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May 2012 Applicants - JOIN HERE!

CanadianJeepGuy

Champion Member
Jun 24, 2012
2,666
99
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
NOC Code......
N/A
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-05-2012; "In Process" 26-04-2013
Doc's Request.
docs and pics resent 04-09-2012
AOR Received.
16-08-2012 (Unofficial. Received email missing docs)
File Transfer...
09-10-2012
Med's Request
April 14th 2013
Med's Done....
Dec 2011; re-med May 06 2013
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
May 06 2013
VISA ISSUED...
May 27 2013
LANDED..........
June 15th 2013
Steph C said:
I also got a reply from my MP's constituency assistant. Although I appreciate the length and detail of their response, I think my MP himself should speak up on my behalf. Still, there is some interesting info here.

Dear Steph C,

I am Mr. XXX's Constituency Assistant and I handle all citizenship and immigration matters that are brought to his attention.

As an immigrant to Canada myself I would recommend that you not put too much stock in timelines formulated by online forums since a fair amount of the information circulating among these sites is out of context or simply inaccurate. Let me tell you some details about the immigration process that are helpful to know.

First, it is important to understand the limitations of the call centre. Currently there are about a half million people in the CIC system and the call centre handles over 6 million calls each year. Given this high volume – and decreased staff – CIC acknowledges receipt of applications only after they have been reviewed and are determined to be complete, not when the application first arrives in the mail room. Your courier or registered mail notice is your record of it having arrived at the processing centre.

Once CIC receives your application it is checked to verify that the application has been filled out completely and correctly, it has been signed and dated, and all initial documentation has been included and is in order. If something is missing CIC will send the package back and request that you fix the problem. Once it is determined that the application is complete, CIC sends the applicant an acknowledgement letter issuing a file number. Estimated processing time is assessed from the date stamped on this letter.

One of the biggest problems with the internet forums is that people on these sites often count processing time from the date that they first sent in their application. That date is meaningless. Applications are reviewed in the order in which they were received, but many factors come into play during the initial review so not all applications move forward at the same time. When figuring processing times, the date stamped on your letter from CIC is the only date that matters.

Permanent Resident sponsorship is a two part process – sponsor and spouse – and both processes are completely separate. The most significant variable in processing times for spousal sponsorship applications is where the spouse's application is being processed. Some consulates process only a handful of applications each year so processing times for spouses' applications are relatively short. On the other hand, Manila processes thousands of sponsorship applications every year so processing can take considerably longer. Manila also processes the most temporary work permits of any other consulate on earth, which can affect processing times for other immigration classes at certain times of the year. Even visitor visas can affect the flow of processing. Most immigrants to Canada come from the Philippines, India and China so during peak travel seasons consulates in these countries process tens of thousands of temporary visitor visas from friends, relatives, and tourists coming to visit.

As with the sponsor's application, processing times for spouses are based on receipt of a complete application. Many consulates have their own specific requirements in addition to those established by CIC generally. For example, consulates in countries where immigration fraud is prevalent require additional documentation and conduct more extensive interviews. Consulates in countries with significant rates of communicable diseases like TB require additional medical tests. Applications are not considered complete until this additional documentation has been submitted, so once again the date that an application first arrives at the consulate is not the date from which processing time should be estimated.

Finally, Mississauga is not the only processing centre for sponsorship applications. Given all the variables, it would be absolutely impossible for a high-volume consulate like Manila to be expected to process applications based on a queue date that was originally set in Mississauga, Vegreville, Sydney or elsewhere. All consulates, including Manila, process applications in the order in which they were received at the consulate itself.

This is CIC's webpage for estimated processing times for spousal sponsorship applications: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp. These estimates are based on hard numbers: processing times for 80% of completed applications in a given class. The estimates are updated regularly and I have found them to be pretty accurate when calculated properly. Add the estimated processing times for both parts of the process to arrive at your estimate. For example, sponsor applications being processed by Mississauga for spouses living outside Canada are averaging 85 days from the date stamped on the acknowledgement letter. Add to that an additional 8 months for processing of a spouse at Manila from the time the application is complete, including any additional requirements, to get your total processing time: 11 months. Then add to that any extra time involved in gathering additional requested documentation or tests (often several weeks) and you have a more accurate picture of how long this will take. Again, the problem I run into constantly is that people think this means 11 months from the time they first mailed their application when 18 or 20 months from mailing would be a more accurate calculation.

I hope this helps answer some of your questions. My best advice is to be patient and don't let the forums stress you out too much! Let me know if you need any other assistance.
This certainly helps for context. Though that doesn't quite mesh with what info we have with the spreadsheets. Those dates are set by the applicant. Meaning that we have all set our dates from the time they arrive at Mississauga or wherever. This still does not jibe with the disparity of the processing times unless agents are pulling applications out of receipt sequence.
Very good letter though.
 

