Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[ddobro2]

Ah, intriguing...thus the "G" in global, I presume? To us though, it just looks like they're expecting the November-January people to "take one for the team."

Can you make more friends at CIC and report back to us? Just kidding....

I'm told by a friend at CIC (who, by the way, can't go outside the standard channels ) that GCMS allows them to work on a file from pretty much anywhere in the world.

I suspect this could result in bringing back a lot of foreign mission workers to Canada and have them work from Ottawa.

At very least, they'd be able to better handle disruptions like Syria and Egypt.

 

[ddobro2]

Apparenly, the Ottawa Regional Medical Office (which refers to itself as CIC Health Management in its return fax to me) is "not able to provide any information on the status of [my] application" as it does not "deal with general public inquiries" (news to me, as I read in this very forum that people DID have success getting confirmations of medical results from them).

They asked me to call the "24 hour" call centre to find out so I will do that when it is both still open and my sponsor is home from work (right, the 24 hrs long access to **recorded** information won't help me : )

 

[kayan]

... I'm starting to think you and I are twins. Just swap 20s for early 30s!

haha...yes, similar timelines too. lets hope we get ppr on the same day too, sometime soon! ;D

 

[amaranth]

haha...yes, similar timelines too. lets hope we get ppr on the same day too, sometime soon! ;D

If by some stroke of magical awesomeness we happen to get PPR on the same day, I will throw a massive party for us both. And the entire Buffalo group is invited. ;D

 

[doctorkb]

Apparenly, the Ottawa Regional Medical Office (which refers to itself as CIC Health Management in its return fax to me) is "not able to provide any information on the status of [my] application" as it does not "deal with general public inquiries" (news to me, as I read in this very forum that people DID have success getting confirmations of medical results from them).

They asked me to call the "24 hour" call centre to find out so I will do that when it is both still open and my sponsor is home from work (right, the 24 hrs long access to **recorded** information won't help me : )

I faxed them yesterday to have the medicals forwarded at their earliest convenience.

Our GCMS and FOSS notes received earlier this month showed that the meds were on file in Ottawa (and provided the file number), but there was no record of them in the GCMS notes.

I didn't ask for any sort of confirmation or status update, but since I'm not seeing the "Medical Results Received" bit on eCas, I figured it would be a good thing to just make sure has been done, since they expire sometime late Sept / early Oct. (I don't have precision, because though the exam was Sep 29/10, the FOSS notes show the exam completion as Oct 9/10).

 

[ddobro2]

Thanks for sharing that.

Why GCMS *and* FOSS?

Why do you think they stay at Ottawa......I mean, if one knew the date the DMP forwarded them, give a few days to account for Ottawa receiving them, we can assume it would take what? a month at most for them to record whatever it is they need to record before they turn it over to the visa office? I'm just wondering out loud, I suppose, if they sometimes just get lazy and/or forget to forward it to the VO.

I still believe that the comments I read elsewhere was someone trying to confirm they had them and/or forwarded them (and doing so successfully) and not someone asking them to forward the results to the VO.

I don't know if I should just call the Call Centre first or if I should wait until I get my GCMS notes which should be around early September......

Given your profile name I take it you have more knowledge about it than me, but I bet the week and a half after your/your partner undergoing the health visit that FOSS shows completion is due to the DMP conducting analyses on the samples they had and just finalizing their report. Remember what CIC tends to do when people's medicals are about to expire? They just go ahead and give them PPR (we'll describe it as *early* if we choose to ignore coincidences), so I wouldn't be surprised if you got PPR this coming month or next.

I faxed them yesterday to have the medicals forwarded at their earliest convenience.

Our GCMS and FOSS notes received earlier this month showed that the meds were on file in Ottawa (and provided the file number), but there was no record of them in the GCMS notes.

I didn't ask for any sort of confirmation or status update, but since I'm not seeing the "Medical Results Received" bit on eCas, I figured it would be a good thing to just make sure has been done, since they expire sometime late Sept / early Oct. (I don't have precision, because though the exam was Sep 29/10, the FOSS notes show the exam completion as Oct 9/10).

