Case Processing Pilot -Ottawa Processing Times

[canamera]

Hi everyone,

My application to sponsor my American wife has been sent to Ottawa as part of the Case Processing Pilot Program as the New York office has apparently closed. Has anyone experienced the process going through this pilot program? Does it increase/decrease the processing time? I wanted to ask here before sending an email to the office directly. Thanks for any insights!

 

[mattrox10]

Yes majority of the spousal sponsorship applications get sent to Ottawa since the closing of Buffalo. There seems to be a slight delay in the process. By the looks of things March applications seem to be moving through right now for PPR (passport request). We are all hoping they will catch up on the back log of applications soon.

 

[canamera]

Thanks for the insight. We are just applying outbound for my wife to have Permanent Residency. Is this different from PPR?

From the CIC site (and what I've read on this forum) 80% of apps processed in New York were 9-11 months. Just wondering if we can expect the same out of Ottawa or shorter? Thanks.

 

[Creampop]

PPR is passport request. We filed thru Buffalo right before they closed we had not yet received sponsorship approval so my application never went to Buffalo went straight to CPP-O on July 23rd, September 14th we got request for permanent residence fee, October 9th PPR so from start to finish my process has been about 6 1/2 months, obviously not delayed, even with the fact we didn't pay all the fee's upfront. of course everyone's case is different, some IO's work faster then others and since CPP-O hasn't been up and running for a year there really are no statistics. Good Luck!

 

[Line]

PPR is passport request. We filed thru Buffalo right before they closed we had not yet received sponsorship approval so my application never went to Buffalo went straight to CPP-O on July 23rd, September 14th we got request for permanent residence fee, October 9th PPR so from start to finish my process has been about 6 1/2 months, obviously not delayed, even with the fact we didn't pay all the fee's upfront. of course everyone's case is different, some IO's work faster then others and since CPP-O hasn't been up and running for a year there really are no statistics. Good Luck!

Everyone is talking about PPR (passport request). I am sponsoring my US common-law-husband. Our application is now with CPP-o. Just got request for pictures of my husband's son even though he will not be accompanying him to Canada. My husband does not have a US passport but he has an enhanced US driver's licence. Will they be asking for a passport or is the enhanced driving licence good enough? thank you so much.

 

[ou812]

So, if you applied outland through Buffalo (where the files have now been transferred to Ottawa for processing) and require an interview, does anybody know where the interview would take place at?... In Ottawa?.

 

[mameelynn]

Yes majority of the spousal sponsorship applications get sent to Ottawa since the closing of Buffalo. There seems to be a slight delay in the process. By the looks of things March applications seem to be moving through right now for PPR (passport request). We are all hoping they will catch up on the back log of applications soon.

Yeah it seems as long as you aren't stuck in the black hell hole that has become the February files you might be okay.... We Februarys got the total crap stick with CIC and seem for the most part to have been overlooked for March and newer applicants .... Anyway... I sent an email out to them last week and I still haven't heard anything back and I pretty much said I just wanted to see if they still had my application and if I was still in the 80% timeframe due to their lack of a office timeline for Ottawa... I'll keep everyone posted when<but more like IF> they ever email me back!

 

[Creampop]

Everyone is talking about PPR (passport request). I am sponsoring my US common-law-husband. Our application is now with CPP-o. Just got request for pictures of my husband's son even though he will not be accompanying him to Canada. My husband does not have a US passport but he has an enhanced US driver's licence. Will they be asking for a passport or is the enhanced driving licence good enough? thank you so much.

He will have to apply for the actual passport but, he only needs the passport book. The CoPR (Confirmation of Permanent Residence) has the passport number on it and can only be used with that vaild passport, CPP-O is only asking for scanned copies but LA is asking for the vaild passport so it all depends on which VO finalizes your application, I was in Ottawa for sponsorship and applicant approval but was tranferred to LA for visa issue... Good Luck!

