePDF to do all those processes.

For file compression, I would suggest to go for the Good Compression settings because anything lower than that has very low quality already.

Website: https://www.ilovepdf.com/

Dropbox

Our photos could not all be uploaded as original so we had to convert them to PDF and that meant losing its metadata. We decided to upload our photos in a Dropbox file and added a link to our file with the captions of the photos. 

Unlike Google Drive, Dropbox can be opened without a Google or a Dropbox account so we thought it would be easier to open in case the officer needs to view the original photos.

Microsoft Word

I used Microsoft Word for around 80% of the documents. It is also another good way to compile multiple photos into one document. A free software option would be Google Docs. I just chose Microsoft Word because it's what I'm more used to and offers more flexibility.

More Tips

• I found it was most efficient to prepare the required documents as in order on the document checklist (IMM5533). 
• While it is good to reference other people's cases such as this series to give yourself an idea of what the process is like or how long it would take, avoid making other people's immigration stories as fixed models of your case. Different immigration cases may have slight differences that may be integral to how their entire process is going to turn out.

Timeline

I am sharing my timeline below, but please do note that this is not a standard reference and there are no assurance that your application will be in a similar timeframe. 

For privacy reasons, I have removed the exact dates, but I included on days passed since last correspondence from IRCC. All days stated in this timeline are in calendar days. 

• Fees paid and application submitted. Received an email of confirmation of submission (not AOR).
• Confirmation of sponsorship application was received by my sponsor (husband) via email.  Days passed since last correspondence: 62 days
• Request for biometrics received by principal applicant (me). Days passed since last correspondence: 21 days
• Email received by sponsor (husband) with his sponsor approval and information the application will be forwarded to Manila visa office. Days passed since last correspondence: 1 day
• Biometrics done at VFS Cebu by principal applicant (me).
• Medical exam request received by principal applicant (me) via email. Days passed since last correspondence: 1 day
• Medical exam done at NHSI Cebu by principal applicant (me).
• Principal applicant (me) and sponsor (husband) received instructions to link online application via email from IRCC. The application can only be linked to one account or tracker. Days passed since last correspondence: 12 days
• Background check status changed from "In Progress" to "Not Applicable". I am unsure of what this meant though. It might be a technical glitch or something else. Days passed since last tracker change: 0 - this is the first tracker change
• Received my medical results via email from Nationwide Health Systems. Note that I contacted them via email prior to this.
• Received an email from Nationwide Health Systems confirming that my medical results have been submitted to the embassy and that they will send me the proof of submission once it's available. There was no change in the tracker yet. Days passed since last correspondence from NHS: 4 days
• Received an email from Nationwide Health Systems with an attached pdf confirmation that all of my results have been submitted  to the embassy. NHS referred to this document as the tracking sheet. Days passed since last correspondence from NHS: 1 day
• GCKey tracker updated Review of Medical Results to "Passed the Medical Exam". Days passed since last tracker change: 9 days
• Received request of additional document from IRCC via GCKey account.  Days passed since last correspondence: 35 days
• Submitted requested additional document via GCKey online.
• Invitation to pre-arrival services received. Days passed since last correspondence: 262 days
• Passport request letter received. Days passed since last correspondence: 12 days
• First PR Portal email received. Days passed since last correspondence: 5 days
• PR Confirmation email letting me know that my application is ready to be finalised. Days passed since last correspondence: 11 days
• Eligibility and background checked changed to complete in GC Key. Application approved. ECoPR available for download in PR Portal. Days passed since last correspondence: 11 days

Total days of application: 433 days

You may view all parts of the series here

Part 6: Timeline and Tools written on October 2024