Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[ddobro2]

You know, I tend to agree about the common law thing slowing people down, but I just spent some time on Trackit (yeah, nothing better to do) sorting and re-sorting columns (among them was the total processing days one) and among the shortest processing times, I DID find a common law couple. Seriously, once I start thinking there is something that is sure to slow someone down or speed them up, I see evidence of the opposite, so maybe there is just no rhyme or reason to any of this stuff. Anyway, I am fortunate to be doing this while living with my husband in Canada, so I can't complain knowing there are people in much worse situations out there than I am.

Thanks ddobro2,
I don't know where the time went! It's just tough on us I think common-law applications generally take more time because they have to go over all the evidence, ( that's why they requested more from us in early June)

If we were married I think we would have gotten PPR in June but instead we got "more evidence" required.

 

[ddobro2]

Hey, Sparkle, I'm thinking of emailing Buffalo too 'cause I have only the date they received my application in my e-cas and nothing else and I guess I'd like to have a file number too. Can you share the email address? ;D

So I emailed Buffalo...because I just couldn't handle not hearing at all from them...and I got this response just now -

B#########

Dear Madam / Sir,

Your application is in queue for review. An exact review schedule is not yet available. No further action is required by you at this time.

We thank you for your patience and for keeping your correspondence to a minimum.


Regards,

Canadian Consulate General Buffalo
Immigration Section
www.buffalo.gc.ca


I had F##### file number, but they replied to me this time with a B#### on top.

It seems like they haven't even reviewed my file !~!~??

 

[puzzle69]

Got our visas in the mail today! It only took a week and a half. Our house is up for sale and we're starting to pack. Can't wait to start our new life in Canada!!

 

[spiritrac]

PASSPORT REQUEST!!! YAY. best birthday present (my husband's), ever!

we have a prescheduled vacation tomorrow, but as soon as I'm back, I'm renting a car and driving to Buffalo. Aug 1-2.

Congrats eletyl Its good to see some action in our December group

 

[puzzle69]

Congratulations eletyl! Best of luck with the landing!

 

[QCSunshine]

(I just noticed that they switched my middle and last names in the email... I hope it doesn't cause any issues!)

Congrats! And when you go to Buffalo, they will give you a chance to check your information to make sure there are no errors before you leave. If you want to be more pro-active, you could include a copy of your passport in the papers you submit at the very beginning (height, photos, PPR email, etc) with a post-it note on the page explaining that there was an error with your name in the passport request, so that maybe they would check it and fix it, if necessary, before they print anything, and save you a little time.

And congrats to everyone that has gotten PPR recently!

 

[seattlevan]

Hi everyone!

I am Canadian, and I am sponsoring my common law partner who is American. We are both students, and we have been in a relationship and living together for two years now. The first year we had a roommate, so we are saying that we have been cohabitating for just over a year, since April 2010.

we are planning on submitting our application by the end of August. We were hoping to travel for 2 months in Europe (the classic after-grad backpacking trip) but I am worried about leaving for two reasons. First, what if they request an interview while we are away? And second, what if they request his passport before we go? I am thinking that we will just play it by ear, and not book any flights until we hear about our application status.

I am wondering....first, do common law applicants generally receive requests for interviews? I assume that they do. How far in advance to they give notice for an interview? How does the process work for setting a date, etc?

Second, if his passport is requested, how long does it take for them to send it back?

Any help would be appreciated, this is very overwhelming!

 

[awor]

Hi everyone!

I am Canadian, and I am sponsoring my common law partner who is American. We are both students, and we have been in a relationship and living together for two years now. The first year we had a roommate, so we are saying that we have been cohabitating for just over a year, since April 2010.

I would claim since you started living together (2 years). Having a roommate doesn't affect your cohabitation requirement, or your relationship. Plus they might wonder (maybe even cause a problem) why you didn't include the year prior when you were indeed living together.

we are planning on submitting our application by the end of August. We were hoping to travel for 2 months in Europe (the classic after-grad backpacking trip) but I am worried about leaving for two reasons. First, what if they request an interview while we are away? And second, what if they request his passport before we go? I am thinking that we will just play it by ear, and not book any flights until we hear about our application status.

Your application will be in CPC-M for about 6 weeks, then be sent to Buffalo... it's very, very unlikely they would even have started processing your application before you get back (depending on when you leave of course). Make sure to include a often-checked email in the application though. Also make sure to add a note explaining why you are not in Canada (about your trip) and proof that you will return after your trip.

