Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[abedelia]

I guess my question is, does my sponsor need to include something, too? There are no more pictures left of the two of us that I have not used so I'm not sure what he should do. Should he write a narrative, too?

We (my sponsor and I) each wrote narratives to go with our applications. Mine spread over several lengthy answers to the various questions about the progression of our relationship in form IMM5490. My sponsor's was an attachment to the form IMM5540, where at the bottom it asks to attach any additional information to prove the relationship is genuine. Both narratives referenced photos, bank statements, phone records, etc. included in the supporting documents section (sometimes we both referenced the same materials). I am not sure if that's the best way to do it, but it made the most sense to us.

 

[MexiCana]

Buffalo has received our medicals and are processing the file as of June 11, 2010!

 

[dhdesigns]

Buffalo has received our medicals and are processing the file as of June 11, 2010!

Great news! How were you notified of this?

 

[CaraPK]

As of this weekend, eCAS now says "Decision Made" on the sponsorship part of my application. We're waiting for the letter, but the decision was made on June 17th.

So I guess my file is now in transit to Buffalo. Let the real waiting begin!

 

[Cherlyn]

Guys, Any update?

 

[Dralon]

so far nothing on my side. i am been in process since may 26... hope to have news soon even if i know it may take awhile

 

[Lilac6]

Hi All,

I've just come back from a short holiday and checked emails, found one from Buffallo - Passport Request!! It had arrived on June 16th.
It was rather quick; just under 3 months at Buffalo and under 4 months since filing the application. Still I wouldn't call it an easy, short ride, considering all the process since the beginning of everything.... I now feel so lucky and blessed.

One thing I found interesting is that they are requesting my passport to be sent before July 30. Do they always set a passport submission deadline like this?
The wording in the email goes "The issuance of your visa(s) is time sensitive so it is important for you to submit your passport(s) as requested"
My medical would only expire on late November. Anyhow this is not a problem, but I'm curious. Has anyone out there had the same experience?

 

[can_usa_97]

I'm headed for my medical tomorrow in Chicago - it's a 3 hour drive. Blech!

Then we are waiting on a letter from my husbands family about our relationship and are set to file! Yippee!

 

[heatherusa]

I'm headed for my medical tomorrow in Chicago - it's a 3 hour drive. Blech!

Then we are waiting on a letter from my husbands family about our relationship and are set to file! Yippee!

Good luck. I will be thinking of you tomorrow and hope that it goes as (seemingly) smooth as my husbands medical did.

 

[can_usa_97]

Good luck. I will be thinking of you tomorrow and hope that it goes as (seemingly) smoothly as my husbands medical did.

Thanks!

 

[Cherlyn]

Hi All,

I've just come back from a short holiday and checked emails, found one from Buffallo - Passport Request!! It had arrived on June 16th.
It was rather quick; just under 3 months at Buffalo and under 4 months since filing the application. Still I wouldn't call it an easy, short ride, considering all the process since the beginning of everything.... I now feel so lucky and blessed.

One thing I found interesting is that they are requesting my passport to be sent before July 30. Do they always set a passport submission deadline like this?
The wording in the email goes "The issuance of your visa(s) is time sensitive so it is important for you to submit your passport(s) as requested"
My medical would only expire on late November. Anyhow this is not a problem, but I'm curious. Has anyone out there had the same experience?


Congratulation.
What else is that e-mail contain? Are they saying if you show up in person with your passport they will stamp the visa in the same day?
Or do you use a courier to send the pass.? Which one?

 

[mg_bc]

Great thread! It's been very informative reading everyone's stories. I'm a Canadian citizen, born and raised, but have been in the US for 11 years. I have been married to my American wife for 6 years (dated for 4 before that). We're planning on moving to Canada for a job starting on Jan 1, 2011. Looks like my wife's application is on the same timeline as heatherusa's - just got my sponsorship approval letter last Friday. We perhaps didn't include as much relationship proof as many of have described, but I'm hoping the length of our relationship helps alleviate any concerns.

Good luck to everyone!

 

[Lilac6]

Hi Cherlyn,

Thanks. PPR email was quite short and to the point.
Also in the email was the set of links for various pages from Buffalo website, such as "Passport requirements' "Photographs, height and eye colour"
"Instructions for passport submission""Important notice for family members".

The current "Instructions for passport submission" page categorical says they wouuldn't return passports by couriers even though it is prepaid, advising to use USP Express or Canada Post XPresspost (depending on if your return address is in US or Canada) at least for return. I read someone else's post from last autumn where Buffalo apparently accepted Fedex return on corporate account, but that doesn't seem to be the case any more? I guess I might just as well use Canada Post Next AM service - only 1 day difference on both sides and would be more expensive than Xpresspost, but it would be handy if we get my passport back asap as we're planning to go to USA hopefully around the 2nd weekend of July.

Also 3 identical recent photoes of the specified size is required, which I'm just hopping out to get taken (could have prepared!)

 

[heatherusa]

Great thread! It's been very informative reading everyone's stories. I'm a Canadian citizen, born and raised, but have been in the US for 11 years. I have been married to my American wife for 6 years (dated for 4 before that). We're planning on moving to Canada for a job starting on Jan 1, 2011. Looks like my wife's application is on the same timeline as heatherusa's - just got my sponsorship approval letter last Friday. We perhaps didn't include as much relationship proof as many of have described, but I'm hoping the length of our relationship helps alleviate any concerns.

Good luck to everyone!

Our timelines do match! I too am hoping that the fact that we have been married almost 12 years is a positive feature for us. I actually did not include any cards, emails or correspondence between the two of us. We have been married so long I dont have that. I did include all of our tax returns, our mutual bills and documents showing each other as beneficiary on important documents. I also included letters from my friend, my godmother and my parents stating discussing our long relationship. Then I included pictures from major events. We also have a 10 year old. I cant do much more than that. If they dont believe we have genuinely been married for 12 years then I dont know what would convince them!

 

[can_usa_97]

Had my medical today. Xray didn't show anything, and what the DR could see from the results he had didn't show anything, so it's just the 3 blood tests = which I expect to be fine.

Working on our paperwork tonight - but after being up since 4am and not sleeping well last night we need to review it all before we print and finish up some too.

We saw Dr. Veramendi - he was very nice. I did get a bruise and some pain from my blood draw though I never have issues with blood draws... I have really great veins. I did have to goto another place for the xray. It was $320 at Veramendi and $90 at the Xray.

Onward!