Applications after 26/6 in any NOC CONNECT HERE TO GET THE STATUS

[Cappuccino]

I just checked the London Visa Office checklist which is now updated in Nov 2010. The PCC part now reads as follows -

POLICE CERTIFICATES AND CLEARANCES
Please consult our Web site at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/index.asp for specific and up-to-date information on how to obtain police certificates from any country.

Note: For applications received at the (CIO) prior to June 26, 2010, you must submit police certificates with your complete application and supporting documents to the visa office within the 120 day deadline set out by the CIO.
If your application is received at the CIO on or after June 26, 2010, you are strongly encouraged to submit your police certificates with your application to the CIO. If you are unable to obtain all the necessary police certificates, you may still send your application to the CIO without them. However, please note that if your application is placed into processing you must be ready to submit them to the visa office when requested.

Goodness, That is another about turn again. This doesnt say the 3 month validity now. Confusing.

Hi, good info!

OK what this says to me is this, now they've had a flood of applications, some with PCCs and some without.
- They'd PREFER you to send your PCC with your initial application, since then they don't have to go chasing you for it at VO stage
- But since they do not want to unfairly hinder people trying to get within the cap for whom it will take several months to get PCC, they are allowing people the option to submit it later on at VO stage. Obviously if they do that then there will be a delay at VO stage

Since London VO surely know about the massive delays at CIO, they must also be accepting PCCs older than 3 months old by the time they get them, as long as they weren't older than 3 months when CIO first received them.

My guess is as long as your PCC isn't over 1 year old by the time they come to make their final decision, then all will be fine. If it gets over 1 year old they may ask you to get another copy.

This wording is actually the most sensible they have used yet - it makes it clear that the applicant has the option to submit PCC with application, or later on, as best fits their personal circumstances.

Now, if only they could be so clear and sensible regarding this purported 33 week delay......

Wayne.

 

[Cam1234]

Folks, I apologize in advance for the long post, but it appears the "PCCs cannot be older than 3 months when they reach VO" has been dropped. They should not be older than 1 year. Below is first the old Guidelines, that I had stored on my computer, and the new Guidelines:

OLD GUIDELINES:

Police certificates
All applicants must submit police certificates/clearances as part of the application process.
Note: Do not submit your police certificates to the CIO. If your application is placed into processing, you will be required to submit the police certificates to the Canadian visa office indicated on your application.
You and all of your family members who are 18 years of age and older and who are not permanent residents or Canadian citizens will have to provide:
 a valid police certificate, or
 a police clearance, or
 a record of no information.
40 Federal Skilled Worker Class
These documents are to be provided for each country other than Canada, in which you have lived for six consecutive months or longer since reaching the age of 18.
Note: If you or your family members were under 18 years of age (16 years of age in certain jurisdictions) for the entire time you lived in a particular country, you do not need to provide a police certificate for that country.
Before submitting your application to the CIO, you should:
 begin to gather your police certificates, and
 research the estimated length of time required to obtain police certificates from all of the applicable jurisdictions.
Consult our website for specific and up-to-date information on how to obtain police certificates from any country.
Police certificates are valid for 12 months from the date they are issued. If your application is placed into processing, these certificates must be submitted before your application can be finalized. Failure to submit police certificates when requested to do so within a specified period of time may result in the refusal of your application.
Note: If a final decision is not made on your application before the expiry of your police certificate, the visa office may request that you provide a new one.
When you submit the police certificates to the visa office, ensure they have been issued in the last three months and no earlier. Certificates that are more than three months old on receipt will not be accepted.
If a certificate is not in English or French, submit both the certificate and the original copy of a translation prepared by an accredited translator.
Unless otherwise specified on our website, it is your responsibility to contact the police or relevant authorities. When doing so, you may have to:
 pay a fee for the service, and
 provide information or documentation such as:
o photographs,
o fingerprints,
o your addresses and periods of residence in the country or territory.
CIC will also do background checks to determine if there are grounds upon which you and your family members may be inadmissible to Canada.

NEW GUIDLINES: No mention that PCCs cannot be older than 3 months when reaching VO.