I am wondering....first, do common law applicants generally receive requests for interviews? I assume that they do. How far in advance to they give notice for an interview? How does the process work for setting a date, etc?

Second, if his passport is requested, how long does it take for them to send it back?

Most Americans don't need to interview. Just make sure your relationship proof is rock solid and your application filled out accurately. If you do, they'll give you advance notice of the appointment date, don't miss it, and take whatever other documents they request. Make sure you include the form indicating what office you want to interview in (judging by your username, I'd say you'd want to check Seattle lol)
CIC website states they will send the passport back within 15 days (I think it's weekdays, so about 3 weeks), but I've seen lots of posts where they person gets it back in a week or just over.

 

[rjessome]

Having a roommate the first year doesn't matter. What matters is when your common-law relationship became conjugal or "marriage like" in that you intertwined your lives as a married or common-law couple does. Tell the truth about when you started living together. Sponsorships through Buffalo (your visa office) take anywhere from 3 to 11 months to complete processing. It depends on the strength of your application, how well you prepare it, and a little luck. There is no way to predict for sure if there will be an interview or not. But if you are planning to travel soon after you submit the application, doubtful it would be a worry. It will take approx 40 days for the sponsorship to be approved in Mississauga before the file is sent to Buffalo. Most visa offices give at least 1 month notice of the interview and I believe Buffalo is one of them. Scroll through this thread to see what kind of timelines were given to others with interviews or check out trackitt.com for stats.

 

[chess101]

Happy Sunday!
Tomorrow is a new week, which means we're going to hear some news
On a side note this summer is finally starting to like summer.

 

[ddobro2]

Parts of Application in French at Buffalo VO

Kind of tangential question about relationship proof but since it concerns the Buffalo office I thought I'd ask it here......and depending on how many responses I get or not, I'll create a separate thread for it......I'm going to be immigrating to Quebec (husband is there), and although I completed the application in English, we got a couple of "letters of support" from family and friends written in French. My question is: will the fact that there are a couple of documents (1-page letters) in French in our application slow our application process down at Buffalo or are they well equipped to deal with documents in French and it won't have any bearing on the timeline?

THANKS IN ADVANCE ;D

 

[QCSunshine]

I think they should be able to handle the French letters just fine, as everyone who is sent abroad to work in visa offices is supposedly bilingual (so I have heard). I did my whole application in French, and it was fine (though it did seem to take a somewhat long time to process for a very straightforward case, compared to applications that went through late last summer, shortly before I applied.) But there is no way to know if language was a factor in that, or if it was just the computer system change-over this winter (which seems likely), or some other unknown factor...

 

[seattlevan]

Thank you awor and rjessome!
Reading your posts, I think we will definitely say we lived together for 2 years, and explain the roommate situation upfront!

I should have mentioned that we are hoping to go to Europe next March, from March to end of April. I'm worried because I've notice that a lot of people have been hearing back around 5-8 month mark, and that would be about 7 months after we applied! I am thinking that I will wait on travel plans and see how it goes, and if we do end up travelling, have a P.O. box that my brother or friend can check while we are away. I am hoping that they give at least one month notice in advance for an interview... when do they inform you that they are planning on interviewing you? Would CAIPS be able to give me more advance warning? I really want to travel, but I would rather have my partner here in Canada with me, if it came down to it!

I will definitely inform them of our travel plans, hopefully they will be okay with it and schedule the interview before or after!

Thanks again for all the help!

 

[rjessome]

Re: Parts of Application in French at Buffalo VO

Kind of tangential question about relationship proof but since it concerns the Buffalo office I thought I'd ask it here......and depending on how many responses I get or not, I'll create a separate thread for it......I'm going to be immigrating to Quebec (husband is there), and although I completed the application in English, we got a couple of "letters of support" from family and friends written in French. My question is: will the fact that there are a couple of documents (1-page letters) in French in our application slow our application process down at Buffalo or are they well equipped to deal with documents in French and it won't have any bearing on the timeline?

THANKS IN ADVANCE ;D

No, it won't slow it down or speed it up. Processed just the same. Yes, they are equipped to deal with it.

 

[ddobro2]

Thanks QCsunshine (and yes, lots of sunshine in quebec and thank god the heat wave is over!) and Rjessome. I started thinking maybe they don't have all fully-bilingual VOs there. I guess it's not going to make much of a difference.

;D