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

[CeeGee]

Ohmigod--If you get transferred to Detroit--there is one nightmare. When you send your passport in, they do not accept anything but FedEx and the U.S. mail regular only, if you are in Canada. They insist that you send a prepaid FexEx courier label. You must do it online, and we are on dial-up. We had to disconnect and dial for each individual question. They tell you to follow the instructions exactly, but what they don't tell you is that even the FedEx people cannot figure out what to do. It took us approximately two hours online, and 25 questions, and ten phone calls with fourteen separate people before we got a successful result.

FedEx operator even knew the situation. She said, "Yeah, Detroit, they are the only ones who insist on it that way, and I have no idea why, but it is a little bit of a nightmare."

If you get to this stage, then drop me a message.

Great day, but, god, are we exhausted. . . . . .

May this please be the last horrid hurdle before we can be together.

 

[SimpleMan]

Ohmigod--If you get transferred to Detroit--there is one nightmare. When you send your passport in, they do not accept anything but FedEx and the U.S. mail regular only, if you are in Canada. They insist that you send a prepaid FexEx courier label. You must do it online, and we are on dial-up. We had to disconnect and dial for each individual question. They tell you to follow the instructions exactly, but what they don't tell you is that even the FedEx people cannot figure out what to do. It took us approximately two hours online, and 25 questions, and ten phone calls with fourteen separate people before we got a successful result.

FedEx operator even knew the situation. She said, "Yeah, Detroit, they are the only ones who insist on it that way, and I have no idea why, but it is a little bit of a nightmare."

If you get to this stage, then drop me a message.

Great day, but, god, are we exhausted. . . . . .

May this please be the last horrid hurdle before we can be together.

Thanks for the info CeeGee.

 

[sbwv09]

NYC only uses regular post to mail back and forth to Canada! I'm thinking about going home to visit after I get PPR so I can send the prepaid courier envelope rather than risk that! A member here a few months ago had her passport lost in the mail.

 

[Vervain]

Ohmigod--If you get transferred to Detroit--there is one nightmare. When you send your passport in, they do not accept anything but FedEx and the U.S. mail regular only, if you are in Canada. They insist that you send a prepaid FexEx courier label. You must do it online, and we are on dial-up. We had to disconnect and dial for each individual question. They tell you to follow the instructions exactly, but what they don't tell you is that even the FedEx people cannot figure out what to do. It took us approximately two hours online, and 25 questions, and ten phone calls with fourteen separate people before we got a successful result.

I read on another forum that Detroit was the only other office other than Buff you could do PPR in person. Is that not the case? I wish I could at least drop off and pick up even if it wasn't the same day. It would take ten minutes. I can see the Ren Cen from a few blocks from my house here in Canada. It would be nothing to head over.

 

[sbwv09]

PPR! PPR! PPR! PPR! PPR! PPR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm soooo thankful!! My parents got a letter from NYC requesting that I send them my passport and 4 photos!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I'm so thankful to God!! HE takes care of us!! I'm crying and dancing all around.. the neighbors probably think I'm insane!

The only thing is that they sent the letter to my parents, so they'll have to mail it to me... but I may go down there to visit and send the passport from there, gotta discuss this with hubby. I can't wait until I get the passport back and it's all OVER!

My total timeline:

Mailed application: May 20, 2010
Sponsorship approved: June 22, 2010
In Process: August 18, 2010
Transfer to NYC: August 31, 2010
PPR!!: Received letter September 31, 2010

 

[the-fanatics]

Congrats sbwv!!! We are so happy for you and your hubby! ;D

 

[sbwv09]

User Name Application Sent Sponsorship Approved In Process Transfer to Satellite Office Interview PPR! Notes
On The Move April 6, 10 May 10, 10 June 7, 10 July 20,10
(NYC)
Giggles1985 April 16, 10 May 31, 10 July 12, 10 July 28, 10 docs requested
(LA)
Can_80_n March 1, 10 May 6, 10 June 7, 10 Aug. 4, 10 Waived Sept. 2, 10
(LA)
bonacker Jan 15, 10 Feb. 16, 10 March 11, 10 March 23, 10 FBI Lost
(NYC)
CeeGee June 2, 10 July 5, 10 Aug. 20, 10 Aug. 31, 10 Waived Sept 9, 10
(Detroit)
Sbwv09 May 20, 10 June 22, 10 Aug, 18, 10 Aug. 31, 10 Waived Sept 13, 10
(NYC)
Vervain May 3, 10 Aug. 6, 10 Sept. 8, 10
(Detroit)

 

[giggles1985]

Congrats sbwv09

 

[Vervain]

PPR! PPR! PPR! PPR! PPR! PPR!!!!!!!!!!!!!

*EXTREME BOOTY SHAKING* WOO HOO!!! Looks like transferring is really working for expediting. Hope the trend continues for me So weird that they never did change your addy but that's neither here nor there now Congrats! Not even four months! Not too shabby!

 

[sbwv09]

Thanks Yeah.. I'm glad it came through fairly quickly! Now here's to hoping mailing and getting the passport back is also painless. I'm leaving Wednesday to go to the US and I'm going to mail it from there and wait there for it to be returned. I have to sort out paperwork for the car and I have to bring a bunch of stuff across anyway, so it works out.

I suspect hubby wants a little time to feel like a bachelor again before I'm 'landed' and here for good, haha.

I'm already starting the job search! Even a part time job is ok for now.. we just need some money

 

[OnTheMove]

I received my PPR in the mail yesterday too!! It is finally over!
I am excited!!!......but

They only gave me 30 days from Sept 9 to send my passport in. My hubby and I have an England trip all planned for the first part of October! I FedExed my passport this AM for an overnight delivery and included a pre-paid return FedEx envelope for them to send my Passport back. I also included a letter pretty much begging them to mail my passport back to before the month's end.
Now I am just praying and keeping my fingers crossed. :-\

E-cas hasn't changed

 

[giggles1985]

Congrats everyone!!!




I hope they will open my package soon and finish me up

 

[sbwv09]

Yay onthemove!!

Are you in Canada or the US? They act like they won't use anything but regular post for Canada regardless of what you send.. but hopefully it will come back soon! I'm hitting the road tomorrow to go back to the US, and I'll mail mine out on Thursday with an enclosed express mail!

Did you have to get more photos taken? I had to!

 

[OnTheMove]

I am in the US. I was running around like a maniac yesterday trying to get everything done:
Got my PPR letter in the mail yesterday, panicked, flew back to work (don't have a printer at home)
Opened a FedEx account, went to Sears portrait studio (they are open late) to get my Visa photos. Went back to work to type up the begging letter. Dropped off the FedEx envelope at work for FedEx pick up this morning.

And yes, it looks like they do use the courier service.

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/new_york/imm/mailing-instructions-expeditions.aspx?lang=eng&menu_id=208&menu=L

"Courier Service: Unless it is prepaid from a corporate account, we will not return your documents using ANY courier services (Fedex, UPS, DHL)."

I didn't use my corporate account, but I opened a personal account last night, and pre-paid for the return shipment. I got the return FedEx envelope all ready with the pre-paid label on it, inserted it into the main envelope, and sent it out. All they need to do is pull it out, stuff in it with my passport and send back.

 

[journeyman]

Hi OnTheMove,

Just thought I would try to give you some support . I know you are dealing with the NY office, but my husband sent his passport to Buffalo via US postal service (expresspost) with a self-addressed return envelope on August 27 (day after he recieved PPR) and recieved it back on September 4. Just a 1 week turnaround.

Here's hoping NY will be as fast and you get yours just as quick. Good luck.