+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445

Hong Kong timeline

motorcyclerider

Star Member
Jul 4, 2012
156
3
Taipei
Category........
Visa Office......
HK
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
7/25/2012
AOR Received.
10/5/2012 - AOR 2: 10/22/2012
File Transfer...
10/14/2012
Med's Done....
7/17/2012
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
11/8/2012
VISA ISSUED...
11/23/2012
LANDED..........
Spring 2013
A little bit of good news. I just saw that they bumped the timeline from 18 months down to 17 months now for the HK vo.
 

bobokiko

Star Member
Feb 15, 2012
76
0
Visa Office......
HK
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
15-3-2012
Doc's Request.
19-7-2012
AOR Received.
3-7-2012
File Transfer...
6-7-2012
Med's Done....
10-3-2012
Passport Req..
6-11-2012
VISA ISSUED...
15-11-2012
LANDED..........
28-2-2013
motorcyclerider said:
A little bit of good news. I just saw that they bumped the timeline from 18 months down to 17 months now for the HK vo.
Good News :p :-*
 

Robyn

Full Member
Apr 22, 2011
38
1
124
Guangzhou China
Category........
Visa Office......
hong kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
04-05-2011
File Transfer...
06-09-2011
Med's Done....
20-04-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
05-09-2012
That is good news because our application has been there for 14 months maybe only 3 more months.
We just had our twins, 1 boy and 1 girl they are now a week old! So if we get approved in 3 months it will be a good time to travel.

Hope you are all hanging in there

Take care and stay strong
 

Fencesitter

Champion Member
Sep 29, 2011
1,761
52
Category........
Visa Office......
Hong Kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
April 13, 2012
AOR Received.
AOR2 July 25, 2012
File Transfer...
July 13, 2012
Med's Done....
Mar 1, 2012
Interview........
WAIVED!
Passport Req..
Aug 28, 2012
VISA ISSUED...
Sept 24, 2012
LANDED..........
Jan 30, 2013
OMG! 14 months? That's scary. I thought all straightforward cases were processed fairly quickly out of HK. Is your case strong? First marriage? How long have you been together? Please share some info about your case.

As for the reduction, that is great news, but still way too long! 17 months to do a few simple checks? Doesn't make sense. Should only take about 6 months, but even that is a long time!

My wife and I are really hoping to get the visa before March 1, 2013 when her medical expires. Everything is set to go, all we need is the visa.

I'm sending in additional information: 1) further plans of our intention to return to Canada and 2) further relationship proof (pictures, e-mails with my family in Canada, and hotel confirmation/visa stamps from our recent holiday to Hong Kong).

I really want to send them an e-mail to ask what is happening with our application. I also want to tell them to speed up the processing of family class applications. It's crazy to think I might be stuck in China for another 16 months!!!!!!

FS
 

Gatca

Member
Feb 1, 2012
18
1
Category........
Visa Office......
Hong Kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
31-May-2012
AOR Received.
10-Jul-2012
File Transfer...
16-Jul-2012
Med's Done....
30-Apr-2012
Interview........
wavied
Passport Req..
30-Aug-2012
Actually, will they update the ecase when they started processing our application?
 

Gatca

Member
Feb 1, 2012
18
1
Category........
Visa Office......
Hong Kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
31-May-2012
AOR Received.
10-Jul-2012
File Transfer...
16-Jul-2012
Med's Done....
30-Apr-2012
Interview........
wavied
Passport Req..
30-Aug-2012
Got the answer to my own question.It is NO, they wont let you know when they start processing your file.

But I got a good news, my interview is wavied and they ask for my police certificate from HK, they sent out a letter to me on 17 Aug 2012 :D

here is my info
Category........: FAM
Visa Office......: Hong Kong
App. Filed.......: 31-05-2012
Doc's Request.: --
AOR Received.: 10-07-2012
File Transfer...: 16-07-2012
Med's Done....: 30-04-2012
Interview........:wavied, confirmed on 17/08/2012
HK police check:
Passport Req..: ?
 

Fencesitter

Champion Member
Sep 29, 2011
1,761
52
Category........
Visa Office......
Hong Kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
April 13, 2012
AOR Received.
AOR2 July 25, 2012
File Transfer...
July 13, 2012
Med's Done....
Mar 1, 2012
Interview........
WAIVED!
Passport Req..
Aug 28, 2012
VISA ISSUED...
Sept 24, 2012
LANDED..........
Jan 30, 2013
Congrats!

I'm a tad bit disappointed to see that they have waved your interview seeing as you filed your app later than we did. I don't understand how they do things, but shouldn't it be a first come first served kind of thing?

My wife received an AOR from the HK VO on July 25, 2012, but since then no word. I sent one e-mail asking about the case with a reply stating not to send enquiries because this could delay the overal processing time. BS to the max!