Police certificates
All applicants must submit police certificates/clearances as part of the application process.
You and all of your family members who are 18 years of age and older and who are not already permanent residents or Canadian citizens will have to provide:
 a valid police certificate, or
 a police clearance, or
 a record of no information.
These documents are to be provided for each country other than Canada, in which you have lived for six consecutive months or longer since reaching the age of 18.
Note: If you or your family members were under 18 years of age (16 years of age in certain jurisdictions) for the entire time you lived in a particular country, you do not need to provide a police certificate for that country.
Before submitting your application to the CIO, you should:
 research the estimated length of time required to obtain police certificates from all of the applicable jurisdictions, and
 gather your police certificates.
Step 1.
Gather documents
Step 2. Complete the application
Step 3.
Pay the fees
Step 4.
Mail the application
Federal Skilled Worker Class 17
We strongly recommend that you submit your police certificates with your application to the CIO. If you are unable to obtain all the necessary police certificates, you may still send your application to the CIO without them. However, please note that if your application is placed into processing you must be ready to submit them to the visa office when requested.
Consult our website for specific and up-to-date information on how to obtain police certificates from any country.
Note: If you are including your police certificates with your application to the CIO, please ensure that your certificates were not issued more than three months earlier. Police certificates are generally valid for 12 months from the date they are issued. However, if a final decision is not made on your application before the expiry of your police certificate, the visa office may request that you provide a new one.
If a certificate is not in English or French, submit both the certificate and the original copy of a translation prepared by an accredited translator.
Unless otherwise specified on our website, it is your responsibility to contact the police or relevant authorities. When doing so, you may have to:
 pay a fee for the service, and
 provide information or documentation such as:
o photographs,
o fingerprints,
o your addresses and periods of residence in the country or territory.
CIC will also do background checks to determine if there are grounds upon which you and your family members may be inadmissible to Canada.

Sorry for the long post,
CAM

 

[harvin]

I just checked the London Visa Office checklist which is now updated in Nov 2010. The PCC part now reads as follows -

POLICE CERTIFICATES AND CLEARANCES
Please consult our Web site at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/security/police-cert/index.asp for specific and up-to-date information on how to obtain police certificates from any country.

Note: For applications received at the (CIO) prior to June 26, 2010, you must submit police certificates with your complete application and supporting documents to the visa office within the 120 day deadline set out by the CIO.
If your application is received at the CIO on or after June 26, 2010, you are strongly encouraged to submit your police certificates with your application to the CIO. If you are unable to obtain all the necessary police certificates, you may still send your application to the CIO without them. However, please note that if your application is placed into processing you must be ready to submit them to the visa office when requested.

Goodness, That is another about turn again. This doesnt say the 3 month validity now. Confusing.

I see the same update for Buffalo, VO office as well. My interpretation (with no reference to 'validity') is that, we are to obtain PCC and have it ready for submission to VO when requested.

 

[kolhapuri]

I see the same update for Buffalo, VO office as well. My interpretation (with no reference to 'validity') is that, we are to obtain PCC and have it ready for submission to VO when requested.

Bingo

 

[Cam1234]

People there are more changes. It appears that CIC office will do the bulk of the work. In the old guidelines, after the completeness check and eligibility assessment, which we knew would take place at CIC, we thought "Selection and admissibility" would take place at VO. The new guidelines state that selection and admissibility will also take place at CIC... They are going to do the bulk of the work at CIC, that is why it will take a longtime before our applications reach VO.

The Old Guidelines

"Completeness check
Citizenship and Immigration Canada reviews your application to make sure that:
 all required fields in your application forms are complete,
 all required documents are submitted from both the CIO document checklist (IMM 5612), and visa-office-specific document checklist,
 the correct processing fee payment has been made.
If your application is:
 incomplete or;
 the occupation you are applying under has reached the allowable limit under category 1,
your entire package (including your payment) will be returned to you with a letter explaining why it is being returned.
Eligibility Review
An officer will make a final determination of eligibility of your application to determine whether:
 your application qualifies for processing under one of the two categories described in the Ministerial Instructions
If your application qualifies for processing , you will be sent a letter that:
 notifies you of this fact and provides you with your reference number,
If your application does not qualify for processing under the Ministerial Instructions you will be sent a letter that:
 provides the reason why your application is not eligible for processing
 confirms that a refund for the processing fee will be issued
Selection and Admissibility
If your application is eligible for processing, your application will be assessed against the following requirements:
 minimal requirements
 selection factors
 sufficient funds
 admissibility (criminality, security, medical)

The new Guidelines:

Completeness check
Citizenship and Immigration Canada reviews your application to make sure that:
 all required fields in your application forms are complete,
 all required documents are submitted from both the CIO document checklist (IMM 5612), and visa-office-specific document checklist,
 the correct processing fee payment has been made.
If your application is:
 incomplete or;
 the occupation you are applying under has reached the allowable limit under category 1,
your entire package (including your payment) will be returned to you with a letter explaining why it is being returned.
Eligibility Review
An officer will make a final determination of eligibility of your application to determine whether:
 your application qualifies for processing under one of the two categories described in the Ministerial Instructions
If your application does not qualify for processing under the Ministerial Instructions you will be sent a letter that:
 provides the reason why your application is not eligible for processing
 confirms that a refund for the processing fee will be issued
Selection and Admissibility
If your application is eligible for processing, your application will be assessed against the following requirements:
 minimal requirements
 selection factors
 sufficient funds
 admissibility (criminality, security, medical)
 If your score is equal to or greater than the pass mark, your application will be sent to the visa office for further processing.

