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Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

sparkle

Hero Member
Feb 16, 2010
375
14
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Buffalo just replied to my case specific inquiry that they are creating files for applications received January 27 !
Mine was transfered from Missisauga on Jan 25.....maybe it takes quite a lot of time to reach there... :(
 

Rinnerz

Hero Member
Apr 8, 2010
431
14
124
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
12-10-2010
AOR Received.
14-12-2010
File Transfer...
09-11-2010
Med's Done....
29-07-2010
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
08-07-2011
VISA ISSUED...
07-07-2011
LANDED..........
02-08-2011
sparkle said:
Buffalo just replied to my case specific inquiry that they are creating files for applications received January 27 !
Mine was transfered from Missisauga on Jan 25.....maybe it takes quite a lot of time to reach there... :(
I'd assume it isn't as quick as a week or so. Looking back to when Buffalo was lightning fast, it still took people about 3 weeks to receive their AOR. And remember that even if Buffalo has received it, it may take them awhile -- especially due to current backlog -- to get around to its position in the queue and process it, assign it a file number, and send out your AOR.

It does sound like you should be getting your AOR fairly soon, though. Just gotta hang tight until then :).
 

sparkle

Hero Member
Feb 16, 2010
375
14
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Yeah...I am trying to be positive and still hope for something today !! You never know :)
12 weeks since the file is sitting in Buffalo ! :(
 

Love-Buf-Wings

Star Member
Apr 18, 2011
54
1
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
04-02-2011
AOR Received.
03-05-2011
File Transfer...
17-03-2011
Med's Done....
18-11-2010
Passport Req..
02-06-2011
VISA ISSUED...
07-06-2011
LANDED..........
July, 2011
I'm curious to know how behind Buffalo is in processing applications. Anybody else get their AOR's?

Have a lovely long weekend everybody!
____________________________________
Meds Done: Nov, 2010
Fees Paid: Feb 4, 2011
App. Filed: Feb 4, 2011
App. Received: Feb 7, 2011
Sponsorship Approved: March 4, 2011
File Transfered to Buffalo: March 17, 2011
AOR: Waiting
 

sparkle

Hero Member
Feb 16, 2010
375
14
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
You can check the progress of files at this spreadsheet -

https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?authkey=CLSRv0c&pli=1&hl=en&key=tSwhpbL3i0FEVj1Fw4efAcg&hl=en&authkey=CLSRv0c#gid=0

The ones in yellow are the ones who got their AOR
 

buffalo-toronto

Hero Member
Feb 8, 2011
215
2
Category........
Visa Office......
BUF
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
03-02-2011
AOR Received.
August 2011
File Transfer...
01-03-2011
Med's Done....
29-01-2011
Interview........
Waived
Man Buffalo is super slow. I got a reply from Buffalo VO that they are creating files rcvd by Jan. 17. Now as we have read here, they are creating files rcvd by Jan. 27th.

In 21 days they have moved up by 10 days...not good at all
 

Rinnerz

Hero Member
Apr 8, 2010
431
14
124
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
12-10-2010
AOR Received.
14-12-2010
File Transfer...
09-11-2010
Med's Done....
29-07-2010
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
08-07-2011
VISA ISSUED...
07-07-2011
LANDED..........
02-08-2011
buffalo-toronto said:
Man Buffalo is super slow. I got a reply from Buffalo VO that they are creating files rcvd by Jan. 17. Now as we have read here, they are creating files rcvd by Jan. 27th.

In 21 days they have moved up by 10 days...not good at all
Yep. Probably part of why they've started transferring files off to satellite offices so much lately.
 

Love-Buf-Wings

Star Member
Apr 18, 2011
54
1
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
04-02-2011
AOR Received.
03-05-2011
File Transfer...
17-03-2011
Med's Done....
18-11-2010
Passport Req..
02-06-2011
VISA ISSUED...
07-06-2011
LANDED..........
July, 2011
FleetingDasein said:
Here's my account of my Buffalo trip, as promised.

