Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[Rinnerz]

Just got CAIPS notes, what does "BF'd date" mean Mine says April 01 2011. Whats going on!

It's your file's bring forward date. It's the date assigned for someone to pull your file out of the queue and review it, to see if there have been any updates, etc. if it hasn't been reviewed before then. It's a failsafe of sorts, to make sure the file is looked at in a somewhat timely manner, just in case it isn't looked at before then.

Mine was April 1, 2011 too... which didn't seem to mean a thing, because there'd been no IO note updates at all since December 15, 2010, no signs of a background check having been done, and they hadn't bothered to notify us about the supposedly "missing" police check, either.

Hopefully yours means something more positive.

 

[janamay1967]

Just got CAIPS notes, what does "BF'd date" mean Mine says April 01 2011. Whats going on!

Where do I go to check these infamous CAIPS notes? Is this a different website than the status updates?

 

[Rinnerz]

Where do I go to check these infamous CAIPS notes? Is this a different website than the status updates?

You have to order them. It takes 4-6 weeks on average to get them in the mail. (Took 6 weeks for mine.)

Immipedia's explanation: http://immipedia.ca/Ordering_FOSS_and_CAIPS_notes

Helpful thread with steps for how to apply for them: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t38157.0.html;msg253279#msg253279

It's free if you're in Canada and can apply for yourself. It's $5 if your spouse (in Canada) has to apply for you. It costs more than that ($30 and up) if neither of you can order them and you have to go through a third party CAIPS notes service.

EDIT: Yes, it's different than the vague eCAS updates. CAIPS notes provide you with the computerized notes the IO's have made on your file at Buffalo. They use codes for most of it, but you can find the interpretations of CAIPS codes very easily online.

 

[puzzle69]

I was wondering about the CAIPS notes, too. Is this something applicants need to have, or should have when landing?

 

[ConfusedinCanada]

Does anybody how an idea who much this computer system upgrade will delay the applications?

 

[QCSunshine]

Just got PPR! We are excited!

 

[rjessome]

Just got PPR! We are excited!

Congratulations.

 

[quakingaspen]

Congrats, QCSunshine! That is very exciting news! What are your plans now?

 

[Rinnerz]

I was wondering about the CAIPS notes, too. Is this something applicants need to have, or should have when landing?

No, and no. It's just something applicants sometimes order while their file is in process, to give them a better idea of what's going on. It's most usually ordered when an interview is deemed necessary, to try to figure out why the IO felt an interview was needed (i.e. to help better prepare for it). But CAIPS notes can also be invaluable when trying to figure out what could be delaying an application, especially one that has been in process for several months.

 

[QCSunshine]

Thanks everyone!

Do you guys know how long is generally given to send in one's passport? That part of my email had a blank, a space, and no date. I didn't notice when I first read it and only realized it when I started trying to find the dates on the links included in the email and not finding a date anywhere. The I noticed the place in the email where the date should have been. I am out of the country at the moment, and I need my passport to get back in to Canada, so I am curious about how long I have to get it to them...

quakingaspen, well I guess the plan is just to try get settled and get officially registered for everything like health insurance... I haven't thought much beyond that yet. I guess I should start translating my CV into French.

 

[amaranth]

How long should someone wait to order CAIPS notes? I received my AOR on March 31 (which said they received my application on Jan 26), but my eCAS has not changed to in process yet... Should I order them, or would it be useless at this point?

This is getting REALLY frustrating. Last night I had my first real breakdown over this whole process. All this waiting & worrying is exhausting. :'(

 

[Rinnerz]

How long should someone wait to order CAIPS notes? I received my AOR on March 31 (which said they received my application on Jan 26), but my eCAS has not changed to in process yet... Should I order them, or would it be useless at this point?

It probably wouldn't tell you too much just yet, but that may depend on whether your application is actually "in process" now or not, and where it is in the queue. As an example, my consultant received my AOR (by email I believe) on December 14. My notes say that on December 15, they determined our relationship is "bona fide" and waived my interview, and (supposedly) sent out an IA.

Normally CAIPS notes aren't of huge value to you unless: 1) you haven't received an IA for some reason (you still have time for that yet), 2) you sent documents and want to make sure they were attached to your file properly, 3) they request an interview and you want to know why, or 4) your application has been in process for a rather long time (relatively).

But if you wanted to order them anyway, there's nothing stopping you. There's a 4-6 week wait for them anyway. My request for them was received on March 16 but they were stamped April 18, so for all I know it took them that long just to get around to printing them out anyway.

This is getting REALLY frustrating. Last night I had my first real breakdown over this whole process. All this waiting & worrying is exhausting. :'(

Yeah... it's rough, there's no denying that. I just came off my... probably fourth? breakdown in the span of a week, just before reading your post. It would be one thing if this was all we had to worry about (as important as it is), but add onto this very major concerns about finances, my health, issues with my sister (whom I can't even help because of money and distance), my dealing with losing my best friend recently... Something's gotta give. You just have to do what you need to do to hang in there and make sure that that "something" isn't you.

 

[spiritrac]

I understand it can be very frustrating seeing that some people are having their applications processed speedily while others have to wait, and being away from our love ones can also be quite taxing on both mind and body but if we can take the emotions out of the process and the anxiety it may help.

I have had to decide in my mind that the buffalo processing says 11 months and I am hoping for a shorter period but realizes that it can take up to that time so that has allowed me not to be over anxious with the processing times.

 

[puzzle69]

Congratulations QCSunshine!

 

[chess101]

Still waiting for PPR, it's almost 9 months now got AOR fingers crossed