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Los Angeles Visa Office Applicants Check in here! :)

nsr

Hero Member
Jan 26, 2012
299
37
Category........
Visa Office......
Los Angeles
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-11-2011
AOR Received.
8-01-2012(Mississauga) 28-03-2012 (buffalo)
File Transfer...
26-01-2012
Med's Request
25-07-2013
Med's Done....
Sept 2011, 26 July,2013
Interview........
July 2013-passed
Passport Req..
21-08-2013, sent on 27-08-2013
VISA ISSUED...
06 september, 2013
LANDED..........
27 september, 2013
Ambber29 said:
Hi all,

We have an interview in August. They wont cancel it because of the strike right?
No they won't, interviews are going on normally. Mine was scheduled on 10 july and its over now.
 

capp

Newbie
Jul 20, 2013
2
0
I have one of those complicated applications but it seem to be stuck. In 2007 I meet someone in Canada (I am an American citizen). I would travel back and forth to be with my "partner". I would stay few months at a time when visiting. We been doing this for about 2 years. We then hired a lawyer (2009) to help us with sponsorship application to help me move to Canada, I did mention to the lawyer I had a issue with local law agency many many (1987) years ago before I left. I was suppose to meet with the lawyer with all the paperwork the following Monday after I return from the USA. During this time we had no idea that such old history would cause a major issue.

At the border I was stopped and asked where I lived in March 2009. I said USA and Canada and I was going to see my partner. That statement caused the border agent to send me inside. I was brought into the office at Niagara falls and in a room and ran a check on me. Of course that issue came up, and I showed them the paperwork and that I was going to give to the lawyer the next day. I sat there for while as they looked for a comparable law in Canada to use on me. Well they found one that was created many years after I was released and it was an indictable offense (like most USA laws are). I was told to be "written up" and given a "return to the USA" paperwork. I ended up appealing this decision with my lawyer a few weeks later since I would not have any record if I was in Canada at the time of my conviction due to no related law.

The end result: My return "order to USA" was changed into a deportation order and was told I have to apply for rehab from the Judge. I did apply for the rehab and it was granted. I had to apply for ARC application for unlimited visits and to see my partner (this was granted in 3 months after my rehab approval on November 2010).

So we where Married in Canada in January in 2011. We applied for sponsorship in March of 2011. Our application was opened in November in Buffalo in 2011. I was given a new request requiring me to fill out a new ARC application for permanent residency, and this was needed by the end of February 2012. This application was send in before February deadline.

Sadly Buffalo consulate ended up closing and transferred our application to Ottawa before anything happend. From there it nothing happened again until November of 2012 when Ottawa transferred application to Los Angeles. Now its been sitting in Los Angeles (even though I live on the east cost) since November 2012. So far with no movement on either the ARC application or Permanent resident/sponsorship application. We are starting to wonder if CIC is deliberately delaying this application since we see so many other people being granted within a reasonable time on their applications (even though ours is a little complicated)

CIC call center is a waste of time since they know nothing and LA just wrote us back a few months ago "We are processing your application". LA does not seem to want to give any answers to the status of our application. Any suggestions? Why might they be dragging this out besides the obvious closing of other consulates?
 

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
capp said:
I have one of those complicated applications but it seem to be stuck. In 2007 I meet someone in Canada (I am an American citizen). I would travel back and forth to be with my "partner". I would stay few months at a time when visiting. We been doing this for about 2 years. We then hired a lawyer (2009) to help us with sponsorship application to help me move to Canada, I did mention to the lawyer I had a issue with local law agency many many (1987) years ago before I left. I was suppose to meet with the lawyer with all the paperwork the following Monday after I return from the USA. During this time we had no idea that such old history would cause a major issue.

