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Los Angeles Visa Office Applicants Check in here! :)

parker24

VIP Member
Nov 26, 2011
3,324
72
124
Ontario
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo, NY --> Los Angeles, CA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-03-2012
File Transfer...
05-06-2012
Med's Done....
16-11-2011
Passport Req..
16-11-2012
LANDED..........
04-01-2013
Howdy all!

I started a spreadsheet for the LA office as I'm curious as to how fast/slow they are plus wondering how they decide which one goes where. That's why I ask for a state, curiosity about how they decide :)

Feel free to talk about your experience thus far! Good luck and congrats with Stage 1 completion! :)

KP
 

Amoss

Hero Member
Feb 28, 2012
328
2
Category........
Visa Office......
LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-01-2012
AOR Received.
10-03-2012
File Transfer...
to Buffalo 20-03-2012 -- to LA 08-05-02012
Med's Done....
20-12-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
08-08-2012
Hi Parker

I think our file is in LA. It was transferred there on May 8th from Buffalo (before the office closure announcement), but we haven't heard a peep yet from LA so I can't be 100% positive that it is still there. We wrote them on May 15th or so and they wrote back and said it was still in transit. So I assume it got there around the 20th... but nothing since then,so again, I am not sure.

Anyway, my husband is from Illinois.
 

parker24

VIP Member
Nov 26, 2011
3,324
72
124
Ontario
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo, NY --> Los Angeles, CA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-03-2012
File Transfer...
05-06-2012
Med's Done....
16-11-2011
Passport Req..
16-11-2012
LANDED..........
04-01-2013
Amoss said:
Hi Parker

I think our file is in LA. It was transferred there on May 8th from Buffalo (before the office closure announcement), but we haven't heard a peep yet from LA so I can't be 100% positive that it is still there. We wrote them on May 15th or so and they wrote back and said it was still in transit. So I assume it got there around the 20th... but nothing since then,so again, I am not sure.

Anyway, my husband is from Illinois.
Thanks! Did Buffalo let you know it was going to LA? I hear there was A LOT of confusion as to where some files were going! I hope it's there now and they are going through it!

You've been added to the sheet :)
 

Amoss

Hero Member
Feb 28, 2012
328
2
Category........
Visa Office......
LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-01-2012
AOR Received.
10-03-2012
File Transfer...
to Buffalo 20-03-2012 -- to LA 08-05-02012
Med's Done....
20-12-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
08-08-2012
parker24 said:
Thanks! Did Buffalo let you know it was going to LA? I hear there was A LOT of confusion as to where some files were going! I hope it's there now and they are going through it!

You've been added to the sheet :)
I wrote to Buffalo back in early May because we still hadn't heard anything and I was "writing to make sure everything is OK". They wrote back and said no Buffalo, your file was transferred to LA please contant CIC-M. So I called CIC-M and the nice man told me that our file was transferred from Buffalo to LA on May 8th but he didn't know anything more than that.

So that's all I know at this point. :(

Thanks for kind words! :) I hope yours goes smoothly and quickly too :D
 

Belinasha

Star Member
Nov 3, 2011
175
8
Ottawa
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-03-2012
Doc's Request.
14-09-2012 - New FBI needed - 120 days to submit - then told disregard request
AOR Received.
N/A
File Transfer...
29-05-2012 to LA
Med's Request
Meds received 29-05-2012; Medical extension received 16-10-2012
Med's Done....
27-10-2011
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
02-01-2013 received at LA 08-01-2013 ; Decision Made 1-17-2013
VISA ISSUED...
16-01-2013 sent to wrong address; 13-02-2013 LA replied new COPR sent to correct address; 21-02-2013 COPR arrives in mail at new address
LANDED..........
22-02-2013....FINALLY after almost 1 full year since applying
Our file was transferred to LA on May 29th. Status on E-Cas shows that Application has been received as well as medical results received..not much else on there. I've sent in more supporting documents as well as the FBI report a week ago. We hope they got them. We're probably going to hit a snag since my hubby's state clearance is clean, yet his FBI shows a non-conviction from 2008. I'm hoping that it won't slow things down too much since he wasn't convicted. It was a stupid graffiti charge when he was 21 and wasn't arrested. I'm freaking out here though. I can't find much about misdemeanors and non-convictions. Does anyone know how long it takes to get 2nd stage approval once it's transferred to LA?
 

