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Mightytonewheel said:
In my view, it's unlikely they would schedule and interview. If you included lots of evidence of showing continuous contact (like people would normally have before a marriage), they will likely waive the interview. Interviews are typically scheduled when the officer has reason to believe the marriage might not be genuine, or doesn't have enough evidence in front of them to verify that the marriage is genuine. If the proof that you provided is extensive and persuasive, you should be fine.

In addition, officers are generally discouraged from scheduling an interview unless it's necessary.

Finally, I looked over some data for outland applications. From what I recall, interviews were scheduled for something like 7% of applications. I can't recall if that's the exact number, but it was obvious interviews from this office were rare.

Thank you so much!
 
Hi everyone,

My wife and I expect to receive our US FBI clearance history summary any day now. Our file was transferred to São Paulo March 30 2016 and up to now he haven't received any email and or contact which I understand isn't unusual. I would like to forward the documents once received. I've heard they don't require the original document and will accept same via ECAS - anybody familiar with the process? I'm not even sure how to contact our VO as we have not received any communication to date.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Hope your all well and wish you much success in all your applications.

Cheers,
John
 
Jaytheo40 said:
Hi everyone,

My wife and I expect to receive our US FBI clearance history summary any day now. Our file was transferred to São Paulo March 30 2016 and up to now he haven't received any email and or contact which I understand isn't unusual. I would like to forward the documents once received. I've heard they don't require the original document and will accept same via ECAS - anybody familiar with the process? I'm not even sure how to contact our VO as we have not received any communication to date.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Hope your all well and wish you much success in all your applications.

Cheers,
John

That's odd. Soa Paulo is supposed to be faster than Lima, and we received our request for additional documents a week after our file was transferred to Peru. I hope you'll hear soon!
 
Jaytheo40 said:
Hi everyone,

My wife and I expect to receive our US FBI clearance history summary any day now. Our file was transferred to São Paulo March 30 2016 and up to now he haven't received any email and or contact which I understand isn't unusual. I would like to forward the documents once received. I've heard they don't require the original document and will accept same via ECAS - anybody familiar with the process? I'm not even sure how to contact our VO as we have not received any communication to date.

Any advice would be appreciated.

Hope your all well and wish you much success in all your applications.

Cheers,
John

Hi John,

My situation is similar. We filed our application without having the required Chinese security clearance certificate. We included a letter in our application, explaining that we'd send the certificate as soon as it became available to us. When also didn't hear anything at all from the SP VO.

When we finally got the certificate, I wrote the VO using the web form found here: https://secure.cic.gc.ca/enquiries-renseignements/case-cas-eng.aspx?mission=Sao%20Paulo&_ga=1.14271410.464599762.1454634790.

I explained that we obtained the certificate but needed instructions for filing. A month later, they emailed back and said we could scan and email it to them, or I could mail it to them. That was it.

This particular web form includes an option to upload a file. I suggest scanning the document, and uploading it with your message. Tell them in your message that you are happy to provide the hard copy upon request.
 
FYI - Looks like CIC is now showing the processing times by visa office / country again.

It shows 8 months for Brazil, so that's up from December's 5 months.

Spouse or common-law partner living outside Canada

Brazil

8 month(s) ?

Includes assessment of sponsor: 39 days
 
am3306 said:
FYI - Looks like CIC is now showing the processing times by visa office / country again.

It shows 8 months for Brazil, so that's up from December's 5 months.

Spouse or common-law partner living outside Canada

Brazil

8 month(s) ?

Includes assessment of sponsor: 39 days

Yes! I saw this too. May 10 will be 8 months from our application being received in Ottawa! Hoping we are close now. Still no contact since November when our process was recieved in São Paulo.

I'll post any updates. We should have our notes by May 7!

Best of luck everyone.
 
From what I've read about Sao Paulo VO, I'm not optimistic that this process will be short.

That being said, with the economic crisis in Brazil times have been tough, so we have made the decision to wait out the rest of the process in Canada (my husband still has a valid multiple entry tourist visa for Canada). At least this way I can work and get us on our feet for when his COPR arrives!
 
Mightytonewheel said:
Hi John,

My situation is similar. We filed our application without having the required Chinese security clearance certificate. We included a letter in our application, explaining that we'd send the certificate as soon as it became available to us. When also didn't hear anything at all from the SP VO.

When we finally got the certificate, I wrote the VO using the web form found here: https://secure.cic.gc.ca/enquiries-renseignements/case-cas-eng.aspx?mission=Sao%20Paulo&_ga=1.14271410.464599762.1454634790.

Thank you! I think I'll take your advice. I'll actually call CIC here in Toronto to ask as well but I'm sure they will tell me to simply scan and email a copy using the web forms provided. Just wish they would communicate at least once while processing applications. They certainly teach us how to be patient.

