IN PROCESS after test/interview, pending CBSA check

[marcus66502]

I had my test and interview Aug. 17 at the Hamilton office. Scored 20 out of 20 on the test but at the interview the officer said he wanted to order a CBSA report to check that my declared trips to the US are accurate. The only trips we're talking about are all same-day drives to Buffalo (eight of them total in the last four years). I have no overnight absences or overseas trips or anything like that, and I declared all eight of the same-day trips, with exact dates. He still wanted to get a CBSA report cause he said I'm applying with 1462 days and he had to make sure I don't fall short.

He said the CBSA report should take about a week to get to him. But it's going to be 30 days on Friday and still my ECAS shows IN PROCESS. I've checked my mailbox every day and they have not sent any requests for additional information. I've heard nothing since the interview. I'm wondering what's going on. Are the officers at the Hamilton office on vacation?

If anyone has had a similar experience, i.e. waiting for a CBSA report after the interview, and recently (past 12 months or so) would you kindly share your timeline and outcome? Also any input from those with experiences from the Hamilton office is appreciated. There doesn't seem to be that many people from that office in here.

Thanks

 

[ambient2]

Hey Marcus,
I hope you will get your CBSA report soon, and sharing my experience with CIC and CBSA won't discourage you.
I've passed my test in Jun 2015, there was no reason to request anything from CBSA. But in July my application was transferred to the different office and basically backlogged cause CBSA didn't respond to whatever CIC requested.
It's been more than a year since I'm trying to resolve that mess.

 

[marcus66502]

Hey Marcus,
I hope you will get your CBSA report soon, and sharing my experience with CIC and CBSA won't discourage you.
I've passed my test in Jun 2015, there was no reason to request anything from CBSA. But in July my application was transferred to the different office and basically backlogged cause CBSA didn't respond to whatever CIC requested.
It's been more than a year since I'm trying to resolve that mess.

Sorry to hear that ambient.

Have you considered reapplying? Cases filed after June 11 2015 are processed in a different queue, so my case is a little different. I read on the CIC website somewhere that for post-June 11 cases they're not allowed to transfer files any more unless the applicant has moved. Basically the initial officer HAS TO make a decision.

Anyway, I sure as hell don't plan to let my case fall into a black hole. I could request my own CBSA report and provide it to them and then have my MP get in touch with Minister McCallum and basically tell him to his face that now CIC has no reason to wait any longer. I really hope it won't come to that.

 

[ambient2]

Anyway, I sure as hell don't plan to let my case fall into a black hole. I could request my own CBSA report and provide it to them and then have my MP get in touch with Minister McCallum and basically tell him to his face that now CIC has no reason to wait any longer. I really hope it won't come to that.

I did that 8 months ago. Reapplying is a gamble, cause they don't specify why there is a delay (no meter how you ask). They have huge cracks in the system, and one should pray (to whomever you believing in) to not to fall in to these cracks.

 

[marcus66502]

I did that 8 months ago. Reapplying is a gamble, cause they don't specify why there is a delay (no meter how you ask). They have huge cracks in the system, and one should pray (to whomever you believing in) to not to fall in to these cracks.

The point of reapplying is that with better luck you get a different officer taking your case and things go smoother (although, granted, it's not cheap to re-spin the roulette like this).

At my Hamilton office I noticed there were two officers, one a female. I'm sure if my file had been given to the female officer she would have cleared my case for oath scheduling. I know that because, while waiting to be called, I sat just outside her door and heard her interviews. They were short, she was laughing the whole time and telling people that they were approved. Those people have already gotten their oath letters.

For another example of how dependent this whole thing is on which officer takes your case, consider a friend of mine at work. She applied a year and a half ago, at the Hamilton office too, and applied with just barely over the required 1095 days of presence. Unlike me, she actually had overnight absences from Canada (stays of two weeks at a time in the US). And guess what? They just accepted her declaration of absences on the application and never ordered a CBSA report. She was approved on the spot at the end of the interview and got her oath letter right after that.

 

[thecoolguysam]

Did you guys apply for ATIP Report to check what exactly is going on with the file?

 

[marcus66502]

Did you guys apply for ATIP Report to check what exactly is going on with the file?

