Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[Ellan]

I finally got my caips notes today and thought I'd share in case someone finds it interesting The notes are dated August 19th, and say that my husbands RCMP check was complete (it seems like it was started on our AOR date) and that all the fees were paid. Everything else (eligibility, criminality, background check...) was still not started. This pretty much means that they processed our application in about a month, since my husband received his ppr on Sept 20th.

Had you also ordered medical and x-ray notes in the request? Did it say anything abt that?

 

[doctorkb]

Wow, thats Awesome, Congratulation.

But what those NAFTA means and who can be eligible.

NAFTA = North American Free Trade Agreement

Certain job classifications fall under NAFTA rules -- there is a combined experience & education qualification AND you must have a job offer for the position.

See http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/work/special-business.asp for info on the NAFTA visa class.

 

[kayan]

Had you also ordered medical and x-ray notes in the request? Did it say anything abt that?

It only says "not started" under medical, and it does not say anything about receiving them.

 

[doctorkb]

Just got off the phone with the Call Centre. Well, I only called them because the ATIP line only gave you the option of leaving a message (even if you selected the option that WASN'T to leave a message), and I didn't want to do that.

I was set on filling out that Record Correction Request Form, and seeing as how apparently no one on this forum is familiar with it, I needed help in what certain fields meant.

The woman at the Call Centre basically talked me out of it because, um, I guess "different visa offices have different ways of doing things and just because they did not enter the CSQ information doesn't mean they don't have the CSQ." Ok, I tried to explain that I just wanted to know they have a copy of it. She seemed to think that finding that out is as simple as emailing Buffalo. Um, not exactly, but we'll see what they respond with for my latest inquiry. Will not be surprised if I get the "due to high volumes" message yet again. She was fine with me sending a copy directly to them too. I'll probably have to do that.

Additionally, I should note that the woman I talked to said that it's the #Bxxxxxxx that is the number used by the visa offices. I said, well, I think both the #Fxxxxxxxx and the #Bxxxxxxxxx are used, seeing as how Buffalo puts both on its AOR, and just what is the difference? I don't think she knew what the difference was herself, but when I said a couple of times that I think the #F is for the electronic file and the #B is for the paper, she flat-out said "no."

Then she told me to use the e-CAS system, because it's so reliable and "most of our customers have no problem with it." She said that I should log in with my #B number instead. Um, I did that and it shows the exact same thing, "Application Received." In fact I told her that e-CAS is not reliable for outlanders, as I've personally heard of numerous cases of the status being "Application Received" up until PPR, then "In Progress" after landing. She essentially didn't want to hear it. No, it's for everybody and it works fine. Right, lady. Oh, and she also said that "the average processing time for Buffalo is 11 months." I tried to correct her and say, not exactly, 80% of applications that get seen at Buffalo are finished processing within 11 months. That is not the same as the mean average. As if she didn't hear me, she just repeated what she said earlier. It's as if these people are just trained to spit out information without even thinking about it when someone corrects them.

I couldn't help mentioning that Buffalo is such a black box, either. Cuz it is.

Sounds like you had a real winner on the line.

Here's what I know. GCMS notes reference both the F and B numbers.

At the top:
APPLICATION: Fxxxxxxxx

in the first category:
App #: Fxxxxxxxx

Scroll down to page 2.
PAPER FILE
Office: FC Registry
Paper File #: Bxxxxxxxx
Location: Buffalo

Page 17
PAPER FILE
PAPER FILE: 1
...
Paper File #: Bxxxxxxxx
Location: Buffalo

Now, I don't know about you, but it would seem to me that the F# is the GCMS file number (aka electronic file) and the B number is clearly the Paper File #.

 

[Stumpedmom]

Hi everyone! My husband just got his Visa back in the mail today! Quick question for those who have landed or looking to land...

The plan is for me to fly down to Florida and drive with hubs up back to Toronto, now I'm pondering on whether we should purchase travel insurance for the ride up and also for the 3 months he won't be covered by OHIP?