I explained that we obtained the certificate but needed instructions for filing. A month later, they emailed back and said we could scan and email it to them, or I could mail it to them. That was it.

This particular web form includes an option to upload a file. I suggest scanning the document, and uploading it with your message. Tell them in your message that you are happy to provide the hard copy upon request.
 
Canadianinbrazil said:
From what I've read about Sao Paulo VO, I'm not optimistic that this process will be short.

That being said, with the economic crisis in Brazil times have been tough, so we have made the decision to wait out the rest of the process in Canada (my husband still has a valid multiple entry tourist visa for Canada). At least this way I can work and get us on our feet for when his COPR arrives!

good idea. Think timelines have changed by about a month - 8 months now as opposed to 7 months including SA. Even with timelines every case is different and for whatever reason some applications are processed quicker then others. We will wait it out - we talk every day via Face-time and have a trip planned to Italy and Greece next month so we have something to look forward too ...

Hopefully we she gets PR by the end of the year at least ... we were hoping September but that looks like it's a stretch at best.

Best of luck to you and your hubby,
John
 
My outland application got sent to Ottawa instead of Sao Paulo VO for some reason. Wonder if it will take more or less than 8 months to process.
 
inc said:
My outland application got sent to Ottawa instead of Sao Paulo VO for some reason. Wonder if it will take more or less than 8 months to process.

Could quite possibly be that São Paulo is back logged and they could be processing in Ottawa. Personally I think it's a plus for you as applications in Ottawa are processed rather quickly. Mind you there still the security checks that are required and does take time. Nonetheless, wish you all the best gl

John
 
Thanks John,

I'm optmistic after see your reply and a few others who've been getting quick processings from Ottawa. All the best to you!
 
Hi Everyone,

I received our notes on May 5! However, I am one of the evacuees from Fort McMurray, AB. Needless to say things have been crazy here! However, I have found some time where I can update you on my notes. I am trying to post the pictures but it is not allowing me to post links? And my file I received does not allow me to copy and paste...

So I decided to type it out:

Assessments
Eligibility: In Progress
Security: Not Started
HIRV:
Criminality: In Progress
Org Crime:
Medical: Passed
Misrepresentation:
Other Reqs:
Final:

Eligibility Assessment: 1
Created Date: 2015/11/14
Status: Recommend Passed
Due Date: 2016/11/12

Also, they stated "Relationship seems genuine, would recommend to waive interview. Passed to VO"

So, do the notes give a timeline or just... things are going well or bad?

Thanks everyone!
 
Sounds like the due date is useless
seton said:
Usually the first due date is 1 year after the application is filed. Due dates are also sometimes based on expiry of certain documents, such as 1 year after medicals or police certificates. It depends on which due date. These are internal bring forward dates, but a clear understanding of how they're used by the CIC isn't readily available.

I should get my notes in a week and a half. My application was received in Mississauga 3 weeks after yours. I will post my notes when I get them, timeline wise we are almost the same. Also online OCR software can probably extract the text, just be careful with personal information...

There is a thread here right near the top with a great explanation of the GCMS notes. Also there are sample notes on here and explanation of all the codes on here somewhere as well. I cant post links but its easy to find with google.
 
Confuzzeled23 said:
Hi Everyone,

I received our notes on May 5! However, I am one of the evacuees from Fort McMurray, AB. Needless to say things have been crazy here! However, I have found some time where I can update you on my notes. I am trying to post the pictures but it is not allowing me to post links? And my file I received does not allow me to copy and paste...

So I decided to type it out:

Assessments
Eligibility: In Progress
Security: Not Started
HIRV:
Criminality: In Progress
Org Crime:
Medical: Passed
Misrepresentation:
Other Reqs:
Final:

Eligibility Assessment: 1
Created Date: 2015/11/14
Status: Recommend Passed
Due Date: 2016/11/12

Also, they stated "Relationship seems genuine, would recommend to waive interview. Passed to VO"

So, do the notes give a timeline or just... things are going well or bad?

Thanks everyone!

Hi Confuzzeled23. To my eye, your notes look pretty good, especially the comments about the relationship.

You may wish to review the following post, which parses out some of the cryptic notes you received:

http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/gcms-notes-well-explained-has-never-before-until-now-t390292.0.html

Pay particular attention to the comment in this post:

I used to think that when it says recommend pass the file was waiting for a higher officer at the visa office to review it but that was all wrong. Recommend Pass signifying that lead officer at the embassy is fully satisfied with the relationship then he/she assigns the file back to that first lead officer at CPC Mississauga to also review it for the last time before the status fully change from Recommend Pass to Passed.

Good luck and keep us posted.