So if you have a strong case, it really doesn't seem to mean a whole lot. I also think the visa officers are unprofessional and not processing cases based on the merits, rather, personal opinions. I hope I am wrong, but I think not.

Hopefully we will all here some good news soon.

FS
 

computergeek

VIP Member
Jan 31, 2012
5,143
277
124
Vancouver BC
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O/LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-03-2012
AOR Received.
21-06-2012
File Transfer...
21-6-2012
Med's Done....
11-02-2012
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
26-09-2012
VISA ISSUED...
10-10-2012
LANDED..........
13-10-2012
Fencesitter said:
My wife received an AOR from the HK VO on July 25, 2012, but since then no word. I sent one e-mail asking about the case with a reply stating not to send enquiries because this could delay the overal processing time. BS to the max!
Why don't you order GCMS notes? I know there's a cost associated with it if you aren't in Canada, but if you can get someone in Canada to send in the request it's $5. That way you will at least know where they are in the application.

The open data project says 20% of applications are completed by HKG in 6 months, 50% in 10 months, 80% in 18 months (open data, 12 months ending 31 March 2012).

Fencesitter said:
So if you have a strong case, it really doesn't seem to mean a whole lot. I also think the visa officers are unprofessional and not processing cases based on the merits, rather, personal opinions. I hope I am wrong, but I think not.
That does seem to happen, at least based upon the court cases I've reviewed.
 

Robyn

Full Member
Apr 22, 2011
38
1
124
Guangzhou China
Category........
Visa Office......
hong kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
04-05-2011
File Transfer...
06-09-2011
Med's Done....
20-04-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
05-09-2012
Fencesitter- our case is very strong this is both our first marriage we were married in 2006 and have a 23 month old and now new born twins. The last time my MP looked into our case they said that our relationship was found to be genuine and that they were at the criminal record check stage. I think the hold up is that we are both foreigners living in China, but who knows. OUr medical has already expired and we have not recieved anything from them since they acknoledged recieving our package. I has sent many emails including general ones as well as case specific ones but with no responce. I think I will contact my MP again next month to look into it again to see if they can find out any more.
 

Fencesitter

Champion Member
Sep 29, 2011
1,761
52
Category........
Visa Office......
Hong Kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
April 13, 2012
AOR Received.
AOR2 July 25, 2012
File Transfer...
July 13, 2012
Med's Done....
Mar 1, 2012
Interview........
WAIVED!
Passport Req..
Aug 28, 2012
VISA ISSUED...
Sept 24, 2012
LANDED..........
Jan 30, 2013
Yeah, you would think that our cases are super strong. I have a solid job offer in Canada and loads of evidence showing that we are definitely returning to Canada to raise our son (who just turned 10 months!!).

I have sent only 2 enquires, both of which were answered very quickly. The last one was answered in less than a day...but with a warning not to send any further enquiries.

I'm not going to order GCMS notes at this point because it's only been a little over a month since the AOR from HK. If I still haven't heard anything by Christmas, then yes, I'll get those notes.

The worry now is whether I have angered them by asking a couple of questions. Would they take it personally and deliberately delay the processing of my wife's application? They have all the power and can basically do whatever they want, no? I understand they have guidelines to follow, but what's to stop them throwing an application at the bottom of the pile?

Also, if it is totally obvious that the relationship is real, and that the sponsor's proof of intent (evidence) is air tight, could they still deny just to spite you? Or would they get into a lot of trouble for denying someone even though all evidence was more than enough?

Thanks and good luck to all!

FS
 

zeushk

Star Member
Jun 20, 2012
54
0
Hong Kong
Category........
Visa Office......
Hong Kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
Nov 10 2011
AOR Received.
Jan 11, 2012
File Transfer...
May 10, 2012
Med's Request
May 15, 2012
Passport Req..
Sept 7, 2012
LANDED..........
Jan 15, 2013
Hi, I have read your threads, and unfortunately, I'm probably in the average percentage where it seems to taking 19 months!

I am living in Hong Kong, and sponsoring my wife who is from Hong Kong. We have been married since 1999. Application sent back in November 2011, received email to confirm on January 11, 2012!! Then no news until May 10, 2012, when I received email saying that I have met the requirements for eligibility as a sponsor and now has been sent to the Hong Kong Visa Office for further processing. (what does that mean!?!?!?!)

Received actual letter from Hong Kong office saying that they received the application in May 15, 2012 and wanting police report and evidence of my return to canada once the application has been approved. ok, the police report is fine, but the evidence of my return is kind of strange. I am self-employed in Hong Kong, and like they asked in the letter, they want financial matters evidence and new job evidence, housing rental or deposit etc. This really makes no sense to me at all, as if someone or some company would hire me, renting a house / apartment, making down payment on a house, etc, on the possible basis that it may take up to 19 months for the approval of the application! This is really beyond me.