 

[Cappuccino]

People there are more changes. It appears that CIC office will do the bulk of the work. In the old guidelines, after the completeness check and feasibility assessment, which we knew would take place at CIC, we thought "Selection and admissibility" would take place at VO. The new guidelines state that selection and admissibility will also take place at CIC... They are going to do the bulk of the work at CIC, that is why it will take a longtime before our applications reach VO.

The Old Guidelines

"Completeness check
Citizenship and Immigration Canada reviews your application to make sure that:
 all required fields in your application forms are complete,
 all required documents are submitted from both the CIO document checklist (IMM 5612), and visa-office-specific document checklist,
 the correct processing fee payment has been made.
If your application is:
 incomplete or;
 the occupation you are applying under has reached the allowable limit under category 1,
your entire package (including your payment) will be returned to you with a letter explaining why it is being returned.
Eligibility Review
An officer will make a final determination of eligibility of your application to determine whether:
 your application qualifies for processing under one of the two categories described in the Ministerial Instructions
If your application qualifies for processing , you will be sent a letter that:
 notifies you of this fact and provides you with your reference number,
If your application does not qualify for processing under the Ministerial Instructions you will be sent a letter that:
 provides the reason why your application is not eligible for processing
 confirms that a refund for the processing fee will be issued
Selection and Admissibility
If your application is eligible for processing, your application will be assessed against the following requirements:
 minimal requirements
 selection factors
 sufficient funds
 admissibility (criminality, security, medical)

The new Guidelines:

Completeness check
Citizenship and Immigration Canada reviews your application to make sure that:
 all required fields in your application forms are complete,
 all required documents are submitted from both the CIO document checklist (IMM 5612), and visa-office-specific document checklist,
 the correct processing fee payment has been made.
If your application is:
 incomplete or;
 the occupation you are applying under has reached the allowable limit under category 1,
your entire package (including your payment) will be returned to you with a letter explaining why it is being returned.
Eligibility Review
An officer will make a final determination of eligibility of your application to determine whether:
 your application qualifies for processing under one of the two categories described in the Ministerial Instructions
If your application does not qualify for processing under the Ministerial Instructions you will be sent a letter that:
 provides the reason why your application is not eligible for processing
 confirms that a refund for the processing fee will be issued
Selection and Admissibility
If your application is eligible for processing, your application will be assessed against the following requirements:
 minimal requirements
 selection factors
 sufficient funds
 admissibility (criminality, security, medical)
 If your score is equal to or greater than the pass mark, your application will be sent to the visa office for further processing.

Do you think this means that CIC will be doing background checks and verification of employment? From Canada?

Sounds if that is the case that there will not be much "further processing" to do at the visa office other than to issue medical requests + visas.

Wayne.

 

[Cam1234]

Do you think this means that CIC will be doing background checks and verification of employment? From Canada?

Sounds if that is the case that there will not be much "further processing" to do at the visa office other than to issue medical requests + visas.

Wayne.

It sure seems like VOs will have minimal work with post June 26 applicants. Think about it, if they take the responsibility of processing the post June 26 applicants, which are about 4000 applicants now and we don't think will ever reach 20,000, this will free the visa offices to process the backlog applications... it makes sense to me...

Cam

 

[canada0801]

People there are more changes. It appears that CIC office will do the bulk of the work. In the old guidelines, after the completeness check and eligibility assessment, which we knew would take place at CIC, we thought "Selection and admissibility" would take place at VO. The new guidelines state that selection and admissibility will also take place at CIC... They are going to do the bulk of the work at CIC, that is why it will take a longtime before our applications reach VO.