At the border I was stopped and asked where I lived in March 2009. I said USA and Canada and I was going to see my partner. That statement caused the border agent to send me inside. I was brought into the office at Niagara falls and in a room and ran a check on me. Of course that issue came up, and I showed them the paperwork and that I was going to give to the lawyer the next day. I sat there for while as they looked for a comparable law in Canada to use on me. Well they found one that was created many years after I was released and it was an indictable offense (like most USA laws are). I was told to be "written up" and given a "return to the USA" paperwork. I ended up appealing this decision with my lawyer a few weeks later since I would not have any record if I was in Canada at the time of my conviction due to no related law.

The end result: My return "order to USA" was changed into a deportation order and was told I have to apply for rehab from the Judge. I did apply for the rehab and it was granted. I had to apply for ARC application for unlimited visits and to see my partner (this was granted in 3 months after my rehab approval on November 2010).

So we where Married in Canada in January in 2011. We applied for sponsorship in March of 2011. Our application was opened in November in Buffalo in 2011. I was given a new request requiring me to fill out a new ARC application for permanent residency, and this was needed by the end of February 2012. This application was send in before February deadline.

Sadly Buffalo consulate ended up closing and transferred our application to Ottawa before anything happend. From there it nothing happened again until November of 2012 when Ottawa transferred application to Los Angeles. Now its been sitting in Los Angeles (even though I live on the east cost) since November 2012. So far with no movement on either the ARC application or Permanent resident/sponsorship application. We are starting to wonder if CIC is deliberately delaying this application since we see so many other people being granted within a reasonable time on their applications (even though ours is a little complicated)

CIC call center is a waste of time since they know nothing and LA just wrote us back a few months ago "We are processing your application". LA does not seem to want to give any answers to the status of our application. Any suggestions? Why might they be dragging this out besides the obvious closing of other consulates?
WOW! My heart just broke for you! I'm so sorry you are having to go through this!

That said, the summer is usually extremely slow. Most VO's will not reply because so many people are on holidays and no one is really monitoring the emails coming in. ESPECIALLY LA!

That said, have you spoken to your MP about it? (or rather, your spouse's MP) Usually they can make an inquiry and in some cases, it comes to LA's attention that it's been SO long and they will get on it.

Also, have you ordered your notes? I'll check to see if I can find the link to order them, if you get the electronic one, it will not hold up your application (any more than it is sadly :( ) But it will show you notes they made, and again, have them actually look at your file and realize "Holy crap they have been waiting two years!"

I'll reply again when I find the link for the notes.
 

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
I am pretty sure this is it. My Adobe isn't working right now so I can't be 100% sure.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/pdf/kits/forms/IMM5563E.pdf
 

charis

Member
Jun 11, 2013
10
0
charis said:
Thought I should add my stat's for the spreadsheet.
Appl. received 1/22/13
Sponsor Approved 3/6/13
and waiting.......
7/17/13 Received an email from CPP-O requesting Documents and Passport Copy. "We have now completed the initial assessment of your application, and expect to finalize your application without a personal interview"....... ;D So it appears my file has been transferred to CASE PROCESSING PILOT - OTTAWA and is being processed. Ive sent the addl. documentation that they requested. Anyone have any idea on how long this next processing period may be? I am wondering if it is good news that someone has looked at my file, or whether this is routine and I'll still be waiting for months to come.
 

capp

Newbie
Jul 20, 2013
2
0
We thought about asking an MP to look into our case. However, my spouse lives in a conservative area and we feel that it would do us more harm to talk to an extreme conservative MP. We also don't have the money to ask for another lawyers help if thing turn negative. The link you gave did not work when I tried to click on it.
 

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
capp said:
We thought about asking an MP to look into our case. However, my spouse lives in a conservative area and we feel that it would do us more harm to talk to an extreme conservative MP. We also don't have the money to ask for another lawyers help if thing turn negative. The link you gave did not work when I tried to click on it.
It doesn't matter what party they are, since you live in that area, they work for YOU. I would go and ask. Chances are they will help you.

I'll try to find another link.
 