 

[kayan]

Remember what CIC tends to do when people's medicals are about to expire? They just go ahead and give them PPR

There has been a lot of talk about this and I am just wondering what this is based on? I have heard of Buffalo giving extensions to the medicals, but I don't remember hearing someone say that they expedited their PPR because their medicals were about to expire :

 

[kayan]

If by some stroke of magical awesomeness we happen to get PPR on the same day, I will throw a massive party for us both. And the entire Buffalo group is invited. ;D

I like that! 8)

 

[Stumpedmom]

It seems like it. I'm going to go to a GM dealership and see if they will order a Recall clearance letter (for Canada requirements) so I'll be prepared when I get my PPR hopefully in the next month. I'm so happy for you that your wait is over.

Wait till you get the PPR its only valid for 30 days!!!

 

[cbennett]

Okay. Thanks! How long does it take to receive the report after being ordered?

Wait till you get the PPR its only valid for 30 days!!!

 

[doctorkb]

Thanks for sharing that.

Why GCMS *and* FOSS?

FOSS gives all the in-Canada records. This includes record of medicals received in Ottawa, along with any notes going with previous entries.

In our case, I figured it would be interesting to see what was on the FOSS notes -- there has been repeated questioning about a certain person my wife may have met who may have been in Canada illegally whenever she enters the country and we were curious as to what notes were there.

There was some redaction with the s.22(1)(b) of the Privacy Act that has something to do with causing harm to an ongoing investigation.

Why do you think they stay at Ottawa......I mean, if one knew the date the DMP forwarded them, give a few days to account for Ottawa receiving them, we can assume it would take what? a month at most for them to record whatever it is they need to record before they turn it over to the visa office? I'm just wondering out loud, I suppose, if they sometimes just get lazy and/or forget to forward it to the VO.

As I understand the process, the VO has to request it from Ottawa (or the regional medical office).

The FOSS notes have a line that gives the medical file number and the note "MEDOTT" -- the medical file is in Ottawa (according to other decyphering threads on here).

They also describe the medical status (M1/9) and detail the date of the exam and the date the medical was approved or denied.

I still believe that the comments I read elsewhere was someone trying to confirm they had them and/or forwarded them (and doing so successfully) and not someone asking them to forward the results to the VO.

It could be. And it could be that the way they do things depends on whose desk that fax lands on, too. Remember, we are talking about CIC (and I don't mean Citizenship & Immigration Canada with that acronym)

I don't know if I should just call the Call Centre first or if I should wait until I get my GCMS notes which should be around early September......

The Call Centre would have access to FOSS, I think. That should be able to tell you whether Ottawa received the file.

Given your profile name I take it you have more knowledge about it than me, but I bet the week and a half after your/your partner undergoing the health visit that FOSS shows completion is due to the DMP conducting analyses on the samples they had and just finalizing their report. Remember what CIC tends to do when people's medicals are about to expire? They just go ahead and give them PPR (we'll describe it as *early* if we choose to ignore coincidences), so I wouldn't be surprised if you got PPR this coming month or next.

Well, the nickname is an old one and perhaps will be true eventually. I haven't completely ruled out a Ph.D. or DBA. As for now, it's just a name.

I think you might be right on the date -- it's just interesting also that the medical wasn't "approved" until a month after the exam date, either.

From what I understand, it's only the "results" that are forwarded to the VO -- they are given some sort of evaluation to add to the file. It could be as simple as "M1/9" or they might be a little more in-depth.

Of course, once we've landed, I intend to request a copy of the entire visa file (waiting until we're not worried about delaying the application, of course).

Finally, I would be VERY surprised if we don't get a PPR before the medical expires. Not only surprised, but ticked off.

 

[ddobro2]

Wait wait wait....if any info on whether Buffalo requested the medicals from Ottawa yet or not, the medical file number, etc. is in the FOSS notes and I only ordered the GCMS notes (um....I believe), then I have no choice but to get that info from the Call Centre, right? As my GCMS notes would not include that information? Or is it more accurate to say that since FOSS is in-Canada then the only way the medicals would be accounted for in GCMS is if Buffalo already requested and received them, that is - they are now in the out-Canada system?

