Processing times for Spouse PR from the United States

[carina1]

Hi all,

I recently checked the processing times for the New York Visa office and there's a little dash through it. Before it was updated a couple weeks ago it said 32 months or some high number like that. I am seriously hoping it will not take 3 years!

I would love to hear how long it has taken some people to be accepted for PR by applying from outside Canada, using the US visa offices, either NY or LA! Or if you have heard stories of how long it has taken other people, please let me know!

We are a young married couple who has no kids, no debt, no mortgage, no loans, no financial assistance, no criminal records, nothing that would make them have to look more into our situation. So in theory, it shouldn't take very long... but I guess you never know...

Thank you so much to anyone who responds to this!

 

[scylla]

The file will be processed through Ottawa - not NY. Files are only sent to NY and LA when there are issues and an interview is required (e.g. CIC has concerns the relationship isn't genuine). I think there are plenty of people getting through at around the six month mark right now.

 

[Eli51]

Most of the outland us sponsorship applications get sent to Ottawa which the processing times in 16 months & alot of times can be seven months.

 

[keesio]

Most of the outland us sponsorship applications get sent to Ottawa which the processing times in 16 months & alot of times can be seven months.

Applicants from the US who are US citizens are fast tracked and the standard time for that is 6-8 months.

 

[BeShoo]

For a U.S. applicant spousal PR, it should take 7-16 months for the vast majority of people. Ours has been 13 months, but we took 5 months in the middle of that to get them some additional documents, so we may have caused part of the delay.

If you were reading some figure of over 30 months, that was probably for some other type of application, not for a spousal PR application.

 

[keesio]

If you were reading some figure of over 30 months, that was probably for some other type of application, not for a spousal PR application.

The 30 months many Americans see (and get concerned over) is the spousal sponsorship timelines for the NY/LA visa offices. What they don't realize off the bat is that the NY/LA office is for "problem applications" from US applicants (where an interview is needed). Most US applicants, especially ones that are a US citizen or green card holder, are never processed in NY/LA but instead they are processed in Ottawa (and are in a separate fast track queue in Ottawa).

 

[Rob_TO]

CIC site clearly states ALL US PR applications are initially sent to CPC-Ottawa for processing: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/apply-where.asp

United States of America
Applications for Permanent Resident Visas
All other applications: CPC-O

 

[SapphireRayne]

I was a little concerned at the 32 month mark noted for NY office when I saw it too, but after some research and noting numerous comments that all got to Ottawa first, I was relieved! Thanks for posting the info guys/gals!

 

[rhcohen2014]

just an fyi... any interview that is required for US applicants will be held in LA. NY is not an option for interview, no one has reported actually getting a choice. I have no idea why that form asking which office is preferred is even in the packet. as far as I know, NY doesn't even process family class applications anymore. a majority of applicants are waived the interview, so it doesn't need to be a concern unless there is criminality, relationship or dependant issues.

 

[BeShoo]

What they don't realize off the bat is that the NY/LA office is for "problem applications" from US applicants (where an interview is needed).

Thanks for pointing that out. I never thought of that, but of course, you're right. Only problem cases go to those offices.

 

[carina1]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I am seeing on the CIC website that all new family class applications are sent to Mississauga, not Ottawa. Also, in the mailing directions it says to send it to Mississauga... so I'm not sure where the whole Ottawa trend is coming from.
(I would post a link to where I found this info, but of course it's not letting me add a link. But it is under "Visa Offices")

Will this make much of a difference for processing times?

 

[rhcohen2014]

Thanks everyone for your replies! I am seeing on the CIC website that all new family class applications are sent to Mississauga, not Ottawa. Also, in the mailing directions it says to send it to Mississauga... so I'm not sure where the whole Ottawa trend is coming from.
(I would post a link to where I found this info, but of course it's not letting me add a link. But it is under "Visa Offices")

Will this make much of a difference for processing times?

you are confusing the 2 steps. ALL outland applications start in mississauga where the sponsor's application is approved. then CIC will INTERNALLY transfer it to the appropriate visa office for the applicant. for us citizens it is Ottawa. So technically, the application is processed in 2 locations. You as the sponsor/applicant do not send the application to Ottawa. You send it to Mississauga, then it will be transferred to Ottawa.

the processing times are the same as they have been: stage 1 (at mississauga): about 90 days. stage 2 (at the local visa office): dependant on the visa office.

 

[carina1]

Thank you!! It would be nice if CIC could clear up all these misunderstandings by giving clear information in the first place! They even say to choose your countries visa office because that is where your application WILL be processed. We could have saved so much stress if they would have said that problematic cases are sent to the US visa office. Even when speaking to a lawyer we were not told this information!

 

[rhcohen2014]

Thank you!! It would be nice if CIC could clear up all these misunderstandings by giving clear information in the first place! They even say to choose your countries visa office because that is where your application WILL be processed. We could have saved so much stress if they would have said that problematic cases are sent to the US visa office. Even when speaking to a lawyer we were not told this information!

rob already posted the link where CIC clearly states all us applications are processed in ottawa. if your lawyer did not advise you of this, then i would not recommend using them. there is no need to use a lawyer if you don't have any criminal/dependant issues.

 

[carina1]

We were told by other people who were in our same PR situation that it would be a good idea to get tips from a lawyer to make the process go faster. He didn't give us any helpful information at all... glad we didn't need to pay him! Seems like there are a lot of scams out there!