parker24

VIP Member
Nov 26, 2011
3,324
72
124
Ontario
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo, NY --> Los Angeles, CA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-03-2012
File Transfer...
05-06-2012
Med's Done....
16-11-2011
Passport Req..
16-11-2012
LANDED..........
04-01-2013
Belinasha said:
Our file was transferred to LA on May 29th. Status on E-Cas shows that Application has been received as well as medical results received..not much else on there. I've sent in more supporting documents as well as the FBI report a week ago. We hope they got them. We're probably going to hit a snag since my hubby's state clearance is clean, yet his FBI shows a non-conviction from 2008. I'm hoping that it won't slow things down too much since he wasn't convicted. It was a stupid graffiti charge when he was 21 and wasn't arrested. I'm freaking out here though. I can't find much about misdemeanors and non-convictions. Does anyone know how long it takes to get 2nd stage approval once it's transferred to LA?
I was looking at awor's transfers spreadsheet, (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheet/ccc?key=0AqWjgVnQfJ9adFkxWHNTbm5qeHBBTEtYc2JfemJ1cWc#gid=0) the longest I see for LA is 89 days. But that's when Buffalo transferred them. That's why I started the spreadsheet to find out and help others figure out how long it might be.

As for the charges, considering he wasn't arrested or anything, I'd say he's okay. It's not like he killed someone or was a drug lord or anything LOL
 

parker24

VIP Member
Nov 26, 2011
3,324
72
124
Ontario
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo, NY --> Los Angeles, CA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-03-2012
File Transfer...
05-06-2012
Med's Done....
16-11-2011
Passport Req..
16-11-2012
LANDED..........
04-01-2013
Here's the information from the spreadsheet specific for LA and getting PPR/COPR. Please note, these are when BUFFALO was still open and transferred these to LA.

Time from Transfer to satellite office to PPR/COPR (LA)
89 days
48 days
33 days
64 days
69 days
44 days
21 days
40 days
60 days
19 days
44 days
50 days
29 days
 

Amoss

Hero Member
Feb 28, 2012
328
2
Category........
Visa Office......
LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-01-2012
AOR Received.
10-03-2012
File Transfer...
to Buffalo 20-03-2012 -- to LA 08-05-02012
Med's Done....
20-12-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
08-08-2012
Well, 89 days! I sure hope so! That would be great. Well I guess we will know soon enough ::)

Belinasha said:
Our file was transferred to LA on May 29th. Status on E-Cas shows that Application has been received as well as medical results received..not much else on there. I've sent in more supporting documents as well as the FBI report a week ago. We hope they got them. We're probably going to hit a snag since my hubby's state clearance is clean, yet his FBI shows a non-conviction from 2008. I'm hoping that it won't slow things down too much since he wasn't convicted. It was a stupid graffiti charge when he was 21 and wasn't arrested. I'm freaking out here though. I can't find much about misdemeanors and non-convictions. Does anyone know how long it takes to get 2nd stage approval once it's transferred to LA?
I can't remember where I read it (I just tried to do a google search for it), but I know I read at some point that having a criminal record doesn't not mean your husband is inadmissible. I think some graffiti at 21 is harmless. My money is on that not upsetting your case :D ;D
 

Amoss

Hero Member
Feb 28, 2012
328
2
Category........
Visa Office......
LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-01-2012
AOR Received.
10-03-2012
File Transfer...
to Buffalo 20-03-2012 -- to LA 08-05-02012
Med's Done....
20-12-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
08-08-2012
Our mailing address just appeared in my husband's (primary applicant) ecas status. It still only says "app received" and "meds received" and NOT "in process" but the address appearing is new.

Does your mailing address appear in your primary applicant's ecas?
 