Has anyone purchased a third party insurance for the 3 month wait until OHIP kicks in?

ooh...another question...Should I get a one-way ticket to fly down to Florida and risk sending red flags with the border officer or get a round trip flight? Of course the one-way ticket is much cheaper...

We didn't buy insurance...and when you fly either from Toronto or Buffalo...I agree it would be much cheaper from Buffalo...take the PPR letter, a letter from your employer if possible, and any documents that you have confirming your PR application and explain that you are flying down to meet hubs and drive back with him for the long drive so he can land in Canada as a PR...

 

[ddobro2]

Wow, incredible. Just shows you how fast they can get through all the aspects of a file once they start devoting time to it.

I finally got my caips notes today and thought I'd share in case someone finds it interesting The notes are dated August 19th, and say that my husbands RCMP check was complete (it seems like it was started on our AOR date) and that all the fees were paid. Everything else (eligibility, criminality, background check...) was still not started. This pretty much means that they processed our application in about a month, since my husband received his ppr on Sept 20th.

 

[ddobro2]

Yep, I noticed that too on mine. Like I said, she didn't want to hear it. And the part about the "average" processing time was pretty ridiculous too. Perhaps they are misinformed and/or not particularly motivated to be informed or accurate because most people who call are not quite neck-deep in this process like some of us are :-\

Sounds like you had a real winner on the line.

Here's what I know. GCMS notes reference both the F and B numbers.

At the top:
APPLICATION: Fxxxxxxxx

in the first category:
App #: Fxxxxxxxx

Scroll down to page 2.
PAPER FILE
Office: FC Registry
Paper File #: Bxxxxxxxx
Location: Buffalo

Page 17
PAPER FILE
PAPER FILE: 1
...
Paper File #: Bxxxxxxxx
Location: Buffalo

Now, I don't know about you, but it would seem to me that the F# is the GCMS file number (aka electronic file) and the B number is clearly the Paper File #.

 

[ddobro2]

Are you still back-to-back ordering GCMS in batches, doctorkb? Hopefully that Brazilian clearance gets dealt with relatively quickly over there.

 

[Stumpedmom]

Canadian Tire was really my only option as well.... I will say though that they did suggest I take my car to the dealer for DRLs before having them do it, sometimes on newer models its as easy as installing a fuse which they will do for little charge. Unfortunately mine was ONE YEAR too old!

Crappy Tire as I prefer to call it is the ONLY one authorized by RIV to do their inspections, for the safety and etest you can use ANY mechanic that you want to !!!

 

[ddobro2]

Ok, so not crystal clear on visitor records, but if you were given a visitor record, study permit, and I'm guessing a work permit, you have that 8-digit client ID (four digits, a dash, followed by four more digits) on that document. Essentially, you have a Client ID if you have any previous dealings with CIC. I already had one because I had a study permit before being sponsored by my husband. You could also use the receipt number that was issued if you paid your fees online to identify yourself to Buffalo.

People know where they are in the process "whether they get an AOR or not" because they are likely signed up on e-CAS tracker, which sends them a message when their e-CAS profile has been updated by CIC and/or they have ordered GCMS notes which show in much greater detail the kinds of actions taken, and not yet taken, on their file at the visa office.

Kinda lost on the last part - Are you saying you're still having trouble crossing the border even with the 12-month visitor record?

Well this is the problem as I don't really understand the process: what Client ID number should I give them since I didn't get one yet? My wife got one for sponsoring me, but all that really tells her that she's been approved to sponsor me, and that my file is sitting in Buffalo. This is where I'm having trouble understanding where people on this forum seem to know where they are in the process whether they get an AOR or not.

As for my visitor record, after we got married last December, and after we finished gathering stuff together to send the application off, my wife and I both crossed into Canada, and we told the border agent there that we were married, that we've filled out all the paperwork, and even showed our receipt for the immigration fees that we paid for. That was when the border agent stamped my passport, and issued me a 12 month visitor record.

As for my 'visitor status', I'm a US citizen just visiting my wife in Canada.

 

[doctorkb]

Are you still back-to-back ordering GCMS in batches, doctorkb? Hopefully that Brazilian clearance gets dealt with relatively quickly over there.