The Old Guidelines

"Completeness check
Citizenship and Immigration Canada reviews your application to make sure that:
 all required fields in your application forms are complete,
 all required documents are submitted from both the CIO document checklist (IMM 5612), and visa-office-specific document checklist,
 the correct processing fee payment has been made.
If your application is:
 incomplete or;
 the occupation you are applying under has reached the allowable limit under category 1,
your entire package (including your payment) will be returned to you with a letter explaining why it is being returned.
Eligibility Review
An officer will make a final determination of eligibility of your application to determine whether:
 your application qualifies for processing under one of the two categories described in the Ministerial Instructions
If your application qualifies for processing , you will be sent a letter that:
 notifies you of this fact and provides you with your reference number,
If your application does not qualify for processing under the Ministerial Instructions you will be sent a letter that:
 provides the reason why your application is not eligible for processing
 confirms that a refund for the processing fee will be issued
Selection and Admissibility
If your application is eligible for processing, your application will be assessed against the following requirements:
 minimal requirements
 selection factors
 sufficient funds
 admissibility (criminality, security, medical)

The new Guidelines:

Completeness check
Citizenship and Immigration Canada reviews your application to make sure that:
 all required fields in your application forms are complete,
 all required documents are submitted from both the CIO document checklist (IMM 5612), and visa-office-specific document checklist,
 the correct processing fee payment has been made.
If your application is:
 incomplete or;
 the occupation you are applying under has reached the allowable limit under category 1,
your entire package (including your payment) will be returned to you with a letter explaining why it is being returned.
Eligibility Review
An officer will make a final determination of eligibility of your application to determine whether:
 your application qualifies for processing under one of the two categories described in the Ministerial Instructions
If your application does not qualify for processing under the Ministerial Instructions you will be sent a letter that:
 provides the reason why your application is not eligible for processing
 confirms that a refund for the processing fee will be issued
Selection and Admissibility
If your application is eligible for processing, your application will be assessed against the following requirements:
 minimal requirements
 selection factors
 sufficient funds
 admissibility (criminality, security, medical)
 If your score is equal to or greater than the pass mark, your application will be sent to the visa office for further processing.

Thanks for the update.

So, if your file reaches local VO you are already 80% through and local VO may only do final verification and issue passport request?

 

[wenstumped]

Selection and Admissibility
If your application is eligible for processing, your application will be assessed against the following requirements:
 minimal requirements
 selection factors
 sufficient funds
 admissibility (criminality, security, medical)
 If your score is equal to or greater than the pass mark, your application will be sent to the visa office for further processing.

Does this mean the CIC will be requesting our medicals too? Is it possible that the only thing the VOs will be doing from now on are issuing the visas and sticking them in the passports? Everything else seems to be mentioned in the CIC's new guidelines.

 

[Cam1234]

Thanks for the update.

So, if your file reaches local VO you are already 80% through and local VO may only do final verification and issue passport request?

Exactly, that is what it seems like...
Cam

 

[Cappuccino]

Selection and Admissibility
If your application is eligible for processing, your application will be assessed against the following requirements:
 minimal requirements
 selection factors
 sufficient funds
 admissibility (criminality, security, medical)
 If your score is equal to or greater than the pass mark, your application will be sent to the visa office for further processing.

Does this mean the CIC will be requesting our medicals too? Is it possible that the only thing the VOs will be doing from now on are issuing the visas and sticking them in the passports? Everything else seems to be mentioned in the CIC's new guidelines.

If it's the case that CIC are sorting medicals out too, then I see very little reason to mail an application half way across the world so VO can request passports and stamp a visa - why don't CIC just issue the visas themselves?

This is nevertheless news. Apart from the massive discourtesy of deciding not to inform applicants if they passed their eligibility review or not, the overall visa process might be made faster. Since once it gets to visa office the decision IS pretty much made - visa office just have to get your passports and stamp them.

The annoying thing is now, people who cannot tell if their banker's draft is cashed, have absolutely no way of knowing if CIC even received their application, until they get their medical requests!!!

I guess this also means no more ECAS...

Wayne.

 

[Cappuccino]

Exactly, that is what it seems like...
Cam

Cam1234 can you please link the page from the actual CIC website where you found the new process?

Wayne.

 

[Cam1234]

Cam1234 can you please link the page from the actual CIC website where you found the new process?

Wayne.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/skilled.asp

You can find it under:

1. Read the general information

* Instruction Guide [IMM EG7000]
> also in PDF format

Have to go back to work, will be back shortly...
Cam

 

[Coffee]

I guess CIC will still request VO to conduct certain types of checks if necessary. if the application appears ok, then I guess originals would even not leave CIC NS, and VO will stick visas...

hmm, what an indirect answer to our letter ;D

 

[Coffee]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/skilled.asp

You can find it under:

1. Read the general information

* Instruction Guide [IMM EG7000]
> also in PDF format

Have to go back to work, will be back shortly...
Cam

Cam1234, thank you very much for finding this piece of info. very much appreciated, buddy!