Belinasha

Star Member
Nov 3, 2011
175
8
Ottawa
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-03-2012
Doc's Request.
14-09-2012 - New FBI needed - 120 days to submit - then told disregard request
AOR Received.
N/A
File Transfer...
29-05-2012 to LA
Med's Request
Meds received 29-05-2012; Medical extension received 16-10-2012
Med's Done....
27-10-2011
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
02-01-2013 received at LA 08-01-2013 ; Decision Made 1-17-2013
VISA ISSUED...
16-01-2013 sent to wrong address; 13-02-2013 LA replied new COPR sent to correct address; 21-02-2013 COPR arrives in mail at new address
LANDED..........
22-02-2013....FINALLY after almost 1 full year since applying
I think we should be fine also. His record has been expunged in Iowa and I read in one of the CIC manuals that if the record is expunged, they don't rely on the "committed offense" provision. YAY. How does one log in to E-CAS with the primary applicants number? We didn't receive one for my husband. Would his number be on his visitor's record? How would we know if they're working on his part of the file? Does it change to "In Process"? Also, what happens if say, my husband gets approved for PR? Do we just get a COPR and then he is able to land? Sorry for all the questions!
 

Amoss

Hero Member
Feb 28, 2012
328
2
Category........
Visa Office......
LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-01-2012
AOR Received.
10-03-2012
File Transfer...
to Buffalo 20-03-2012 -- to LA 08-05-02012
Med's Done....
20-12-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
08-08-2012
In your your first acknowledgment letter and/or your sponsorship approval letter you should have gotten two sets of numbers. The one that starts with an "F" is your husband's application number. Then you go here https://services3.cic.gc.ca/ecas/?app=ecas&lang=en and follow the instructions using the number that starts with an F, and using all your husband's details.

If your husband has a visit record... I am not sure. I just know that when I use the UCI I have to put in my details and both our names come up, but when I put in the F application number just my husband's details come up (and recently our mailing address was added to his).

I don't know if we can be sure they are working on his part of the file. It should say "in process" under his name, but it seems lots of people never get that "in process" and still get a PPR by e-mail or something. It's hard to trust ecas.

As to PPR and COPR, I think the LA VO will have all the exact instructions when that time comes. I hope that it is much much much much sooner than later for all of us!! :D :D :D :D :D
 

Belinasha

Star Member
Nov 3, 2011
175
8
Ottawa
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-03-2012
Doc's Request.
14-09-2012 - New FBI needed - 120 days to submit - then told disregard request
AOR Received.
N/A
File Transfer...
29-05-2012 to LA
Med's Request
Meds received 29-05-2012; Medical extension received 16-10-2012
Med's Done....
27-10-2011
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
02-01-2013 received at LA 08-01-2013 ; Decision Made 1-17-2013
VISA ISSUED...
16-01-2013 sent to wrong address; 13-02-2013 LA replied new COPR sent to correct address; 21-02-2013 COPR arrives in mail at new address
LANDED..........
22-02-2013....FINALLY after almost 1 full year since applying
I just logged in using his number on my sponsorship letter. It does show our address as well. It just says that they've received his application March 7 and his med results were received. We got our letter by mail, and not by email so I guess this is how we're going to receive things in the future. Thanks for the heads up that E-CAS isn't reliable...and yes, I hope it's fast for them to process us!!!
 

muffy1

Hero Member
Feb 21, 2012
371
9
Hi Amoss,

My mailing address just appeared on my ecas last week (I'm primary applicant). We have had access to ecas ever since December and I've never had any sort of address appear there until last week. I would like to think that this means someone somewhere looked at the file and updated it. I would take that over anything, at this point lol :) Hope you hear some news soon!

Amoss said:
Our mailing address just appeared in my husband's (primary applicant) ecas status. It still only says "app received" and "meds received" and NOT "in process" but the address appearing is new.

Does your mailing address appear in your primary applicant's ecas?
 

cgagnon

Hero Member
Nov 10, 2011
820
15
Montreal,QC
Category........
Visa Office......
LA(Buffalo)
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
02-03-2012
AOR Received.
None
File Transfer...
31-05-2012
Med's Done....
13-12-2011
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
10/10/2012
I just hope it goes by fast!! If you consider 2 weeks to travel to LA ( i'm being generous) im hoping under 3 months i really am
 

Amoss

Hero Member
Feb 28, 2012
328
2
Category........
Visa Office......
LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-01-2012
AOR Received.
10-03-2012
File Transfer...
to Buffalo 20-03-2012 -- to LA 08-05-02012
Med's Done....
20-12-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
08-08-2012
I read that someone on another thread had their ecas updated to in process and their file is in LA... CIC first received their file on Feb 17th!!

Soo happy for them but where the heck is my file then?? :'(