Buffalo Visa office closing - Canadian Government

[RCVmini]

Just saw this on the globe and mail.

It should also be noted that many of the employees being laid off are local US workers and not Canadians.

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/ottawa-notebook/consulate-in-buffalo-to-be-shuttered-after-visa-rules-changed/article2443860/

Citizenship and Immigration Canada said that now that immigration applications can be made electronically, there’s no longer a need for a big staff in Buffalo processing them, and because of the new rules, immigration interviews can be done in Canada. Once the immigration department made its decision, the Foreign Affairs Department decided it didn’t need to keep the rest of the mission. “Our consulate in New York City will cover all of NY state,” said a government source.

 

[crna80]

Did I miss the means to apply electronically? I didn't see that anywhere?

 

[RCVmini]

I think this will be because of changes being made in the NEAR future.

 

[Sunshine87]

I wonder what that means for us recent applicants??? Longer processing times?!

 

[tavora]

Did I miss the means to apply electronically? I didn't see that anywhere?

We can dream, right? I wish, too,

 

[parker24]

This annoys me on so many levels!

Being married to an American and having American in-laws I know how hard it is to get a job, and now they are laying them off?! WHAT! Ohh I'm so not impressed with CIC...

 

[ELOH]

My application was near the end of processing. I have not received a decision yet. Now my application will be shipped to the 2nd largest branch? How will this affect the processing time now? We have held out for so long already.

 

[tavora]

Although we don't yet know what will happen with the processing times, I imagine it's going to take longer now (although I'm trying to remain positive).

I can't bear the thought of being separated from my husband for longer than one more year. I'm thinking of what options we would have:

1. He comes to visit me for a six months as a visitor, we extend his stay if possible/needed. The only downside to this is that he can't work or go to school.

2. Could he apply for a student visa so he could at least go to school while he is here? Or would that be frowned upon or looked unfavourably upon by CIC if we have a spousal application in progress?

 

[ihabkal]

he needs 15K per semester, I asked. must be very rich to have time and money to study and not need to work.

 

[tavora]

he needs 15K per semester, I asked. must be very rich to have time and money to study and not need to work.

15k per semester just to be a student? Wow, that's crazy. And Americans come to Canada because post-secondary is cheaper here (even with international student fees) than in the U.S. -- at least that was my experience in the program I took.

 

[ihabkal]

depends on your nationality and type of courses, but being a foreigner I went to Sheridan in Toronto in 2007, asked about a photography degree which was their cheapest, it costs 45K for the three semesters.
If you're Canadian of course it is cheaper.
I have yet to meet an American here studying.

 

[Sunshine87]

15k per semester just to be a student? Wow, that's crazy. And Americans come to Canada because post-secondary is cheaper here (even with international student fees) than in the U.S. -- at least that was my experience in the program I took.

I'm sure it depends on the school. I looked into a student visa for my husband.. as an international student, the tuition was outrageous. Like double what I paid each semester. We are planning doing your option 1. I figure that I'd rather have him here with me even if he can't work. He'll have the house tidy and dinner cooked every night

 

[JimM]

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/05/25/pol-weston-buffalo-consul.html

The Harper government is closing the Canadian consulate in Buffalo only 18 months after spending more than $1.5 million on renovations and signing a 10-year lease that is almost certain to stick taxpayers with millions in rent for empty offices, CBC News has learned.

So this will slow things down, cost more if you have to go for an interview, (NYC is way more expensive to visit than Buffalo) and leave the government paying rent on empty offices.

Brilliant move

 

[ihabkal]

all interviews for people already in Canada will be done in Canada

 

[oreidapennsyltucky]

2. Could he apply for a student visa so he could at least go to school while he is here? Or would that be frowned upon or looked unfavourably upon by CIC if we have a spousal application in progress?

I met my husband when I was a graduate student in Canada. I'm an American, so I'm sure this affected things to some extent, but I certainly didn't have $15K saved. I had gotten a full-ride plus a stipend, which made being a student a lot easier. If he already has a BA, you might want to look into MAs.

My understanding is that you can apply for a second type of visa while you're working toward your PR.