Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (H1B Holders) CIC Process

[nomad_musafir]

I am sorry to hear that ... this recession really sucks!! One of the members of my team was laid off 2 weeks ago and I am keeping a very low profile so nobody knows that I exist....

Have you read Catch-22? Your statement reminded me of Major Major Major Major

 

[yrinaldy]

Akk:

I will have the same problem as you do - My H1b will expire May '09 - and I just sent all my doc to CIC 2 days ago - In the mean time, I have applied for change of status to F-1. Hope my change of status goes well, and I can wait for AOR + Medical + final process here in the US w/o having me to get out of the US.

Let's keep positive and hope AOR process is faster.

Hi Ingegarcia,

Thank you so much for your replies. It makes a lot of sense what you wrote.
I called the Alberta hot line about my doubt but they don't know anything about that (as usual).
Also the whole day I tried to call the contact they put on my PNP. but nobody answer the phone today
I wanted to ask them about transferring my PR to my country.

The situation is that I will be lay-off at the end of March (discovered that today). I applied for CIC last week, so probably I will not be receiving my AOR until end of March.
I wanted to know how important is getting the AOR here in USA. If it is vital for my application I would beg to my employer to keep me one month more or I could file for a tourist visa (that would give me 2 months more, April and May, I don't even know if that would not generate a problem to cic).

But I really wanted just to transfer the process to Brazil and get over with all this doubts.
I saw that the timeline there is even faster than Buffalo, but even if would take longer this is not a problem.
I am just afraid that my application gets lost after spending a lot of time and money with it.
It is so frustrating that we don't have a contact that help us either in Alberta or Bufalo.

Thanks for all your help,
Also, were do you live? If we are close we could maybe meet. I am in San Francisco.

Akk


ps: Thank you for the explanation about the job letter, you are right it is not like a regular process, for us would be easier (the difficult part is to find a job, hehehe).

We seem to be all in sync with the questions.... I guess our status make us have a lot in common )
OK here is what I know so far....
...

 

[akk]

I hope you don't have the same problems I am going thru Keep the low profile in your company, that maybe saves you until you get your AOR.

Do you know if we can apply for a tourist visa here in US? Has anybody ever done that?

Also, has anybody ever talked to Melinda (the pnp contact they put on my nomination)? I am trying to talk with her and she never answers the phone.

Akk

ps: I thought about another employer, but I doubt with all this crises any employer would hire a H1B now...

I am sorry to hear that ... this recession really sucks!! One of the members of my team was laid off 2 weeks ago and I am keeping a very low profile so nobody knows that I exist....

If I were in your position I would request a change of status of my H1B to tourist visa, 1 or 2 days before I am officially out of the company... USCIS takes a couple of months and you can stay in US until they reach a decision. This would give you enough time to get AOR and even to have your medicals done....

....

 

[Jay007]

Hello Akk,

I am in same boat,
I am also planning to leave US with in 3-4 weeks ( thinking so ).
I have send my CIC application to buffalo last week.

What, I was thinking that I have to update my status to CIC and AIPN.
I don't want to transfer my application to New Delhi,India because Buffalo is much much faster.

Is there any proble,if you leave US without AOR?

I hope you don't have the same problems I am going thru Keep the low profile in your company, that maybe saves you until you get your AOR.

Do you know if we can apply for a tourist visa here in US? Has anybody ever done that?

Also, has anybody ever talked to Melinda (the pnp contact they put on my nomination)? I am trying to talk with her and she never answers the phone.

Akk

ps: I thought about another employer, but I doubt with all this crises any employer would hire a H1B now...

I am sorry to hear that ... this recession really sucks!! One of the members of my team was laid off 2 weeks ago and I am keeping a very low profile so nobody knows that I exist....

If I were in your position I would request a change of status of my H1B to tourist visa, 1 or 2 days before I am officially out of the company... USCIS takes a couple of months and you can stay in US until they reach a decision. This would give you enough time to get AOR and even to have your medicals done....

....

 

[akk]

Hi,

I am so sorry to hear that...It seams we are all on the same boat and neither Melinda or Hot Line help us.
We all need the same questions.
"How to proceed if we leave US without getting the AOR."
" Is it safe for our application?"
"How can we do that?"
"What will happen to our application?"
" Do they guarantee it will not gets lost?"

The next step for both of us is receiving AOR and doing medical exams....if we leave US without doing it you will need to come back to do it or they would need to transfer your process to India, so you can do your medicals there.
I cannot come back to US (no tourist visa so far), and I cannot even use the same address to receive docs since my home is rented.
I don't have a problem transferring to my country...I am just afraid my process gets lost.

Also if you move to India they say you must tell them, I don't know what would happen if you don't, I think they can even void your application.

