File transfer from Buffalo to a satellite office (NYC, Seattle, LA, Detroit)

[OnTheMove]

Hi,
I wanted to start a thread for people whose file was transferred to a sateline office from Buffalo. I don't know how many of us are out there, but I am sure there is at least a handful.

My file was transferred to NYC on July 20, 2010 to "expedite" after being in process in Buffalo for a month and a half.
I did choose NYC as my preferred interview location, so could this be one of the reasons?

Can anyone else share their experience and how long the wait was for the interview/passport request?

 

[SaugaBoss]

that's interesting im not sure but maybe u marked off New york, NY
not buffalo, ny for the interview or something???

I wonder if the same thing will happen to me i checked off New York, NY as well....

 

[sbwv09]

Buffalo wasn't one of the options, oddly enough.. I remember them being NYC, Detroit, LA or Seattle. I just checked NYC because it seemed the closest besides Buffalo.. although most interviews I read about on here seem to take place in Buffalo, so I don't get it!

Buffalo processing seems to be going really slowly, so I think more people may be joining you here soon.

 

[Dayanara]

Buffalo wasn't one of the options, oddly enough.. I remember them being NYC, Detroit, LA or Seattle. I just checked NYC because it seemed the closest besides Buffalo.. although most interviews I read about on here seem to take place in Buffalo, so I don't get it!

Buffalo processing seems to be going really slowly, so I think more people may be joining you here soon.

Yea I remember seeing the same. We checked Detroit though, that is only a 4-5 hour drive if they want an interview, NYC is 8-10 hours (took me over 12 the one time I drove there and got lost in NJ somehow, lol).

 

[SaugaBoss]

i totally forgot buffalo wasnt an option lol. but a lot of people if your file is well put together the interview is waived so i hope mine is too!!

 

[plumosa]

Files just get transferred to a satellite office when Buffalo is getting slammed with applications. Its just to speed things along and has no bearing on whether or not you have an interview.

 

[Kess]

Here's hoping all these transfer's actually speed things up. I'm sending my app off soon (destined for Buffalo) and keeping my fingers crossed it doesn't take forever and a day.

 

[OnTheMove]

I hope you guys are right that Buffalo sends applications to the satellite offices to expedite things. However, I read one person's post that NYC did not respond until about 90 days after they'd received his application from Buffalo.
90 days! Kinda scary!

 

[giggles1985]

Well, guess I'm going to join this thread now! My app is being transferred to LA.
I do think that one thing it will definately help is the mailing time. I live in SoCal so if they send me letters I will now get them within a day or two instead of a week.

I wonder if I can drive in and get my visa when the time comes instead of having to mail my passport? That would cut another couple of weeks off the wait time.

Lets hope the outsourcing helps us (and everyone else still in Buffalo) to get moving! ;D


As for the 90 days mentioned above, it also states that in the letter I got. "Do not request the status of your file within ninety (90) days of the date of this letter." 90 days is their standard "revisit" date that they stamp on a file when they are waiting for a background check or additional paperwork. So that doesn't seem to have changed with the change in office, unfortunately.

 

[sbwv09]

They may get to it sooner though.. I think that's just the maximum time they give you.. like the 20 week wait for AOR.. most of us are getting AOR much sooner than that.

I know you can just drive in and give them your passport in Buffalo, so I don't see why you couldn't in LA.

 

[OnTheMove]

I wonder if I can drive in and get my visa when the time comes instead of having to mail my passport? That would cut another couple of weeks off the wait time.

ice, unfortunately.

Check the CIC LA site. The NYC office clearly states that they will not accept passports in person. All passports need to be mailed in.

Also, did you initially choose LA as a potential interview site?

 

[sbwv09]

I stand corrected.. sorry!

 

[giggles1985]

Check the CIC LA site. The NYC office clearly states that they will not accept passports in person. All passports need to be mailed in.

Also, did you initially choose LA as a potential interview site?

I am searching but so far haven't been able to find anything specifically about the visa stage. You can submit applications in person, though.

I did select LA as my interview site, yes.

 

[OnTheMove]

I am searching but so far haven't been able to find anything specifically about the visa stage. You can submit applications in person, though.

I did select LA as my interview site, yes.

Yeah, I couldn't find this info either on CIC LA.
But they do accept general inquiry phone calls, so I would call them.

 

[beantown]

Yeah, I couldn't find this info either on CIC LA.
But they do accept general inquiry phone calls, so I would call them.

My husabnd's application timeline is almost the exact same as yours: filed in Miss. on April 6, sponsor approved early May; began processing June 7. But we've never received anything by email. Was this the first email you got from CIC or Buffalo?

thanks,