That's the plan. I should have the new batch within the next week. Since there's no PPR yet, we'll be requesting at least one more when the new ones arrive.

The Brazilian clearance (so far) was straightforward. You can get the police certificates online. We then had to pay a translator (previously posted about) to translate them -- she had them done and certified in less than 24 hours.

I forwarded the electronic version to Buffalo. Will send them the hardcopy "originals" as soon as Canada Post gets them to me from the translator in Toronto... unless we've already received the PPR and the passport has been returned to us. Given the speed of Canada Post, I wouldn't be surprised by that, if Buffalo accepts the electronic copies.

Incidentally, Buffalo also asked us to update Schedule 1 Question 15 -- about addresses where you have lived. The challenge in completing this form is that my wife has been in Brazil and Canada on short-term visitor permits and her official residence rarely changed (and never was outside the US). So we used the "official" ones as the answer. Apparently, since that didn't jive with her list of month-by-month activities, they wanted it updated, and that is also why they wanted the Brazil certificates.

Sigh... we'll see what comes of all this. I'm going to be VERY glad when it's all over and we're just counting down until citizenship application!

 

[210045803]

Wow, thats Awesome, Congratulation.

But what those NAFTA means and who can be eligible.

Nafta is for US and Mexican citizens looking to work in Canada. They do not need an LMO if they fall under the professions listed (there are a lot of professions). I would post the links with more info but I'm not on my home pc now...if you can't find it on google or the cic website I'll post it later

 

[mjh49783aa]

Ok. I got it now. I've emailed Buffalo a few days ago, but I had no Client ID to give them at that time. It didn't even occur to me to email Buffalo using my receipt number, though. OTOH, I'm a bit weary of emailing them again though as I don't wish to make someone upset at me.

I have checked my application status using my receipt number with e-CAS, and yep, it's still sitting in a pile in Buffalo, waiting to be touched.

As for the last part, actually, the visitor record has made crossing into Canada to visit my wife considerably easier. (it even says on my visitor record that I've applied for my PR) Back when my wife and I were still dating, I had more questions asked of me when crossing, and they advised me to bring with me a copy of my lease, and some rent receipts, bills, etc.... so that I can prove I had ties back to the US. I'm still collecting them just in case they want to ask, but at this point, they just ask if I'm bringing in alcohol or tobacco, and that's largely it. (though last time I came in, the border agent asked all the standard questions)

I have read here and there on this forum, where some people that got visitor records were looked at with more scrutiny, and even to the point where they might get three months, rather than six or 12 months. However, I guess it has to deal with the circumstances of how they got it, who they are, where they're from, etc.... instead of the fact that they've got it.

Ok, so not crystal clear on visitor records, but if you were given a visitor record, study permit, and I'm guessing a work permit, you have that 8-digit client ID (four digits, a dash, followed by four more digits) on that document. Essentially, you have a Client ID if you have any previous dealings with CIC. I already had one because I had a study permit before being sponsored by my husband. You could also use the receipt number that was issued if you paid your fees online to identify yourself to Buffalo.

People know where they are in the process "whether they get an AOR or not" because they are likely signed up on e-CAS tracker, which sends them a message when their e-CAS profile has been updated by CIC and/or they have ordered GCMS notes which show in much greater detail the kinds of actions taken, and not yet taken, on their file at the visa office.

Kinda lost on the last part - Are you saying you're still having trouble crossing the border even with the 12-month visitor record?

 

[Trish1982]

Well, we got a letter today stating In order to Expedite the processing of our application, our file has been sent to Los Angeles.
says not to contact Buffalo anymore, and not to contact LA for 90 days within the date of the letter. Dated September 8th.
It took 2 weeks for the letter to get to us!! Woooaaah....so that means, they've been working on it for 2 weeks (I HOPE!)

 

[ahassa5]

Finally some good news!! Wife just got a Request for RPRF so I paid right away online. It says not to mail it to CPC-M if I've paid online, but should I let Mississauga/Buffalo know that it's been paid?