IO's checking this forum

[jillandmat]

do you think they do? That would be kind of cool if they gave secret advice...

 

[wilson]

do you think they do? That would be kind of cool if they gave secret advice...

IOs or Visa office staff have enough work load to handle the routine processing of applications. I don't think they are going through various discussion forums to know what people are talking about. However, no one is required to disclose their identity in this forum.

 

[kwabena kwabena]

do you think they do? That would be kind of cool if they gave secret advice...

I think they come here and are on other forums alot, but it doesnt mean anything, as i trust them to do their job to their best ability but it is sad to have your life in someone's hands like that, I feel you Jill.

Some of them too are immigration consultant and also retired IOs

 

[RobsLuv]

do you think they do? That would be kind of cool if they gave secret advice...

If there are any currently employed visa officers who take the time to frequent this (or any other forum), I doubt very much that they would be giving advice of any sort - especially helpful advice. From what I can see, officers who assess PR applications are not interested in doing anything to help a foreign national gain status in Canada. Now, it's possible they "lurk" to see whether they can identify anybody whose case they're assessing but, if they did, you can be sure it wouldn't be so they could do anything to "help" that person. But I doubt even that happens. I think when they get home from work the last thing they want to think about is immigrants. They don't hold us in very high regard to begin with - they certainly wouldn't want to spend their "off" hours reading about us and our concerns.

 

[abumawada]

well i don't think so if they visit this forum also it is something risky for Applicants after all every one is seeking info and just sharing time lines and so on.

 

[Cdagal]

Well, if they did check, maybe they would get a realistic view of how difficult this process is on this side. How is that for proof of relationship, listening to us complain about missing our spouses, for months and years at a time...

 

[sbwv09]

Good point, cdagal!

I think even if they did, it's doubtful they would be able to exactly pinpoint which person goes with which case, etc. Most people just give some general information.. most don't have their real names, nobody has their full name that I know of, etc.

 

[addntox]

If an officer made a decision on what they THINK you posted on an internet forum a judge would over turn that so fast the IO's eyes would spin. Burdon of proof there rests on CIC to prove the person posting on the forum is you. I doubt you'd have to worry about that. I'd think CSIS probabaly have a mandate to monitor sites like this for potential security issues. Its well known security agencies monitor sites related to government issues.

 

[RobsLuv]

If an officer made a decision on what they THINK you posted on an internet forum a judge would over turn that so fast the IO's eyes would spin. Burdon of proof there rests on CIC to prove the person posting on the forum is you. I doubt you'd have to worry about that. I'd think CSIS probabaly have a mandate to monitor sites like this for potential security issues. Its well known security agencies monitor sites related to government issues.

Yeah, and you know how long it would take for that decision to finally get to a Judge? Once an application is refused, it's at least a year - maybe two - before you get your appeal hearing. You may think the visa officer has to justify the refusal when s/he makes it, but they don't. Nobody even reviews it! They can pull something out of the IRPA and misapply it to your situation and that's it - case closed. They don't even have to prove that what they claim about you or your situation is actually true in order to render a refusal. It gets overturned on appeal, but you go through hell in the meantime.

 

[sbwv09]

That's what I hate most about the process.. that literally only one person gets to decide if your life is put on hold or ruined!

 

[nyssa]

I think I made mine a little obvious. :

If they do check, which I doubt they do or would care to, what is there to hide? We asked each other questions that pertained to our applications and seeked out help (which is certainly no crime as there are many immigration lawyers and counselers and information online) and consoled each other during a difficult process. Unless you come on here saying "my name is so-and-so and I lied about my application, I hope they don't catch me" I'm sure it's a complete non-issue.

 

[canadianwoman]

Yeah, even if some visa officers did check out this site, they wouldn't learn anything bad. No one is asking how to make his/her fake marriage look real - or at least if they do, no one is giving them answers. Visa officers would certainly find a lot of cases where the wait has been unconscionable, but where the partners appear to be in a loving, genuine relationship. Maybe they'd take pity on us and vow to do better in the future - but I doubt it.

 

[canadaireland]

on a related note.. im a bartender in scotland and i met a tourist from canada who is a retired immigration officer... she had a bit of chat with me and gave me some advice on my application for sponsoring my boyfriend..she was really nice

 

[canadianwoman]

on a related note.. im a bartender in scotland and i met a tourist from canada who is a retired immigration officer... she had a bit of chat with me and gave me some advice on my application for sponsoring my boyfriend..she was really nice

Ooooh! Please tell us what she advised!
Thanks in advance.

 

[addntox]

Yeah, and you know how long it would take for that decision to finally get to a Judge? Once an application is refused, it's at least a year - maybe two - before you get your appeal hearing. You may think the visa officer has to justify the refusal when s/he makes it, but they don't. Nobody even reviews it! They can pull something out of the IRPA and misapply it to your situation and that's it - case closed. They don't even have to prove that what they claim about you or your situation is actually true in order to render a refusal. It gets overturned on appeal, but you go through hell in the meantime.

don't get me wrong I completly agree with you, but it wouldn't hold up at an appeal or a full hearing unless they could prove conclusivly it was you. Unfortunatly because of the IRPA officers have a little too much power at that stage and can make your life he'll. Just knowing of your case from what I know of it, your inadmissibilty shouldve been HR consideration and waived. But for some reason they really put you through it. Mine took 5 years and whilst it didn't get denied they sure made us pay..and wait and wait and wait