tryinghard said:
Guys,
If I file an application in Buffalo, US CIO and then have to permanently move outside the US for some reason, then what happens to my application filed in Buffalo. Does it start again or do I have the option of file transfer to the local CIO?
Any thoughts?
The CIO is the Central Intake Office which is where all FSW applications are initially sent. As part of that initial application you need to include the visa office (e.g., Buffalo) that you elect for the application process. I assume your question is therefore about changing visa offices after submitting your application.
Before the recent changes, you could not request a change in visa offices. We won't know for sure what the newest policy is until an updated OP6 is available online reflecting the latest changes. However, there doesn't seem to be any reason why the policy would change ... so pick your visa office carefully. That being said, you can do most communication with the visa office over e-mail or mail/courier. You might be pressed to fly back for an interview though if you move away and they request one.
(at
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/op/op06-eng.pdf)
"Visa offices are not required to transfer files for any other reasons. Such reasons include cases of
applicants who comply with subsection R11(1) for the specified visa office, at the time the
application is received at the CIO, but subsequently leave the territory of the specified visa office.
In these cases, the original visa office should proceed with a final determination of eligibility and
process the application if eligible. The visa office should not transfer the file to another visa office
unless the transfer is warranted for program integrity reasons. Leaving a visa office’s territory
alone, does not warrant a file transfer. In this case, if an applicant requests a file transfer, the visa
office should inform them that the application will not be transferred ..."