Thaliada

Hero Member
Mar 9, 2013
311
2
124
Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Los Angeles
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
June 14th, 2013
AOR Received.
July 6th, 2013
File Transfer...
July 15th, 2013
Med's Done....
May 9th, 2013
Hello everyone! I guess I will be joining you :)

I just received my Sponsorship Approval through regular mail today. I am sponsoring my American husband (he's from Alabama). I thought I would be assigned Ottawa VO, but it is Los Angeles. Can anyone tell me if this is better/worse? Or does it imply anything? How is this VO? Will an interview be required?

Also, if there is a spreadsheet, would you please add me too?

Sorry for so many questions. Thank you so much! :)

Thaliada
 

Gustcan

Star Member
Jul 22, 2013
96
0
Hi,

Thanks for the wonderful thread.

My wife is sponsoring me for Canadian PR. Application was filed at CPP-Ottawa on may 8.She was approved as a sponsor on May 31. File transferred to LA as I am in the US. No word for LA yet. ECAS shows as application received. No AOR from LA yet, is this normal?

Also when would ECAS show application as "in process".

Thanks
 

computergeek

VIP Member
Jan 31, 2012
5,143
278
124
Vancouver BC
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O/LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-03-2012
AOR Received.
21-06-2012
File Transfer...
21-6-2012
Med's Done....
11-02-2012
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
26-09-2012
VISA ISSUED...
10-10-2012
LANDED..........
13-10-2012
Gustcan said:
Hi,

Thanks for the wonderful thread.

My wife is sponsoring me for Canadian PR. Application was filed at CPP-Ottawa on may 8.She was approved as a sponsor on May 31. File transferred to LA as I am in the US. No word for LA yet. ECAS shows as application received. No AOR from LA yet, is this normal?

Also when would ECAS show application as "in process".

Thanks
Completely normal. It typically will be many months before you hear anything and if there are no issues, odds are you will receive the passport request (PPR) so they can issue the immigration paperwork.
 

Gustcan

Star Member
Jul 22, 2013
96
0
Thank You for your response, its greatly appreciated.

The processing time for LA is about 19 months, do you think it will take that much time? I am expecting the process to move forward by sometime end of this year - do you think this is possible?

Thanks
 

computergeek

VIP Member
Jan 31, 2012
5,143
278
124
Vancouver BC
Category........
Visa Office......
CPP-O/LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
06-03-2012
AOR Received.
21-06-2012
File Transfer...
21-6-2012
Med's Done....
11-02-2012
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
26-09-2012
VISA ISSUED...
10-10-2012
LANDED..........
13-10-2012
Gustcan said:
Thank You for your response, its greatly appreciated.

The processing time for LA is about 19 months, do you think it will take that much time? I am expecting the process to move forward by sometime end of this year - do you think this is possible?

Thanks
Published processing times are for completing 80% of applications. Using the current data set (http://data.gc.ca/data/en/dataset/427337d0-7c36-4fed-8428-c6a63f8c19b3) it says that 20% of applications were done in 7 months, 30% were done in 8 months, 50% were done in 10 months, 70% were done in 14 months, and 80% were done in 19 months (out of a total of 666 applications).

So yes, it is possible.
 

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
capp said:
We thought about asking an MP to look into our case. However, my spouse lives in a conservative area and we feel that it would do us more harm to talk to an extreme conservative MP. We also don't have the money to ask for another lawyers help if thing turn negative. The link you gave did not work when I tried to click on it.
Okay, sorry for taking a while. Here's the link:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/atip/form-imm5563.asp

Thaliada, welcome! I haven't had a chance to work on the spreadsheet, I only get a little bits of time during the day to get online, so it's been slow. I will add you as soon as I get an extra 15 minutes :)
 

boo2009

Full Member
May 16, 2013
21
0
Yeeessss...today i received a letter requesting my husband's Passport. I was wondering if I need to send the original or can i send copies? My husband is from the USA...He's currently here with me in Canada and I heard that it could take a long time to return his Passport to Ottawa. Can I request to have his Passport delivered at a family member in the USA to have it sooner?

We applied back in September 2011, this was a long journey and I been waiting for this day to come ;D

Your help is much appreciate!!