Applications filed through NS --> Buffalo (Filed from USA)

[ahluwal]

Hi All -

My status is pretty similar to Garian. I received my 2nd AOR from Buffalo Office on March 29th through mail as well as email with the new file number. I am hoping it will be another 8-9 months before I hear back anything from the Buffalo office. I wish everyone all the best and hope the cases will get processed faster for all of us.

Cheers

 

[googleman]

Hi Googleman,
Not sure how you got Accounting / Computing; I actually work in Public Relations. Can't remember the NOC, but it was in group 12, so would have been something like 12XX

Woops, that's Bardcir's noc. I mistook it for yours. Professional 1's noc is related to accounting or something. He was asked to submit his fingerprint.

 

[anne55]

Congrats ahluwal!
I am still in the process of filing my PCC....hope to submit by end of this month.
Cheers!

Anne55

Hi All -

My status is pretty similar to Garian. I received my 2nd AOR from Buffalo Office on March 29th through mail as well as email with the new file number. I am hoping it will be another 8-9 months before I hear back anything from the Buffalo office. I wish everyone all the best and hope the cases will get processed faster for all of us.

Cheers

 

[professional 1]

Just got an email from buffalo today: they have transferred my file to Detroit for "faster processing". Any further correspondence will be with Detroit and not Buffalo. No status update inquiries should be made in the next 90 days.

My timeline:
App to CIO-S: May 2009
App + Docs to Buffalo: October 2009
File Transferred to Detroit: April 2010

Just wondering if anyone with similar time line have had their files transferred to Detroit or any other Visa Office recently. I know a few of the regulars on this thread (e.g. Pro1) has similar time line to me.

Also, for those who've had their file transferred to Detroit in 2010: any idea how long it takes them to start processing?

Hi rahmanrahat,

I have almost the same timeline as yours: NOC 1111 (Accountant) & (international student in canada for more than one year)

Applied to the CIO : June 8, 2009

Received approval letter from the CIO : August 19, 2009 (by email)

Sent full application to Buffalo visa office: September 24, 2009

Received AOR from Buffalo: October 21, 2009 (by email)

Sent additional documents on Feb, 2010 including the saudi police clearance and other documents (upon receipt, without their request).

Received a letter from Buffalo yesterday April 6, 2010 (by email) asking for a police clearance from Canada.

Done the digital fingerprint same day, and was told that the results are supposed to be sent directly from the RCMP to Buffalo within 72 hours.


In the letter which they sent to me, they assured that the fingerprint certificate must be sent to their office "Buffalo", so i think they started processing my application and they are not going to transfer the application anywhere else.

The reason i think that they started processing my application is that they do not ask for a police clearance from canada before the processing starts as they state clearly at CIC website.

I think my e-case will change to in process this coming Monday. (hopefully).


By the way,


what was the email address which they used to send you the letter ? was it (re-buffalo-im-enquiry @ international.gc.ca)
or ( BFALO.IM-REG-ARCH @ international.gc.ca)


Good luck.

 

[MarkCan]

Looks like Buffalo is waking up from a long slumber. Once your e-cas shows "In Process", it will take you no more than 6 months to finalize the whole thing (either way). Looks like early 2009 and mid-2009 applicants are finally getting somewhere.

Mark

 

[IT applicant]

Hi rahmanrahat
Do you have any job offer in Canada or have you worked/studied there before?I am seeing a trend wherein the folks who have studied/stayed in Canada have their files moving faster than others..

cheers!

 

[rahmanrahat]

Email was sent from <re-buffalo-im-enquiry @ international.gc.ca>.

I am an international graduate from a Canadian University, currently working in Canada with a Post Graduate Work Permit. However, I do not have an Arranged Employment (I am working on a contract). So, my application will fall under FSW3.

Just did some research on file transfer. According to the Operating Procedures Manual, such file transfers should not cause the applicant's file to go to the back of the queue:

"For assessment purposes, visa offices receiving a transferred file must respect the original date on which the application was received as the “lock-in” date. For processing purposes, all processing steps for the files transferred to an office, including the scheduling of interviews, should be the same as for all other applications received in the office on the date corresponding to
the “lock-in” date of the received file. This means that an application that is received in Paris in July 2002 and transferred to New Delhi in March 2003 will enter the New Delhi queue as of July 2002. There are no fees applicable to file transfer requests."

