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Moved to Visa Office vs AOR2

pc8922

Hero Member
Jun 6, 2017
307
308
There has been some confusion around what MVO is vs AOR2 from what I read here. For my own sake (and perhaps others reading this), wanted to clear whether what I understood about the process is correct or not.

It seems not everyone gets intimated when their file has been moved to visa office ( for some name of VO is provided in SA, for others it is not ).

As a synopsis, per my understanding :

- AOR2 ---> when ECAS shows 'Application Received' under PA (initially shows 'In Process'). Some get notified by VO that they have received application, but not necessary.
- MVO (separate column in Tracker) is to be taken as either the intimation in SA letter(in which case MVO date = SA date?) or a separate letter received detailing file is being moved to VO.

If someone who has a better understanding of the process can vet this or correct my understanding- would really appreciate it.
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
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- AOR2 ---> when ECAS shows 'Application Received' under PA (initially shows 'In Process'). Some get notified by VO that they have received application, but not necessary.
Formally only a letter from visa office is AOR2; not everyone gets these. Many interpret other things like application received as being the 'same as' AOR2, but that's guessing somewhat at internal procedures and how relfected in databases like ecas. (It may be correct - I don't know - but could also change tmrw).

No idea what MVO is. (Clearly not mexico city visa office()
 

pc8922

Hero Member
Jun 6, 2017
307
308
No idea what MVO is. (Clearly not mexico city visa office()
MVO = Moved to Visa Office. Reference to the tracker where there seems to be a separate column for ' Date Moved to Visa Office ' and 'AOR2' so trying to understand what the difference is, because as per my understanding both should be the same.
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,242
8,861
MVO = Moved to Visa Office. Reference to the tracker where there seems to be a separate column for ' Date Moved to Visa Office ' and 'AOR2' so trying to understand what the difference is, because as per my understanding both should be the same.
Ah, thanks. Sponsor approval used to almost always say which visa office. Now - not always. Some people getting separate notification, but not always.

But for certain: there can be a long delay (month or two or more not unusual, covid meant gap sometimes was 6 months +) between getting the notification about moved to visa office and the AOR2. It's not just postal delays (or diplomatic mail or whatever they use) - it seems to be the point at which the visa office enters it into registry and does something with it, like assigning it to an officer. (This is more or less clear from GCMS notes).

And then on top, not all receive AOR2.

The one thing I can say is, do NOT expect AOR2 to be only a week or two after the 'moved to visa office.' It's not just a postal issue, nor does it mean it was lost. More likely it's just in a queue inside an office somewhere.

Short form: if you get AOR2 or status change to application received or really ANY change - something has happened. That's better than nothing happening. But NOT getting one of these does not necessarily mean it is lost or nothing is happening.

Sorry that this probably doesn't help reassure much except that gaps between things happening may not follow what your expectation is of what's going on. If you want to know more about your specific file, order GCMS notes (and be prepared to be only a tiny bit less confused.)
 
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pc8922

Hero Member
Jun 6, 2017
307
308
Ah, thanks. Sponsor approval used to almost always say which visa office. Now - not always. Some people getting separate notification, but not always.

But for certain: there can be a long delay (month or two or more not unusual, covid meant gap sometimes was 6 months +) between getting the notification about moved to visa office and the AOR2. It's not just postal delays (or diplomatic mail or whatever they use) - it seems to be the point at which the visa office enters it into registry and does something with it, like assigning it to an officer. (This is more or less clear from GCMS notes).

And then on top, not all receive AOR2.

The one thing I can say is, do NOT expect AOR2 to be only a week or two after the 'moved to visa office.' It's not just a postal issue, nor does it mean it was lost. More likely it's just in a queue inside an office somewhere.

Short form: if you get AOR2 or status change to application received or really ANY change - something has happened. That's better than nothing happening. But NOT getting one of these does not necessarily mean it is lost or nothing is happening.

Sorry that this probably doesn't help reassure much except that gaps between things happening may not follow what your expectation is of what's going on. If you want to know more about your specific file, order GCMS notes (and be prepared to be only a tiny bit less confused.)
Thanks for that response. No, I honestly am not expecting anything, however, I do like to understand the process better because it helps make sense of how IRCC works.

So to answer my original question on the distinction b/w ' Moved to Visa Office' & AOR2 :

- the former is same as SA approval for some and a separate letter for others ( since SA does not have VO identified for everyone ),
- while the latter (AOR2) = Application Received in ECAS ( since not everyone receives this letter either ).

And yes, I have ordered GCMS notes. They are the best piece of information on one's file. My previous one were blank, since file hadn't been picked up, but I am hoping there are some scribbles this time around.
 

pc8922

Hero Member
Jun 6, 2017
307
308
I'm not convinced by this part but others seem to believe it. Which is fine of course.
Me neither. It is all speculation and ' feel good' until something actually comes in from the IRCC confirming a certain process.
 

aceinthedeck

Star Member
Jul 27, 2017
166
139
Toronto
Some say AOR2 is when it changes back to in process (after application received). Normally visa office send letter to the primary applicant at that time and ECAS is updated one more line (we have started to process you application on xx). But I think it's just semantics don't read too much into it.
 
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pc8922

Hero Member
Jun 6, 2017
307
308
Some say AOR2 is when it changes back to in process (after application received). Normally visa office send letter to the primary applicant at that time and ECAS is updated one more line (we have started to process you application on xx). But I think it's just semantics don't read too much into it.
Premonition. It did exactly what you mentioned, although wasn't expecting it to. Changed back to 'In Process' for PA and there is one more line now "We started processing ABC's application on XXXX XX, 2021". The only thing I believe is some update is better than no update. Appreciate your help with this!
 
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Emjey

Full Member
Feb 21, 2023
26
9
Some say AOR2 is when it changes back to in process (after application received). Normally visa office send letter to the primary applicant at that time and ECAS is updated one more line (we have started to process you application on xx). But I think it's just semantics don't read too much into it.
Same as mine! I received AOR2 on April 27 in ECAS.my.status changed to in process from application recey and additional line 2 that they started processing my application on April 27.and have message that my application transferred to MAnila Visa office on(May 4,2023)