super_sekhar said:
Hi Everybody,
I got my file number in March 2005 and have been called for an interview in Buffalo, NY. Obviously, this whole process is new and I wish to acquaint myself with the procedures/formalities before going their. Does anybody have any experience being their? Does anybody know what sort of questions will be asked? How long with the interview take? What is the purpose of this interview?
Anything that you can share will be appreciated.
I was under the same boat as you (just numbers of years back), being a foreign student and applied for PR in Buffalo's office via my lawyer. The most hassle was going across the border at US Customs. My interview day was Remembrance Day; when I was at border the US Customs officer said the Embassy is closed - without even checking. So I showed them the letter I got from the Embassy. She took my letter and after calling somewhere she finally let me through, although she told me if I got refused re-entry into Canada I'll have to leave US (basically treating me as if I wanted to enter US illegally - yeah right).
When I arrived I showed up at receptions, telling them I'm here and got called shortly. I waited for the officer to escort me into the secure area. Basically I went through my application, how many people in my family, my resume, who I have stayed with/supported me in Canada, where I have stayed throughout my years in Canada (a lot, since I stayed with my uncle and aunt and they moved a number of times, plus new residence address almost every year in university), looked at my financial amounts, university transcipt (she commented me that I was a good student
), what I was doing currently (I was taking another Bachelor's degree after my graduation.) There was only one major question she asked me - it was at the very end of the interview, she asked why I want to immigrate to Canada.
So end result was, although I did not have the full one year work experience as required by a standard Skill Worker application, I was in living Canada for over 10 years under student visa status, having someone to support me (my uncle and aunt) in Canada, took initiative to improve myself in taking another degree, she will ask her boss to exercise positive discretion in approving my application.
So that's basically it. The whole thing was a little over an hour. I thanked her for the interview and shook hand with her, left and building and head back to Canada. My lawyer received my PR visa in mid December, duing my exam week. As soon as I picked up the visa from his office, I took the bus to Niagara Fall and got it processed at Whirlpool Bridge border (back then it was opened to everyone) after going through US border and back.
Hope that helps.