 

[SweetieQ]

wow

 

[mameelynn]

I heard back from the email I sent Ottawa last week and it said that their processing time is 10 months...

 

[roysingh]

Are there any October 2011 Applicants out there ? Mine has been over a 1 year now. Jesus freaking Christ! It's ridiculous.


Time line of Events for Application Dates
Appication Received 10/27/2011
Medical Completed 10/24/2011
Approved Part 1 1/9/2012
Birth Certificate requested 2/14/2012
Requested additional information 2/17/2012
Back up information sent to buffalo office via email in response to 2/14/2012 request 2/23/2012
Email Fingerprint check requested thru RCMP by Buffalo Consulate 3/12/2012
Fingerprint check Mailed to RCMP 4/4/2012
email from buffalo that application is in process and they they are unable to provide a date as to when the processing of my application will be complete 4/12/2012
Results sent by RCMP to Buffal Consulate for fingerprints per 5/25/2012 email from RCMP 5/11/2012
Notification via email that case was transferred to Ottawa 6/22/2012
Ottawa help desk email states file was transffered and is working thru a large number of files at same time 9/17/2012
Ottawa help desk sends email stating that I should hear from an agent within 2 months 10/17/2012

 

[ELOH]

YES! I applied Sept 2011. Everything was straightforward. Our interview was waived in March 2012. Our app was not transferred to Ottawa from Buffalo until JULY!!! We have not heard one word since March. Husband's MP told us it was transferred. It has now been 14 months!! So, yes, I am outraged also. To see people getting through who applied in March makes me furious with CIC.

 

[Hunt71]

Yes majority of the spousal sponsorship applications get sent to Ottawa since the closing of Buffalo. There seems to be a slight delay in the process. By the looks of things March applications seem to be moving through right now for PPR (passport request). We are all hoping they will catch up on the back log of applications soon.


Hi Mattrox10: My file is now in Ottawa. As well I'm a March applicant. What is the next step once in Ottawa?
Thanks

 

[Hunt71]

Hello Everyone:

I emailed the Ottawa to get an update on my file: Here is what they sent me back:

"Please refer to frequently asked questions at:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/canada/ottawa.asp

I guess the wait times differ upon when you filed? I file March 12th. My file got transferred to Ottawa on Sept 4th.

 

[computergeek]

Hello Everyone:

I emailed the Ottawa to get an update on my file: Here is what they sent me back:

"Please refer to frequently asked questions at:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/canada/ottawa.asp

"Don't call us, we'll call you..."

I guess the wait times differ upon when you filed? I file March 12th. My file got transferred to Ottawa on Sept 4th.

Wait time seems to depend upon a number of factors:

- The time for first stage approval (sponsor approval)
- If your file's original transfer was to CPP-O, you are on the best possible track.
- If your file's original transfer was to Buffalo and then re-transferred to CPP-O, you are in a processing backlog
- The complexity of your file and any potential issues. For example, roysingh has two negative factors - first, the extended background checks (there was a partial RCMP match, which required a fingerprint based RCMP report to ensure criminal admissibility) and then second being caught in the Buffalo transfer mess, which means being relegated to the Buffalo transfer backlog

In your case, it would seem you had a very long sponsor approval process (almost 6 months) which means that your 10 month clock has just started.

For March filers we actually "lucked out" although at the time the 45 to 90 days stage 1 approval jump didn't look like "luck". This means that March 2012 applicants were the first to be sent directly to CPP-O for the normal processing stream. February cases appear to have been transferred to Buffalo and then to CPP-O so they are stuck in the backlog.

For my application it was 3.5 months for sponsor approval (application arrived 6 March, sponsor approved 21 June) and then 3 months for applicant approval (first March applicant approved from CPP-O according to the March spreadsheet, in fact) but as I've mentioned before there were unusual circumstances in my case. Still, other March people were receiving passport requests (PPRs) within a week or two of my own PPR.