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Guys,

We should start to hear something starting Feb 2013. FSWP was initially scheduled to opn Jan 1, 2013 but not they have postponed it to May 4 and all done to provide extra time to VO to clear all the backlogs they have.

I am quite confident that they would clear all 2011 cases by May (atleast).

Thanks,
 
See 5th paragraph in link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2012/2012-12-19.asp
[/quote]

Does anyone have further clarifications for the paragraph in the link above?
 
com2canada said:
See 5th paragraph in link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2012/2012-12-19.asp


Does anyone have further clarifications for the paragraph in the link above?

I am referring to this statement => "It is important to note that these changes will not apply to people who have applied to the FSWP prior to May 4, 2013 with a qualifying arranged job offer or under the Ph.D. stream."
 
5th paragraph in link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2012/2012-12-19.asp

This 5th paragraph is little confusing.It looks like that new rules will be applicable to candidates who applied earlier.If that is the case then it is a clever way to reject many files.Quick way to get rid of backlogs.

I hope I am wrong because new rules applied to earlier candidates will have huge impact, which will result in refusal of many applications,bringing Canadian immigration system just in time.
 
Trick said:
5th paragraph in link: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/releases/2012/2012-12-19.asp

This 5th paragraph is little confusing.It looks like that new rules will be applicable to candidates who applied earlier.If that is the case then it is a clever way to reject many files.Quick way to get rid of backlogs.

I hope I am wrong because new rules applied to earlier candidates will have huge impact, which will result in refusal of many applications,bringing Canadian immigration system just in time.
The statement appears to suggest that the rules will be retroactive going by the literal meaning of it, at least, in my understanding. Can people try to clarify this especially @glowingheart who incidentally has Mr Kenney as his local MP? The earlier CIC set the records straight the better for everyone
 
com2canada said:
I am referring to this statement => "It is important to note that these changes will not apply to people who have applied to the FSWP prior to May 4, 2013 with a qualifying arranged job offer or under the Ph.D. stream."

From this it appears to me that it will NOT apply to us, applicants prior to the May 4, 2013. I read and reread the press release I can't see anywhere in it that suggests the changes will apply retroactively. I just read it though, so maybe it was edited and I missed what others are referring to.
 
com2canada said:
I am referring to this statement => "It is important to note that these changes will not apply to people who have applied to the FSWP prior to May 4, 2013 with a qualifying arranged job offer or under the Ph.D. stream."

Hello there,
The sentence is a good catch, com2canada. Yes, I think it implies that the new rules will be applicable to Federal Skilled Workers category 1 , those without prearranged job offers. In other words, the new rules will be very likely to be retroactive to this category (FSW1). I think the best thing we can do is to call our local MP when the holidays are over and talk with them how Buffalo to Ottawa Transferred Cases are losing months and months waiting due to this transfer and the May 4 rule would be also applicable to those in FSW1cases. Early actions are giving us more advantages since they may give us applicants some justice before the new rule in detail is announced in the new year.
By the way, enjoy the boxing week and happy 2013 to all,
saratracy
 
It is important to note that these changes will not apply to people who have applied to the FSWP prior to May 4, 2013 with a qualifying arranged job offer or under the Ph.D. stream.

I don't believe it is going to apply retroactively. This statement is referring to the applicants that can apply now: ie. phd stream and fsw with a qualifying job offer, prior to the reopening of applicantions in May.
 
Wolvy said:
It is important to note that these changes will not apply to people who have applied to the FSWP prior to May 4, 2013 with a qualifying arranged job offer or under the Ph.D. stream.

I don't believe it is going to apply retroactively. This statement is referring to the applicants that can apply now: ie. phd stream and fsw with a qualifying job offer, prior to the reopening of applicantions in May.
At this point anyone could be correct or wrong based on interpretation. It is clear that the above statement is, to some extent, ambiguous. The only thing that will suffice is a standardized official clarification from CIC. For now this issue is still opened to the forum for discussion - Please share your thoughts!
 
The statement concerns about people who will apply in coming few months before the general FSWP reopen in May 2013. The criteria will not apply on them.
I believe it will not apply to any applicant of FSW, PNP, and others as well. Canada never issued change in rules to apply of existing applicants.
Salem

com2canada said:
At this point anyone could be correct or wrong based on interpretation. It is clear that the above statement is, to some extent, ambiguous. The only thing that will suffice is a standardized official clarification from CIC. For now this issue is still opened to the forum for discussion - Please share your thoughts!
 
salem10 said:
The statement concerns about people who will apply in coming few months before the general FSWP reopen in May 2013. The criteria will not apply on them.
I believe it will not apply to any applicant of FSW, PNP, and others as well. Canada never issued change in rules to apply of existing applicants.
Salem

Lot of things did not happen earlier and they are happening now.Unless,they change this statement and make it very clear,we have to assume that new rules will be applied to earlier candidates.

Logically,new rules should not apply to earlier applicants but with Canadian immigration anything is possible.
 
I want to know what happens after the files are transferred to Ottawa? My ecas shows "IN PROCESS". How much longer do I need to wait? For the Arranged Employment Opinion applications the time limit is 11 months as per their bulletin. Just waiting. Thanks.
 
wamfeo, what's your timeline? It doesn't seem like anyone applying March - May 2011 through the Buffalo VO has had their ECAS status change to "In Process" yet. I applied FSW1 through Sydney, NS April 2011 and it has been stuck on RBVO at Buffalo for over 18 months now. I'm not going to assume it's going to get any better, but assuming it doesn't get any worse, it'll probably be another year before the passport request based on the timelines of the people who are receiving passport requests right now who applied through Buffalo in early 2010.

I know people on here want to be overly optimistic and say the post-June applicants should be faster because of the Sydney intake office and the pause last fall to clear the backlog, but there is not much evidence that anyone who applied FSW1 through Sydney/Buffalo in late 2010 through June 2011 is going any faster than the pre-June applicants. Yes, there has been the occasional person that has gone faster, but not most of us. I'd love to be proven wrong here and receive the medical request tomorrow or an ECAS change to 'In Process' but it isn't happening any faster for most of us. I'll be really happy if I get the medical request by autumn 2013 and the passport request by spring 2014. Sit back and relax. It's going to be a while.
 
paul2587 said:
wamfeo, what's your timeline? It doesn't seem like anyone applying March - May 2011 through the Buffalo VO has had their ECAS status change to "In Process" yet. I applied FSW1 through Sydney, NS April 2011 and it has been stuck on RBVO at Buffalo for over 18 months now. I'm not going to assume it's going to get any better, but assuming it doesn't get any worse, it'll probably be another year before the passport request based on the timelines of the people who are receiving passport requests right now who applied through Buffalo in early 2010.

I know people on here want to be overly optimistic and say the post-June applicants should be faster because of the Sydney intake office and the pause last fall to clear the backlog, but there is not much evidence that anyone who applied FSW1 through Sydney/Buffalo in late 2010 through June 2011 is going any faster than the pre-June applicants. Yes, there has been the occasional person that has gone faster, but not most of us. I'd love to be proven wrong here and receive the medical request tomorrow or an ECAS change to 'In Process' but it isn't happening any faster for most of us. I'll be really happy if I get the medical request by autumn 2013 and the passport request by spring 2014. Sit back and relax. It's going to be a while.

Hi - I applied through Sydney (Buffalo VO) in December 2010. I spoke with 2 different MPs at the end of last year and both said (separately) that I should be hearing from Ottawa by February. Hopefully the reality won't be as bad as your describe it...
 
hey justtheme, your mp and my mp are saying the same thing!