I haven't yet. Technically, CBSA has 30 days to respond to CIC's requests even though my case officer told me it takes about a week for CBSA reports (if requested by CIC). Since 30 days haven't elapsed yet, I'm not sure if there's going to be much in the ATIP report that I don't know.

I also don't know how much time CIC gives CBSA to respond or what their protocol is if they don't get a response within a certain time frame. I'll order the ATIP report but probably not before I contact the Hamilton office and see if they can tell me what's going on.

It's funny, I know that they don't receive people without an appointment but I live literally three blocks from that office. I could walk in there at any time, just by slipstreaming somebody with an appointment.

 

[thecoolguysam]

My ATIP question was for ambient2

ambient2:
Did you order ATIP report and if yes, what was the outcome?

marcus66502:
CIC usually gets records faster from CBSA than we requesting the records from CBSA.
As you did your interview recently in August, it means the process might take 2-3 months so please patiently wait and monitor your email and physical mail-box to check the updates. Also check e-cas regularly. I think you don't need ATIP right now.

 

[ambient2]

My ATIP question was for ambient2

ambient2:
Did you order ATIP report and if yes, what was the outcome?

I have requested close to 12 digital ATIPs from IRCC, one ATIP of phisical copy of my application, one ATIP from CBSA.
Which one are you interested in ?

 

[marcus66502]

My ATIP question was for ambient2
marcus66502:
CIC usually gets records faster from CBSA than we requesting the records from CBSA.
As you did your interview recently in August, it means the process might take 2-3 months so please patiently wait and monitor your email and physical mail-box to check the updates. Also check e-cas regularly. I think you don't need ATIP right now.

How do you know this? Do you have any personal experience or anecdotal evidence from others? That's kind of why I started this thread: to gather precisely this kind of information.

In particular, I'm confused: if my CO told me that the CBSA report takes one week, why is it no decision has been made on my case after 26 days now? How do you go from one week to 2-3 months? That's a huge difference.

 

[tds69us]

How do you know this? Do you have any personal experience or anecdotal evidence from others? That's kind of why I started this thread: to gather precisely this kind of information.

In particular, I'm confused: if my CO told me that the CBSA report takes one week, why is it no decision has been made on my case after 26 days now? How do you go from one week to 2-3 months? That's a huge difference.

my CO told me i'll be getting my oath in 8 to 10 weeks.....its been 8 months now

 

[h3a3j6]

my CO told me i'll be getting my oath in 8 to 10 weeks.....its been 8 months now

I was told that by my CO that processing may take up to 6 months, it's been close to 2 years... Do I expect 6 years? ;D

 

[thecoolguysam]

How do you know this? Do you have any personal experience or anecdotal evidence from others? That's kind of why I started this thread: to gather precisely this kind of information.

In particular, I'm confused: if my CO told me that the CBSA report takes one week, why is it no decision has been made on my case after 26 days now? How do you go from one week to 2-3 months? That's a huge difference.

It's not personal experience but it's according to what I have read in this forum.
Also, CIC can access the CBSA reports faster than you requesting it. CIC can access it within a week or so however, if you order it yourself it takes 30 days. That's why we check mark to authorize CIC to request CBSA records on your behalf.

No one in this forum can tell you how much time it will take(depends upon case to case) but what I have observed in the forum is anywhere around 1 to 3 months.
If CIC needs to investigate further then it may take more time.

All the best!

 

[thecoolguysam]

I have requested close to 12 digital ATIPs from IRCC, one ATIP of phisical copy of my application, one ATIP from CBSA.
Which one are you interested in ?

I hope the info in ATIP provides the information that at what stage your application is at? Good luck and best wishes!

 

[marcus66502]

No one in this forum can tell you how much time it will take(depends upon case to case) but what I have observed in the forum is anywhere around 1 to 3 months.
If CIC needs to investigate further then it may take more time.

All the best!

You're right. And I know that. I'm just growing restless with no news at all.

I would feel better if they sent me a written request for further information. This way, at least I would know that they're looking at my file. But waiting like this, it's awful. Nothing in the mailbox, nothing in the e-mail, and no change in ECAS.

Seriously, I don't know what the point is in calling us for an exam and having us prepare for it if they're just going to sit on our files for who knows how long afterward.