Applications processed in Pretoria

[chrispeach]

Hey there!

It seems that most applications do not take that long. In fact, most people get there application processed by 6 months. That being said though, every case is different. If there are no issues and your application is pretty standard then it can be pretty quick. The 25 months that you see on the timeline is actually a little confusing. In 25 months 80% of the applications are finalized. If you read this thread carefully you will find a link to a statistics website from CIC, but basically 60% of spousal visa applications are processed with 6 months. The three different background checks might slow you down a bit though.

Now about your police checks. I personally would go ahead and file your application now with the police clearances that you have. Mississuaga is really only concerned with the sponsor and do not concern themselves with the sponsored persons supporting documents. They are just checking that you have filled in all the forms and to see if you're elegible to sponsor so make sure that all your supporting documents are in order. Processing time in missisuaga is 86 days (as of August 8, 2012) so it is better not to put off getting the process started. In the mean time you can continue working on updating those clearances and when you are approved as a sponsor then you will get your UCI by email and all the information you will need to send the remaining documents.

The whole Process can be very overwealming. All I can say is be patient. Here are some things to remember:

Pretoria will not inform you of anything, no matter how many times you plead, unless there is something to say.

Document turnaround time in Pretoria is about 3 months so if they ask you for additional documents then expect it to take that long to acknowledge that they even received them.

Remember they are not out to "get you" their delay is not an attack on you trust me, it can feel like it at times

CIC-Mississauga only takes about a day to process your file....86 days is the amount of time it is going to take for them to get to your file

Pretoria does not always (in fact rarely) sends out an AOR to you so don't panic.

Pretoria rarely rejects a spousal application and will not even ask for an interview unless there is a very good reason (ie, very poor documentation support or a medical condition like HIV)

Above all remember that the advice received on hear does not constiute LEGAL advice and it is up to you to seek professional advice if you feel it is necessary. We are just like you....waiting and praying for an answer.

Good luck, if you have any questions then please post...if it is extremely private then you can inbox me...I will help if I can

 

[jhjeppe]

Hi Guys
Not a lot of us SAffers on this thread. Go to www.sacanada.org there is so many saffers on that forum.

 

[beauchemin]

thanks chrispeach.

we're actually gonna take your advice. my husband went to the namibian consulate in cape town today to inquire about the police clearance. The person who "does" police clearances is on holiday until September..read no police clearances out of that office until this person returns.

Anyhow, your advice was pretty helpful and calmed my nerves, especially about the wait times. I'm gonna get this application into mississauga by the end of the week

 

[chrispeach]

Glad to hear it!

Keep us posted on your progress from time to time! Hope your process is quick

 

[steph816]

Hey Beauchemin....

They did increase the wait times in Pretoria, not sure why....when we first sent ours in, the expected wait time was 18 months...ours took roughly 12-13 months (from when Pretoria acknowledged receiving our file - although they didn't actually start working on it until 4 mths after they acknowledged receiving it!), and they lost our medical so we had to redo that...plus, we had to submit police clearance from SA (we didn't include it in our package and we asked to submit one after they started looking at our file).... So I think, if we didn't have to redo the medical, our visa would have been ready in like 8-9 months.

Do keep in mind though the process that Pretoria doesn't really update e-cas very diligently, nor do they reply to your emails, they usually only email you if they want something from you, and give you a 30-60 day deadline in which to complete it...
They never acknowledged receiving our new medicals, or the SA police clearance....I had to get my MP to email them and ask if they'd received it!

Good luck and keep posting on this forum if u need more help, everyone here is really good at giving current, 1st hand info... =)

 

[Josephs]

Hey Beauchemin....

They did increase the wait times in Pretoria, not sure why....when we first sent ours in, the expected wait time was 18 months...ours took roughly 12-13 months (from when Pretoria acknowledged receiving our file - although they didn't actually start working on it until 4 mths after they acknowledged receiving it!), and they lost our medical so we had to redo that...plus, we had to submit police clearance from SA (we didn't include it in our package and we asked to submit one after they started looking at our file).... So I think, if we didn't have to redo the medical, our visa would have been ready in like 8-9 months.

Do keep in mind though the process that Pretoria doesn't really update e-cas very diligently, nor do they reply to your emails, they usually only email you if they want something from you, and give you a 30-60 day deadline in which to complete it...
They never acknowledged receiving our new medicals, or the SA police clearance....I had to get my MP to email them and ask if they'd received it!

Good luck and keep posting on this forum if u need more help, everyone here is really good at giving current, 1st hand info... =)

I am here to help in case any one need to ask question or need support.

 

[beauchemin]

thanks guys for the info. I will keep you posted. I don't know how i'm gonna live without my husband for so long.

 

[srmo]

hi to all
I sent my passports to pretoria office and were delivered on 7th of august according to the dhl tracking record. till now no information.
and my ecas is also same showing we started processing ur application in nov 2011.

my question is how i m going to get informed whether passports are ready for collection and it will take how long/

any one please

 

[steph816]

It will take 7-10 business days and they will send u an email saying it is ready for collection and give u a new reference number to use ; u will b able to send someone to collect it for u,or get DHL to collect it, u just need to fill out their forms allowing them to do so. By Monday u should hear from them!

 

[chrispeach]

We have just received the Visa today! Passport is ready to pick up.....Finally!

 

[Josephs]

We have just received the Visa today! Passport is ready to pick up.....Finally!

Oh phew! Finally Chrispeach, I am so happy for you! I hope your spouse will be joining you asap .

 

[chrispeach]

PHEW is just about how I feel As soon as DHL delivers it I will be booking the flight!

 

[steph816]

YAY!! So stoked for you and your wife to be together finally!! =)

 

[Musimbi]

Greetings!

I've been reading this thread for a few months. Married my Zambian husband in March (in Zambia) and can use any support I can get for the trek through this immigration process.

Can someone tell me how I'll be notified that my application to sponsor has been approved (i.e. email, letter)? My complete application package (including my husband's completed forms, docs, evidence of relationship, etc.) was sent by Express Post mid to end of April. The 86 days it's supposed to take to process in Mississauga have passed but I can't check the status of my application online or by phone. The only file/case identifier I have is a receipt number from my online payment which hasn't given me access to any info.

When/how can I expect to hear something?

 

[steph816]

They usually send you an automatically generated email stating you have been approved as a sponsor. It usually takes the full recommended number of working days so you just have to hang in there!! They don't update ecas as they should, so don't rely on that or it'll drive you crazy checking it constantly! You probably won't hear anything from Pretoria either, unless they want something from you. They are horrible at communication and the only way I was able to get any info was getting my MP to email them. (I just needed to know if they'd received our 2nd medicals and police checks). If they require any additional docs from your husband, they will email him (whatever email you wrote on your application forms) and give him a deadline of 30 to 60 days to give them what they want...- the only time they will email YOU as the sponsor is to tell you you've been approved and then also, when they are ready to issue his visa, they will cc the email notification to you. At least that's how it happened with us. Feel free to inbox me if you have any questions...everthing I got to learn was from this forum and the people on it!!! =)