I took the 7:30pm Greyhound bus from Toronto. The ride was uneventful, but somewhat stressful. There was some rude guy talking on his cellphone the entire trip there. It's funny how much you learn listening to someone talk for 3 1/2 hours! There was a little bit of trouble at the border. One passenger from our bus was stopped at customs, and we had to wait until the person was let into the country. We waited for about an hour, then the bus driver was told the person wouldn't be let in the US. I suppose they had a criminal record, who knows. We were supposed to get to Buffalo at 9:45pm, and we ended up getting to the station at 10:45pm. The station is indeed quite... sketchy. We took a cab to our hotel, Doubletree Hilton, and it came to $7. I am still amazed at how cheap cab fares are! I paid double the price for that same distance in Toronto.

The hotel was great, but the location was kinda out in the boondocks. The hotel is surrounded by a bunch of hospitals, and there's really not much to see. Check-in was very friendly. The rooms come equipped with a kitchenette and a microwave, so it's very convenient.

The best thing about the hotel is that they have a free shuttle service that takes you anywhere within a 5 mile radius. So we booked a shuttle to the HSBC tower, and ended up getting there at 8:45am, or so. When you get there you have to show your passport to a guard in the lobby, and he places a sticker on you and tells you to go to floor 30. When you get there you have to stand in line; it wasn't very long. It took about 20 minutes to get to the window. When you get to the window, you hand in your passport, PPR letter/email request, and your pictures, then they give you a number and tell you to have a seat. I waited for about 2 hours, then my number was called. I went up to the window, and the lady gave me my passport back, a white envelope with a letter and the confirmation of permanent residence. She told me to read over it to make sure everything was correct, and congratulated me on becoming a permanent resident. We got out of there at 11:00am, or so.

The hotel shuttle picked us up, and we went back to the hotel to check out, then on to the Greyhound bus station. We still had a few hours until our bus, so we went to a little mall that's across the station. I don't know if you can even call it a mall; it only had a handful of stores.... Before I knew it, we were on the bus on our way back to Toronto. Landing was very quick. If you are landing via Buffalo, they take you to a room in the back, then they confirm that all the information on the "confirmation of permanent residence" sheet is correct. They ask you if have any dependents, and if you have a criminal record, then they ask you to sign. That's pretty much it. They staple the confirmation of permanent residence on your passport, tell you that the permanent resident card will arrive in the mail in 8 weeks, congratulate you, then you are on your way!

That's pretty much my story. I went and got my SIN number today at Service Canada. It took 30 minutes! I was amazed at how quick it was. I faxed my confirmation of permanent residence to my university, and they changed my status to domestic and adjusted my fees. Now I'm on the hunt for a summer job. :D

I hope this helps anyone that is planning on going to Buffalo.
Congrats!!! -It took you four months, that's amazing!!!

Meds Done: Nov, 2010
Fees Paid: Feb 4, 2011
App. Filed: Feb 4, 2011
App. Received: Feb 7, 2011
Sponsorship Approved: March 4, 2011
File Transfered to Buffalo: March 17, 2011
AOR: Waiting
 

Love-Buf-Wings

Star Member
Apr 18, 2011
54
1
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
04-02-2011
AOR Received.
03-05-2011
File Transfer...
17-03-2011
Med's Done....
18-11-2010
Passport Req..
02-06-2011
VISA ISSUED...
07-06-2011
LANDED..........
July, 2011
Thanks for putting this together Sparkle -the spreadsheet is really helpful!

______________________________________
Meds Done: Nov, 2010
Fees Paid: Feb 4, 2011
App. Filed: Feb 4, 2011
App. Received: Feb 7, 2011
Sponsorship Approved: March 4, 2011
File Transfered to Buffalo: March 17, 2011
AOR: Waiting
[/quote]
 

QCSunshine

Hero Member
Aug 25, 2010
425
13
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
Sparkle, the spreadsheet is really nice. And just to make a small correction on my entry: my application was received on October 5th.

Thank you!
 

sparkle

Hero Member
Feb 16, 2010
375
14
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
QCSunshine said:
Sparkle, the spreadsheet is really nice. And just to make a small correction on my entry: my application was received on October 5th.