Try to call buffalo, also try to call your pnp contact (the one on the letter)...and share with us, please...
I am also trying.

Thanks,
Akk

Hello Akk,

I am in same boat,
...

 

[Jay007]

Hello Akk,

I have 10 years visitor visa for US.so I can come back for inerview purpose.
I have friends in US so no problem regarding mailing address.
I think we can do our medicals from our home country even if application file at Buffalo.

I will call to both CIC and AINP,if I will get any information I will inform u and others.

keep inform

Hi,

I am so sorry to hear that...It seams we are all on the same boat and neither Melinda or Hot Line help us.
We all need the same questions.
"How to proceed if we leave US without getting the AOR."
" Is it safe for our application?"
"How can we do that?"
"What will happen to our application?"
" Do they guarantee it will not gets lost?"

The next step for both of us is receiving AOR and doing medical exams....if we leave US without doing it you will need to come back to do it or they would need to transfer your process to India, so you can do your medicals there.
I cannot come back to US (no tourist visa so far), and I cannot even use the same address to receive docs since my home is rented.
I don't have a problem transferring to my country...I am just afraid my process gets lost.

Also if you move to India they say you must tell them, I don't know what would happen if you don't, I think they can even void your application.

Try to call buffalo, also try to call your pnp contact (the one on the letter)...and share with us, please...
I am also trying.

Thanks,
Akk

Hello Akk,

I am in same boat,
...

 

[mythdot]

akk, ingegarcia

I sympathise with you situation.

Have you guys looked into Part Time HIB's as an option to prolong your stay in the US till you get your AOR or PR?

Here's the link

http://www.murthy.com/news/n_pth1re.html

 

[mythdot]

I sent my application to Chicago for the PCC on 1/20 but USPS cannot track the mail for me. So I do not know if the mail reached the consulate or not. I checked the status of the money order ( Western Union) and it was cashed on the 2/5. I do not know if it was cashed by the Consulate or someone who found the mail. What do you think my options are?
Do you think if I get the photocopy of the confirmation receipt it will have the stamp of the Consulate?
Will Chicago (if they pick up the phone) confirm receipt of the application?

Meantime I am trying to get the Clearance from India and facing road blocks everywhere. Most officers said it was illegal NOW to issue certificate ( after the Mumbai terrorist attack). One wanted a letter from the CIC with Canadian Stamp to issue the certificate. He also wanted to know the contents of the certificate. Do You guys who had certificates issued from India tell me what was the content of the certificate?

 

[akk]

I am so sorry that it is so complicated to get certificate on India.
About the money order...did you put the consulate name on it? If you did and it was cashed you are saved because just the consulate can cash it, but if you did not then I would call over and over to the embassy, or if the money is not too much, I would apply again....

Akk

I sent my application to Chicago for the PCC on 1/20 but USPS cannot track the mail for me. So I do not know if the mail reached the consulate or not. I checked the status of the money order ( Western Union) and it was cashed on the 2/5. I do not know if it was cashed by the Consulate or someone who found the mail. What do you think my options are?
Do you think if I get the photocopy of the confirmation receipt it will have the stamp of the Consulate?
Will Chicago (if they pick up the phone) confirm receipt of the application?

Meantime I am trying to get the Clearance from India and facing road blocks everywhere. Most officers said it was illegal NOW to issue certificate ( after the Mumbai terrorist attack). One wanted a letter from the CIC with Canadian Stamp to issue the certificate. He also wanted to know the contents of the certificate. Do You guys who had certificates issued from India tell me what was the content of the certificate?

 

[Jay007]

Today I received my PCC from houston embassy
I got my PCC and original Passport after 6 weeks (thank god for PP)
During this 6 weeks period,i was really under presser because embassy neither respond to my email nor phone call
(takes money but no service)

I sent my application to Chicago for the PCC on 1/20 but USPS cannot track the mail for me. So I do not know if the mail reached the consulate or not. I checked the status of the money order ( Western Union) and it was cashed on the 2/5. I do not know if it was cashed by the Consulate or someone who found the mail. What do you think my options are?
Do you think if I get the photocopy of the confirmation receipt it will have the stamp of the Consulate?
Will Chicago (if they pick up the phone) confirm receipt of the application?

Meantime I am trying to get the Clearance from India and facing road blocks everywhere. Most officers said it was illegal NOW to issue certificate ( after the Mumbai terrorist attack). One wanted a letter from the CIC with Canadian Stamp to issue the certificate. He also wanted to know the contents of the certificate. Do You guys who had certificates issued from India tell me what was the content of the certificate?

 

[mythdot]

I did put the Consulate Name on the money order. Difficult to defraud the Consulate but have heard that money orders with people name can be cashed.

