Standing in line - waaaay before the office opens up.
Go to the location - there is underground parking available off Huntley Street. If you are taking the subway then its close to the Sherbourne station.
I would recommend that you should get to the location by atleast 6:00 AM for sure.
Secondly the line up begins at the Mall entrance to the building, you can get here through the 'MacDonalds store'.
I showed up at 6:00 AM and was happy to see that there was no one else there. A couple of minutes later another gentleman joined me. After 15 minutes of thinking that I was so smart - the security guard came out to inform both of us that the line up was at the other entrance. We ran and my number was 32,33 & 34.
IMPORTANT - only the first 45 applications get accepted. NOT THE FIRST 45 APPLICANTS.
This is not clarified and usually the first trip is unproductive in 90% of the cases.
What this means is that if you have a family of six and you are in line - you have six applications. Effectively only the first 12 people in line will be counted for a day, assuming an average of four members per family.
Once you find the 'line' make sure you sign up on the 'unofficial list' being maintained to keep order. This will tell you whether you are in the first 45 applicants or should you be heading back home.
What if I do not make the number?
Your options are to:
- come back the next day
- take a pre addressed envelope from the Canada Post office located in the mall downstairs and leave it with the clerk.
Is it safe to leave it with the clerk?
I have done it and it was safe and I got back my documents. My advice is - If it doesn't sit right with you - don't do it.
1 comment:
Indians not treated as Indians
People take time off from work, Elderly waiting in the line for hours, The volunteer stepping up to draft the 'unofficial list', which triggers a thought that we are a developing nation with a government machinery which refuses to develop. It turns a blind eye to the frustration of the people, and refuses to evolve.
If you wish to make an application in person, I learned that your first visit is never a success; it's a learning experience to see the rudimentary, unspoken rule that prevails to get your name on the 'unofficial list' of 45 applications. Not 45 people, but 45 applications, so if the guy in front is applying for his family of 4, there will be a bunch of people praying for his application to be rejected so they could be bumped up the list. It hurts to say that I was number 47 today and turned away.
The sketchy website doesn't tell you that even though they open the doors at 8, you will have to get there early if you want to make the list. It doesn't tell you that there is a crowd already waiting (many before the crack of dawn) in the mall next to the building. The CGI doesn't feel responsible for finding a solution for accepting more applications or caring for the elderly who wait for hours with this hope that their application might be accepted. Just makes you feel that you we are not treated as Indians by our own people.
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