Source: Operating Procedures 1, Section 5.19 <http://www.cic.gc.ca/english//resources/manuals/op/op01-eng.pdf>

So, judging from Professional 1's time line, I am guessing my file would have been next in line for processing in Buffalo, but the visa officer decided to transfer the file to Detroit (to expedite processing).

This leads me to believe Buffalo is currently handling October 2009 files. However, I too have a suspicion that they are prioritizing certain applications over others. Just not sure what is the basis of such prioritization.

One possibility is that Buffalo is only processing files for individuals currently working in Canada and have an arranged employment offer: FSW2+3 and they are transferring files that fall under other categories to neighboring visa offices to clear out the back log. Correct me if I am wrong but I think Pro1 does have an Arrange Employment Offer in Canada.

 

[garian4u]

Guys, an update from my side, 2 days back (i.e. Tuesday of the current week), my e-CAS changed to "Received by visa office". But, I still don't understand that why all the dates are of CIO NS, Shouldn't they mention in the status the dates on which Buffalo received my full document set?

 

[professional 1]

rahmanrahat,

I got the letter from the same email address as yours exactly.

By the way, I do not have any job offer in Canada, i am just a student here.


garian4u,


The format of your online case details after it changes to "Recieved by the visa office" usually looks like this :

We received your application for permanent residence on ###### (CIO Date)

We reviewed your application and sent you a letter on #### (CIO Date). Please consider delays in mail delivery before contacting us.

Your application and supporting documents were received by the Buffalo office. They are pending review. (No Date is mentioned in that regard).

We transferred your application to the Buffalo office on ##### ( the date of the electronic submission of your application from the CIO to the visa office). The Buffalo office may contact you.

 

[roopa82]

buffalo doesnt work acc. to when documents are submitted......whn NS received your documents is important...this month is for april -may applicants of NS...good luck....if your file is transferred to detroit....it is good sign..faster processing then buffalo office.....which office is slowest???????any comments..........

 

[professional 1]

buffalo doesnt work acc. to when documents are submitted......whn NS received your documents is important...this month is for april -may applicants of NS...good luck....if your file is transferred to detroit....it is good sign..faster processing then buffalo office.....which office is slowest???????any comments..........

I have no idea which office is slower, but i believe that Buffalo office is the busiest one since it is the only office in the USA that receives all kinds of applications for temporary and permanent residence visas directly from the applicants.

All of the other visa offices in the USA do not accept the PR applications directly form applicants, they accept only the temporary residence applications directly form applicants, and the permanent residence applications transfered from Buffalo.

 

[sazid]

Hi,I forgot to add my letter from CIO-NS when I send my full docs, I sent an email to Buffalo following is the reply

Please allow at least 30 weeks between our receipt of an application and its return to you or our sending of the acknowledgment of receipt letter.

Please wait until you hear from us with further instructions and do not contact our office or send in any further documentation during that period.

30 weeks, ND is issuing visa in this time. I am surprised by updated processing time statistics posted on line which says Buffalo is processing application in 8-10 months.

hi zulkfal,

can you provide me the email id to which we can mail and ask for case status.

 

[Bardcir]

Guys, Lets cross the finger. Buffalo is waking up. my Initial Application was back in May 2009, But I have not heard anything yet hoping to get something soon. I should update them with my job status that way they might accelerate the process. Do you guys know how we can update them with any changes. is it like sending them the document along with The file No#. They are not aware my current job in Canada

 

[mpapdp.1984]

Guys, Lets cross the finger. Buffalo is waking up. my Initial Application was back in May 2009, But I have not heard anything yet hoping to get something soon. I should update them with my job status that way they might accelerate the process. Do you guys know how we can update them with any changes. is it like sending them the document along with The file No#. They are not aware my current job in Canada

There is a form on the back side of the AOR letter that you might have got from the Buffalo office when they sent you your file number. Make a copy of that, fill it out and send it to them (mail or fax).

 

[Bardcir]

Thanks mpapdp.1984

I will try that

best of luck