So we sent off everything back in May 2012, without my evidence of return , except a letter from me basically stating the above. And of course, like all of you, we have been checking weekly on the website. I find they update on Wednesdays, Canada time. Hope my letter didn't piss them off too much!

Am I alone in this venture or is there somebody who is like us?
 

Love Canada

Full Member
Aug 28, 2012
30
0
Hi Zeushk, for proof of my intention of returning to Canada once my wife receives her PR, I used conversation emails on Facebook with friend and family over the years talking about our plans of moving back. I also used emails from the school board of Vancouver BC as proof, showing conversations of me asking information of my kid's schooling. I know exactly what you mean about the job evidence and housing rental, it makes me laugh, it's kinda difficult if we're still living oversea for a period of time. Hope this helps you a bit, Cheers.
 

Fencesitter

Champion Member
Sep 29, 2011
1,761
52
Category........
Visa Office......
Hong Kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
April 13, 2012
AOR Received.
AOR2 July 25, 2012
File Transfer...
July 13, 2012
Med's Done....
Mar 1, 2012
Interview........
WAIVED!
Passport Req..
Aug 28, 2012
VISA ISSUED...
Sept 24, 2012
LANDED..........
Jan 30, 2013
If you can't provide proof of your intention to return to Canada (job offer, housing, etc), then at least you should be showing proof that you are beginning the process of cutting ties with HK. There are several things you could do, for example, shipping quotations, selling your business, pet relocation contract, future plans for employment for both you and your wife, and so on.

I have a little of both. I have a job offer, letters from my parents stating that we can stay with them until we sort out our housing, e-mails from mortgage specialists and realtors enquiring about purchasing a house, mention that I am a registered student at a Canadian university, my wife's plan for employment, and a very detailed account of all the things we need to do when we first arrive in Canada. On top of all that, I am sending an updated package to the HK visa office with more plans for our relocation, including: signed and stamped pet relocation contract with paid deposit, shipping quotation, flight quotation, detailed relocation budget, more detailed plans, schooling plans for our son, and so on.

I figure that they must understand that we can't completely cut all ties until we have confirmation on the visa. The only two things I cannot do at this point is quit my job (I am the only one with an income - my wife stays at home and takes care of our son), and buy our plane tickets.

You have to imagine as though you were in a court of law. You are the prosecutor. You must prove beyond a reasonable doubt...I think all of the above proof that I mentioned should be enough...who would honestly think I am going to live out my years in mainland China?? I have a job waiting for me in Canada that is a lot better than my current situation, so of course I will leave...but not just that, we are doing this for our son, as we refuse to raise him in the mainland (personal reasons).

Anyway, hope this post helps you guys...

FS
 

Fencesitter

Champion Member
Sep 29, 2011
1,761
52
Category........
Visa Office......
Hong Kong
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
April 13, 2012
AOR Received.
AOR2 July 25, 2012
File Transfer...
July 13, 2012
Med's Done....
Mar 1, 2012
Interview........
WAIVED!
Passport Req..
Aug 28, 2012
VISA ISSUED...
Sept 24, 2012
LANDED..........
Jan 30, 2013
I just checked e-cas and it now shows 'in process'!!! Yes! So happy to finally see some movement! Now, the question is...should I send the additional documents for a) proof of intent to return and b) further proof of our relationship? I'm leaning towards waiting, as they might not need it! What should I do??

By the way, this is positive news, right? It means that visa officer is actually working on our application, correct?

Thanks and hope others here some news soon!

FS
 

bobokiko

Star Member
Feb 15, 2012
76
0
Visa Office......
HK
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
15-3-2012
Doc's Request.
19-7-2012
AOR Received.
3-7-2012
File Transfer...
6-7-2012
Med's Done....
10-3-2012
Passport Req..
6-11-2012
VISA ISSUED...
15-11-2012
LANDED..........
28-2-2013
Fencesitter said:
I just checked e-cas and it now shows 'in process'!!! Yes! So happy to finally see some movement! Now, the question is...should I send the additional documents for a) proof of intent to return and b) further proof of our relationship? I'm leaning towards waiting, as they might not need it! What should I do??

By the way, this is positive news, right? It means that visa officer is actually working on our application, correct?

Thanks and hope others here some news soon!

FS
Fencesitter
Do you think " In process" is making by HK or by Canada CIC? Your application is sent later than me , but you have change to "In Process" , but nothing change and no letter and no email for me, I think my case also strong , I sponser my hunsband and daughter , we get married over 15 years, but don't know why need to approval for long time ?