Thank you!
Thank you guys...I'll make the change right away :)
 

quakingaspen

Hero Member
Sep 24, 2010
536
18
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
01.12.10
AOR Received.
07.03.11
File Transfer...
11.01.11
Med's Done....
16.11.10
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
12.04.11
LANDED..........
02.05.11
Hi guys! I need some advice. On April 12, I received my PPR from Buffalo. I mailed them my passport by Xpress Post on April 13, and have not received a confirmation of delivery since then.

I e-mailed Buffalo to see if there was any way they could check to see if they had received my passport and it just hadn't been scaned in to confirm the delivery.

They just sent me back a note that says:

Your visa has been issued and will be mailed to you soon.

Immigration Section
Canadian Consulate General
Buffalo, NY

So... I don't mean to sound dumb (I come by it naturally). Does that mean my passport is there and they have issued the Visa? Or just that I have been approved to receive my Visa, and they are waiting on the passport?
 

Doiron

Member
Apr 20, 2011
15
0
California to Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
18-02-2011
AOR Received.
18-05-2011
File Transfer...
16-03-2011
Med's Done....
27-01-2011
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
20-07-2011
Hello All! I've been reading this thread awhile now and thought I should join in!

App sent to C-Miss Feb. 16, 2011
App rcvd at C-Miss Feb. 18, 2011
Sponsorship approval Mar. 16, 2011
E-Cas active Mar. 17, 2011
File in Buffalo Mar. 24, 2011

I know my file is incomplete, just waiting for my ID # from buffalo to send in RPRF and FBI clearance. No doubt I am expecting delays, but I am hopeful!

Background: Married almost 12 years, 3 children (all whom have canadian Citizenship cards/passports, born in the USA) Currently living in USA. I guess I am the one holding the family up on the move to Canada, waiting for my permanent residence. Hubby is Canadian Citizen. No criminal record. Here is good luck to those of us waiting!!!
 

FleetingDasein

Star Member
Sep 2, 2010
89
4
Toronto, ON
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
14-12-2010
Doc's Request.
N/A
AOR Received.
07-03-2011
File Transfer...
23-01-2011
Med's Request
N/A
Med's Done....
30-11-2010
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
12-04-2011
VISA ISSUED...
19-04-2011
LANDED..........
19-04-2011
quakingaspen said:
Hi guys! I need some advice. On April 12, I received my PPR from Buffalo. I mailed them my passport by Xpress Post on April 13, and have not received a confirmation of delivery since then.

I e-mailed Buffalo to see if there was any way they could check to see if they had received my passport and it just hadn't been scaned in to confirm the delivery.

They just sent me back a note that says:

Your visa has been issued and will be mailed to you soon.

Immigration Section
Canadian Consulate General
Buffalo, NY

So... I don't mean to sound dumb (I come by it naturally). Does that mean my passport is there and they have issued the Visa? Or just that I have been approved to receive my Visa, and they are waiting on the passport?
I think that means they put the visa on your passport. They only issue the visa when they have your passport, and it will have the date when they received the passport stamped on it. They are probably in the process of mailing it.
 

quakingaspen

Hero Member
Sep 24, 2010
536
18
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
01.12.10
AOR Received.
07.03.11
File Transfer...
11.01.11
Med's Done....
16.11.10
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
12.04.11
LANDED..........
02.05.11
Oo... thank you. :) That's excellent news!

I was looking at my passport request again, and it says:

This refers to your application for permanent residence in Canada. We are now in a position to request your passports for visa issuance.

Please submit your passport(s) before June 1, 2011. The issuance of your visa(s) is time sensitive so it is important for you to submit your passport(s) as requested.

All of that would seem to indicate exactly what you said - that the Visa is issued after the passport is received, and that the passport is requested FOR the issuance of the Visa.

Which just makes my little immigrant girl heart grow 3 sizes bigger. :)

@ Doiron - Welcome to the forums! :) This is a great place. You're going to love it here, and make friends you'll keep for the rest of your life.