Is Outland sponsorship submittingOttawa visa office only for U.S. citizen?

[Jennas]

I am just wondering is that Ottawa visa office for Outland sponsorship only for U.S. citizen?
I am asking because my frds consultant was saying submitting to Ottawa for Outland could be faster but my frds husband is Canadian and she is Not U.S. citizen.
Thanks so much.

 

[rugrat907]

I am just wondering is that Ottawa visa office for Outland sponsorship only for U.S. citizen?
I am asking because my frds consultant was saying submitting to Ottawa for Outland could be faster but my frds husband is Canadian and she is Not U.S. citizen.
Thanks so much.

Yet another case where a lawyer/consultant doesn't seem to know what they are doing.

All applications start at Mississauga - that's where the sponsor is evaluated. After that, the application for permanent residence is sent to the visa office and that's generally based on the applicant's nationality. Now it is possible that it would go to Ottawa if the applicant has been living in the U.S. for a substantial number of years, but chances are it will go to the office responsible for where the person was born and has lived the majority of time. If that's Ottawa, great...if not, then it's very unlikely to end up there.

The applicant has no say either, so they can't just submit to the office of their choice or just because one is faster than another. What country is she from and has she ever lived in the U.S.?

 

[scylla]

Yet another case where a lawyer/consultant doesn't seem to know what they are doing.

Agreed. Fire your consultant.

 

[stephcy]

Hey everyone,

Your friend's lawyer is not that wrong! I can say from experience. I agree though that firstly the application must be send to Mississauga for sponsorship approval and then it will be forwarded to the appropriate visa office.

Today, we received sponsorship approval for my partner, saying that our file is transferred to Ottawa, even though I'm not from the US (sponsored person). I started panicking and crying that our file was mislead, as it was supposed to be sent to Rome.

I called CIC and they told me that as I'm currently in Canada as a visitor, even though we did apply outland, the visa office for outland applications when the sponsored person is in Canada is Ottawa.... My application will still be processed as outland, so I suppose for your friends as well.


I wished I would have the option to choose as Rome processing time is faster, but it seems what your lawyer is saying is partially right. Btw I don't think you get to choose which office is going to process your application. CIC will decide.

Ottawa is not only responsible for outland US application any more. It takes other cases as well.

 

[andrew-brit]

stephcy it is not as clear cut as if you are in Canada and applying outland then your file goes to Ottawa for stage 2 processing. It could happen but your application going to the VO responsible for nationals of your home country is also possible.

I have been in Canada for 4 years and mine went to London, UK as I am British.

 

[Panamai]

Ottawa is not fast at all. I'm on month 10 now of waiting with no end in sight. It's true, you used to be able to make a request for your visa office, but they eliminated that option last year. They choose for you. Sounds like your consultant is not up to date on the current information.

 

[nmclean]

Hey everyone,

Your friend's lawyer is not that wrong! I can say from experience. I agree though that firstly the application must be send to Mississauga for sponsorship approval and then it will be forwarded to the appropriate visa office.

Today, we received sponsorship approval for my partner, saying that our file is transferred to Ottawa, even though I'm not from the US (sponsored person). I started panicking and crying that our file was mislead, as it was supposed to be sent to Rome.

I called CIC and they told me that as I'm currently in Canada as a visitor, even though we did apply outland, the visa office for outland applications when the sponsored person is in Canada is Ottawa.... My application will still be processed as outland, so I suppose for your friends as well.


I wished I would have the option to choose as Rome processing time is faster, but it seems what your lawyer is saying is partially right. Btw I don't think you get to choose which office is going to process your application. CIC will decide.

Ottawa is not only responsible for outland US application any more. It takes other cases as well.

The CIC phone reps are even more likely to give bad information. In your position I would still be worried that the file was sent to the wrong office, because this is not standard procedure at all. They could have been guessing.

 

[stephcy]

Thanks for all your comments guys.

I'm still worrying and frustrated, I'm trying to keep myself from crying...

My partner called CIC again and they told him to email Ottawa to tell us why our file was send there. I just did, so we will see what it will happen... The previous agent just told me that if your here then is Ottawa for you... I don't believe that's the case.

It just seems that there are no clear rules for everyone. Each case is different and very confusing. I'm from an EU country and also visa exempt one, but in the country specific guides we are under Middle-East and our visa office is supposed to be Rome... Half of the papers requested, do not even apply to me... How more confusing can that be?

This whole process is so frustrating for everyone and we can only be positive and think for the best. Each day we a bit closer to the end


Good luck everyone

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I'm still worrying and frustrated, I'm trying to keep myself from crying...

My partner called CIC again and they told him to email Ottawa to tell us why our file was send there. I just did, so we will see what it will happen... The previous agent just told me that if your here then is Ottawa for you... I don't believe that's the case.

It just seems that there are no clear rules for everyone. Each case is different and very confusing. I'm from an EU country and also visa exempt one, but in the country specific guides we are under Middle-East and our visa office is supposed to be Rome... Half of the papers requested, do not even apply to me... How more confusing can that be?

Don't stress. CIC chooses between VO of nationality and VO of residence. Though they usually send the app to the VO of nationality, they do sometimes send it to the VO of residence. Ottawa is the VO of residence for those in Canada.

As for the country-specific guides, they have to be fairly generic to apply to multiple countries. If something doesn't apply to you, then you don't need to include it.