Steph C

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2009
3,052
71
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
April 30 2012
Doc's Request.
N/A
File Transfer...
Sep 27 2012
Med's Request
April 15 2013 (re-med)
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
March 18 2013
VISA ISSUED...
May 22 2013
LANDED..........
June 6 2013
CanadianJeepGuy said:
This certainly helps for context. Though that doesn't quite mesh with what info we have with the spreadsheets. Those dates are set by the applicant. Meaning that we have all set our dates from the time they arrive at Mississauga or wherever. This still does not jibe with the disparity of the processing times unless agents are pulling applications out of receipt sequence.
Very good letter though.
It IS a good letter. I didn't like the 11 months of waiting part though ::)
 

Monalizy

Hero Member
Apr 24, 2010
278
3
Category........
Visa Office......
Accra
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-5-2012
Doc's Request.
RFPR nov 28, 2012
AOR Received.
Sept 5, 2012
File Transfer...
Oct 18. 2012 bcos I withdrew
Med's Done....
20-03-2012 2nd med April 29th 2013
Interview........
1st visa issuance Dec 19,2012
Passport Req..
2nd visa issuance June 5,2013
VISA ISSUED...
June 12,2013
LANDED..........
June 17,2013
CanadianJeepGuy said:
To any one who is interested:

I had a meeting today with my MP's assistent addressing my concerns about my own application as well as the sporadic and inconsistent nature of AOR's. He was not very responsive to the spreadsheets as direct evidence but he was able to accept them as anecdotal and worth investigating as to why applications are not entered as they are received. He agreed that it is poor practice to not acknowledge receipt in a timely manner and certainly out of line once it has exceeded CIC's posted date.
He will find out specifically what that date implies so applicants will be better informed. He also recommends that anyone who's application has exceeded the posted timeline contact their MP. The more MP's are aware of the disparity the more they have to act on.



My file has somehow ended up in Ottawa. No further details. He expects more info tomorrow.
I am May 10 applicant too,how do I contact the MP ?
 

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
Steph C said:
It IS a good letter. I didn't like the 11 months of waiting part though ::)
Again, an assistant trying to be politically correct! How can he explain may and june being processed before april or step two applicants from the same VO going in processe before others approved before them in Step 1?!?
 

CanadianJeepGuy

Champion Member
Jun 24, 2012
2,666
99
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
NOC Code......
N/A
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-05-2012; "In Process" 26-04-2013
Doc's Request.
docs and pics resent 04-09-2012
AOR Received.
16-08-2012 (Unofficial. Received email missing docs)
File Transfer...
09-10-2012
Med's Request
April 14th 2013
Med's Done....
Dec 2011; re-med May 06 2013
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
May 06 2013
VISA ISSUED...
May 27 2013
LANDED..........
June 15th 2013
Steph C said:
It IS a good letter. I didn't like the 11 months of waiting part though ::)
The wait sucks but I can certainly adjust my patience once I know exactly what to expect. I can at least make plans for more trips to the Philippines if this stretches out into the new year. I go back in October for 3 weeks and was hoping her visa would be ready by then based upon stories from others. If I know realistically it will be closer to late spring 2013 then I can make adjustments for that here.
 

CanadianJeepGuy

Champion Member
Jun 24, 2012
2,666
99
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
NOC Code......
N/A
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-05-2012; "In Process" 26-04-2013
Doc's Request.
docs and pics resent 04-09-2012
AOR Received.
16-08-2012 (Unofficial. Received email missing docs)
File Transfer...
09-10-2012
Med's Request
April 14th 2013
Med's Done....
Dec 2011; re-med May 06 2013
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
May 06 2013
VISA ISSUED...
May 27 2013
LANDED..........
June 15th 2013
Your MP is based on what riding you live in. You can google "Member of Parliment for..............(enter your area here)"
 

Steph C

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2009
3,052
71
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
April 30 2012
Doc's Request.
N/A
File Transfer...
Sep 27 2012
Med's Request
April 15 2013 (re-med)
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
March 18 2013
VISA ISSUED...
May 22 2013
LANDED..........
June 6 2013
CanadianJeepGuy said:
The wait sucks but I can certainly adjust my patience once I know exactly what to expect. I can at least make plans for more trips to the Philippines if this stretches out into the new year. I go back in October for 3 weeks and was hoping her visa would be ready by then based upon stories from others. If I know realistically it will be closer to late spring 2013 then I can make adjustments for that here.
I think a lot of the Manila wait time is due to missing docs that get requested and a large volume of Conjugal Partnership applications. Straight ahead married couples might process faster, I guess also depending on how long you have been together in RL, and age difference. There was a married couple denied recently, but my thoughts is they only spent a few months together in real life and most of the relationship was long distance. The scary thing is that marriage does not guarantee you a visa. There was another one denied with a giant age gap.
 