FOSS gives all the in-Canada records. This includes record of medicals received in Ottawa, along with any notes going with previous entries.

In our case, I figured it would be interesting to see what was on the FOSS notes -- there has been repeated questioning about a certain person my wife may have met who may have been in Canada illegally whenever she enters the country and we were curious as to what notes were there.

There was some redaction with the s.22(1)(b) of the Privacy Act that has something to do with causing harm to an ongoing investigation.

As I understand the process, the VO has to request it from Ottawa (or the regional medical office).

The FOSS notes have a line that gives the medical file number and the note "MEDOTT" -- the medical file is in Ottawa (according to other decyphering threads on here).

They also describe the medical status (M1/9) and detail the date of the exam and the date the medical was approved or denied.

It could be. And it could be that the way they do things depends on whose desk that fax lands on, too. Remember, we are talking about CIC (and I don't mean Citizenship & Immigration Canada with that acronym)

The Call Centre would have access to FOSS, I think. That should be able to tell you whether Ottawa received the file.

Well, the nickname is an old one and perhaps will be true eventually. I haven't completely ruled out a Ph.D. or DBA. As for now, it's just a name.

I think you might be right on the date -- it's just interesting also that the medical wasn't "approved" until a month after the exam date, either.

From what I understand, it's only the "results" that are forwarded to the VO -- they are given some sort of evaluation to add to the file. It could be as simple as "M1/9" or they might be a little more in-depth.

Of course, once we've landed, I intend to request a copy of the entire visa file (waiting until we're not worried about delaying the application, of course).

Finally, I would be VERY surprised if we don't get a PPR before the medical expires. Not only surprised, but ticked off.

 

[doctorkb]

Wait wait wait....if any info on whether Buffalo requested the medicals from Ottawa yet or not, the medical file number, etc. is in the FOSS notes and I only ordered the GCMS notes (um....I believe), then I have no choice but to get that info from the Call Centre, right? As my GCMS notes would not include that information?

If Buffalo has requested the medicals, that will be in GCMS.
If Buffalo has received the medicals, that will be in GCMS (and may include the medical file number).

If Buffalo has done neither, you won't have a record of either being done in the GCMS.

You can request FOSS notes, too... nothing says you have to do it at the same time as GCMS/CAIPS.

 

[ddobro2]

Well CIC's operating manual on handling medical info says, "Medical results for applicants who pass a medical and who are not subject to surveillance are valid for twelve months from the examination date or the date of the x-ray, whichever date is earlier. If processing of the application is not completed in time, a new examination must be requested. In exceptional circumstances, an extension of the medical validity may be requested from the regional medical office. Only CIC medical personnel may grant extensions." But I really have never read a post on here where someone admitted CIC extended the validity of their medicals (granted, this may be because people were in the dark about it in the first place, given that by extending CIC does not bother the person with new requests, unless they saw it in CAIPS/GCMS/FOSS notes or something). I have read posts of people being asked to re-do them though (and in the Damascus thread, they are currently complaining about why CIC does not just let VOs that average over a year to request them when THEY are ready, as many people apparently get asked for redo's). It's true that a lot of my belief about that is based on hearsay, but what do you expect with the total lack of a pattern to its processing CIC displays? I envision an IO working on various files and if two files are at about the same stage and level of "complication" or lack thereof, but one will have medical results expiring soon and the other one does not, I do see CIC cutting corners and making their life easier and issuing PPR to the person whose medicals are set to lose validity.

There has been a lot of talk about this and I am just wondering what this is based on? I have heard of Buffalo giving extensions to the medicals, but I don't remember hearing someone say that they expedited their PPR because their medicals were about to expire :

 

[ddobro2]

Okay, yeah, I amended my posting to say something along those lines while you replied and I think you didn't have a chance to see that. But yes, I get that. Thanks.

If Buffalo has requested the medicals, that will be in GCMS.
If Buffalo has received the medicals, that will be in GCMS (and may include the medical file number).

If Buffalo has done neither, you won't have a record of either being done in the GCMS.

You can request FOSS notes, too... nothing says you have to do it at the same time as GCMS/CAIPS.