I am so sorry that it is so complicated to get certificate on India.
About the money order...did you put the consulate name on it? If you did and it was cashed you are saved because just the consulate can cash it, but if you did not then I would call over and over to the embassy, or if the money is not too much, I would apply again....

Akk

I sent my application to Chicago for the PCC on 1/20 but USPS cannot track the mail for me. So I do not know if the mail reached the consulate or not. I checked the status of the money order ( Western Union) and it was cashed on the 2/5. I do not know if it was cashed by the Consulate or someone who found the mail. What do you think my options are?
Do you think if I get the photocopy of the confirmation receipt it will have the stamp of the Consulate?
Will Chicago (if they pick up the phone) confirm receipt of the application?

Meantime I am trying to get the Clearance from India and facing road blocks everywhere. Most officers said it was illegal NOW to issue certificate ( after the Mumbai terrorist attack). One wanted a letter from the CIC with Canadian Stamp to issue the certificate. He also wanted to know the contents of the certificate. Do You guys who had certificates issued from India tell me what was the content of the certificate?

 

[ainpdude]

Ok friends here are my 2 cents...


I had asked this question to my lawyer at time of FSW... he categorically
said that even if the applicant moves the home country the PR can still be
continued in buffalo... and all communication will happen thro lawyers or the
contact address provided on file..

the only thing the lawyer said was incase there was an interview the candidate
would have to come on tourist visa

but the thing is in case of PNP the chances of interview are virtually none...

hence it just doesnt make sense to transfer out of buffalo... i will suggest to
make every attempt to preserve application in buffalo as much as possible as it is matter
of some months...

as backup plan i m thinking of using my friend or some relatives address in US

should the "forbidden" happen

good luck friends and god bless...

Akk
We seem to be all in sync with the questions.... I guess our status make us have a lot in common )
OK here is what I know so far....
I wrote a letter to CIC-Buffalo asking if I would be able to transfer my PNP case to my home country and here is what they told me ".......Visa offices are not required to transfer applications upon the request of an applicant or their designated representative, but will transfer files only if that transfer would enhance program integrity....."

Since I was told I could filed from my home country and this wasn't the answer I was looking for, I wrote to Alberta. Here is their answer ".....So long as you inform the CIC Visa Office of where you are and how to contact you, then they can inform you of how your application will proceed.
The CIC Visa Office may choose to transfer your application from Buffalo to your home country; however, you should make your initial application to Buffalo as instructed by the AINP Office...."

So I ended up filing in Buffalo and the same time I am keeping a low profile in my company, so I pass unnoticed and delay the inevitable.... at least I am saved from the February layoffs and currently waiting for the AOR from CIC... it is just 25 days since I filed so still there is a loooooong wait )

My conclusion from the letters is that once I let CIC know that my current address is not US but my home country they'll transfer my case to enhance program integrity as they stated... and it will take forever.... even it could get lost during the transfer so I am waiting/praying and exercising my patience until I get the AOR )


BTW I am not a lawyer nor an expert and this is just my personal opinion, so I would suggest to contact a lawyer to get more accurate information

Regards

Yes. Have anybody here ever done that?

Akk

If I don't get laid off I think I will resign after getting my AOR

If you resign you will have to leave US right.Then are you planning to transfer the case to your home country consulate?

 

[ainpdude]

friends one quick update....

I applied a fresh PNP with new fees at Buffalo on 22 Jan 2009...

they sent me back the application for correction on Jan 31 2009...

i corrected the application and sent it back to them ,,, they recieved it on Feb 3, 2009


today i checked online if my fee draft was encashed ... and it was encashed by

Buffalo on Feb 10, 2009

I will keep posted here...

 

[poppyjml]

hi,

i'm currently preparing the documents i will be sending to cic. I got my nomination last feb 9.
Regarding the proof of funds, should my funds really need to be $10,833?
I've been here in the US for just a year and a couple of months and my money and other funds are not even close to $10000.

Can't I just send the bank certification eventhough I have less than $10000? Will that affect my application?
All along I thought there are no fund requirements for the Strategic stream.

Thanks in advance for your replies!

 

[akk]

Did you mean that you applied for CIC or to get Nomination from Alberta?

How do you know that the cashed you money? They only accept money order and certified checks so there is no way to know that they cash it....Am I wrong?

Akk

friends one quick update....

I applied a fresh PNP with new fees at Buffalo on 22 Jan 2009...

they sent me back the application for correction on Jan 31 2009...

i corrected the application and sent it back to them ,,, they recieved it on Feb 3, 2009


today i checked online if my fee draft was encashed ... and it was encashed by

Buffalo on Feb 10, 2009

I will keep posted here...