CanadianJeepGuy

Champion Member
Jun 24, 2012
2,666
99
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
NOC Code......
N/A
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-05-2012; "In Process" 26-04-2013
Doc's Request.
docs and pics resent 04-09-2012
AOR Received.
16-08-2012 (Unofficial. Received email missing docs)
File Transfer...
09-10-2012
Med's Request
April 14th 2013
Med's Done....
Dec 2011; re-med May 06 2013
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
May 06 2013
VISA ISSUED...
May 27 2013
LANDED..........
June 15th 2013
cgagnon said:
Again, an assistant trying to be politically correct! How can he explain may and june being processed before april or step two applicants from the same VO going in processe before others approved before them in Step 1?!?
You have to appreciate that no politician will openly slag any federal department when they are in power. They gain nothing by making enemies where they may need assistence. If your MP belongs to the opposition then they may be more openly critical.
The point of the exercise is to make them aware so these issues can be addressed.
 

Steph C

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2009
3,052
71
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
April 30 2012
Doc's Request.
N/A
File Transfer...
Sep 27 2012
Med's Request
April 15 2013 (re-med)
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
March 18 2013
VISA ISSUED...
May 22 2013
LANDED..........
June 6 2013
CanadianJeepGuy said:
You have to appreciate that no politician will openly slag any federal department when they are in power. They gain nothing by making enemies where they may need assistence. If your MP belongs to the opposition then they may be more openly critical.
The point of the exercise is to make them aware so these issues can be addressed.
My MP is a part of the Opposition.
 

bonitanita

Hero Member
Feb 8, 2012
671
11
124
St. John's
Category........
Visa Office......
LONDON
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28 April 2012 rcvd 2 May 2012
Doc's Request.
04-12-2012 sent to High Commission on 21-12-2012
AOR Received.
NA
IELTS Request
NA
File Transfer...
25/07/2012
Med's Done....
28 March 2012
Passport Req..
Exempt
VISA ISSUED...
Issued: 14/01/2013 Rcvd: 24/01/2013
congrats rariah!
 

CanadianJeepGuy

Champion Member
Jun 24, 2012
2,666
99
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
NOC Code......
N/A
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-05-2012; "In Process" 26-04-2013
Doc's Request.
docs and pics resent 04-09-2012
AOR Received.
16-08-2012 (Unofficial. Received email missing docs)
File Transfer...
09-10-2012
Med's Request
April 14th 2013
Med's Done....
Dec 2011; re-med May 06 2013
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
May 06 2013
VISA ISSUED...
May 27 2013
LANDED..........
June 15th 2013
Steph C said:
I think a lot of the Manila wait time is due to missing docs that get requested and a large volume of Conjugal Partnership applications. Straight ahead married couples might process faster, I guess also depending on how long you have been together in RL, and age difference. There was a married couple denied recently, but my thoughts is they only spent a few months together in real life and most of the relationship was long distance. The scary thing is that marriage does not guarantee you a visa. There was another one denied with a giant age gap.
Well our age gap is 15 years though I'm still in my 40's. I don't see that as being unreasonable. What is considered "giant"?
 

Steph C

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2009
3,052
71
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
April 30 2012
Doc's Request.
N/A
File Transfer...
Sep 27 2012
Med's Request
April 15 2013 (re-med)
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
March 18 2013
VISA ISSUED...
May 22 2013
LANDED..........
June 6 2013
CanadianJeepGuy said:
Well our age gap is 15 years though I'm still in my 40's. I don't see that as being unreasonable. What is considered "giant"?
Someone said he was in his 80's and she was.. 20's or 30's?
 

CanadianJeepGuy

Champion Member
Jun 24, 2012
2,666
99
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
NOC Code......
N/A
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-05-2012; "In Process" 26-04-2013
Doc's Request.
docs and pics resent 04-09-2012
AOR Received.
16-08-2012 (Unofficial. Received email missing docs)
File Transfer...
09-10-2012
Med's Request
April 14th 2013
Med's Done....
Dec 2011; re-med May 06 2013
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
May 06 2013
VISA ISSUED...
May 27 2013
LANDED..........
June 15th 2013

CanadianJeepGuy

Champion Member
Jun 24, 2012
2,666
99
Winnipeg, Manitoba
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
NOC Code......
N/A
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-05-2012; "In Process" 26-04-2013
Doc's Request.
docs and pics resent 04-09-2012
AOR Received.
16-08-2012 (Unofficial. Received email missing docs)
File Transfer...
09-10-2012
Med's Request
April 14th 2013
Med's Done....
Dec 2011; re-med May 06 2013
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
May 06 2013
VISA ISSUED...
May 27 2013
LANDED..........
June 15th 2013
Steph C said:
Someone said he was in his 80's and she was.. 20's or 30's?
Ya. Thats a tough one to sell. I wonder if they planned on starting a family?
 

Steph C

VIP Member
Nov 11, 2009
3,052
71
Category........
Visa Office......
Manila
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
April 30 2012
Doc's Request.
N/A
File Transfer...
Sep 27 2012
Med's Request
April 15 2013 (re-med)
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
March 18 2013
VISA ISSUED...
May 22 2013
LANDED..........
June 6 2013
CanadianJeepGuy said:
Ya. Thats a tough one to sell. I wonder if they planned on starting a family?
:p :p :p :p Well, we'd like to have a chance. But at this rate.. :-[