Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[ddobro2]

Word

Unfortunately, this seems to be the way most call centres work these days, whether it be government or retail or whatever! :

Haha, I've seen others say much worse things about the CIC, both on this forum and elsewhere. I would hope they have better things to do than get offended by those of us who need to vent occasionally!
(Like say, oh, I dunno... maybe process applications or find "missing" docs? ;D )

 

[g-man]

So here's my update:

The hubs and I had a talk this weekend and decided that, even if I haven't gotten my PPR yet, I'm going to move in with him officially on December 9th. I guess this is called "dual intent" (which I need to research!)?

Hopefully we'll get the PPR sooner than that, since everything else seems to be done and the RPRF receipts are in the mail or already received, but we agreed we are tired of waiting and it's a good time for me to make the transition. It's a good time for me to leave my job, and we have a solid 6 weeks to get my stuff slowly transferred across the border. And winter is coming.... dun dun dunnnn....

I'll keep my apartment to the end of the month, so I'll have the same U.S. address until January 1, 2012, but I guess after that I'll have to list my parents' address as my U.S. address?

I also wondered how this will affect my official "landing" when my visa fiiiiiinally arrives.

Any advice I can get about finishing out my wait in Canada would be reeeally helpful! It just feels so good to know there's an end in sight, even if it's not the full satisfaction of official PR status, it'll be soooo nice to get to live with him after 5 years of wanting to but not being able to. Siiiiigh.

Hmm, I feel like I missed something here. I did read in one place about mailing some details to Buffalo, but re-reading the guide on CIC's site they said to mail everything to my sponsor, and then they send it off to Mississauga?? The latter is the track I was planning to follow -- is sending items to Buffalo necessary and/or does it speed up the process? I just paid my full $1040 fees today and dropped the completed receipt in with all of the sponsor and applicant paperwork. Didn't actually send it out today because I realized a few of the forms I had filled out a few months ago were changed! So I had to re-do those and wait for the wife to get home to sign them, blah blah. If I do need to end up sending soem details to Buffalo then maybe that was a blessing in disguise! Comments?

 

[Eddy070]

Buffalo show some more love as we all deserve to be happy.
The waiting games is no longer getting better!! Is like it been forever since anyone here gets any update or goodnews
This is really not what we accept since January Not sure why they all have to wait until BFD before opening files or issue the damn PPR.

 

[Eddy070]

Hmm, I feel like I missed something here. I did read in one place about mailing some details to Buffalo, but re-reading the guide on CIC's site they said to mail everything to my sponsor, and then they send it off to Mississauga?? The latter is the track I was planning to follow -- is sending items to Buffalo necessary and/or does it speed up the process? I just paid my full $1040 fees today and dropped the completed receipt in with all of the sponsor and applicant paperwork. Didn't actually send it out today because I realized a few of the forms I had filled out a few months ago were changed! So I had to re-do those and wait for the wife to get home to sign them, blah blah. If I do need to end up sending soem details to Buffalo then maybe that was a blessing in disguise! Comments?

Not so sure where you got the information from but you just have to go by the book....
The application has to be sent to Mississauga either by your sponsor with all required documents according to the checklist and the exact processing fee then upon approval on stage1 then it now be forwarded to the Visa office (Buffalo) for completion of the stage2.

If im missing something here someone can explain more. Goodluck

 

[g-man]

Not so sure where you got the information from but you just have to go by the book....
The application has to be sent to Mississauga either by your sponsor with all required documents according to the checklist and the exact processing fee then upon approval on stage1 then it now be forwarded to the Visa office (Buffalo) for completion of the stage2.

If im missing something here someone can explain more. Goodluck

Quoted the wrong post earlier :-[

mcmaster mentioned mailing the receipt for payment to both places. I also recall reading somewhere on CIC about sending paperwork to Buffalo, but I was going to ignore that since all other signs point to sending it all to ON as one.

Just trying to cover my bases because I've been through this on the other side of the border and I know that one tiny slip-up can cause a huge change in processing times -- and I want to do it right the first time! Thanks!

 

[doctorkb]

Quoted the wrong post earlier :-[

mcmaster mentioned mailing the receipt for payment to both places. I also recall reading somewhere on CIC about sending paperwork to Buffalo, but I was going to ignore that since all other signs point to sending it all to ON as one.

After your file has been transferred, Buffalo may ask for further documents. These are sent directly to them (NOT to Mississauga).

Also, if you chose to pay only the parts that were necessary for processing ($75 for sponsorship, $475 for principal applicant, etc. for additional applicants), but NOT the RPRF ($490), then Buffalo requests payment of that part prior to issuance of the visa. While the instructions are to send the receipt to Mississauga, some (many?) have found this process is made faster when it is sent to Mississauga AND Buffalo.

Something about the hand not talking to the fist, so to speak.

Eddy070: we got PPR today (Monday)! I think we're actually one of the longer-in-waiting ones, so that should be some good news...

 

[doctorkb]

Buffalo show some more love as we all deserve to be happy.
The waiting games is no longer getting better!! Is like it been forever since anyone here gets any update or goodnews
This is really not what we accept since January Not sure why they all have to wait until BFD before opening files or issue the damn PPR.

One thought: does your e-cas say "Medical results received." ? It seems they were having some issues with that part of our application -- once I faxed Ottawa RMO requesting that the medical be forwarded, it seems everything started to move (including the "Medical results received" showing up on our e-cas).

Looking at our GCMS notes, my suspicion about the correlation here was confirmed...

 

[g-man]

After your file has been transferred, Buffalo may ask for further documents. These are sent directly to them (NOT to Mississauga).

Also, if you chose to pay only the parts that were necessary for processing ($75 for sponsorship, $475 for principal applicant, etc. for additional applicants), but NOT the RPRF ($490), then Buffalo requests payment of that part prior to issuance of the visa. While the instructions are to send the receipt to Mississauga, some (many?) have found this process is made faster when it is sent to Mississauga AND Buffalo.

Something about the hand not talking to the fist, so to speak.

Eddy070: we got PPR today (Monday)! I think we're actually one of the longer-in-waiting ones, so that should be some good news...

Got it, thanks! I've paid everything so I'll just continue as usual!

 

[ddobro2]

Well, doctorkb just got PPR yesterday and I believe Ellan got it on Friday. They're actually speeding up over there. Just try to hang in there.

Buffalo show some more love as we all deserve to be happy.
The waiting games is no longer getting better!! Is like it been forever since anyone here gets any update or goodnews
This is really not what we accept since January Not sure why they all have to wait until BFD before opening files or issue the damn PPR.

 

[ddobro2]

If there's any info missing for anybody on the spreadsheet, could the relevant person let me know so I can add it?

 

[mcmasters]

Hmmm, no I don't know if the RCMP background check is done. I guess I assumed since my interview was waived that all that kind of stuff was done.

The Mississauga office should have my RPRF receipt by the end of the week, so I think I'll order the GCMS notes next week to see if there's anything else we can do to speed things along.

Hey, if Feb people are getting theirs now, maybe we'll get ours in November! That would be peerrrrrffeeeeect!

Do you know if your background check with the RCMP is done? I just applied for my GCMS notes to be certain, but according to what they've told our local MPs office twice now that's what is holding up my application. Might be the same for you.

On a happier note, I think I saw a few people who applied in February mentioning that they got their PPR in the past few days. Maybe that means it's just a matter of a few weeks for us March applicants!

 

[mcmasters]

This is extremely useful info, thanks!

In that case I'll list my hubs' address as my address, since that's where we'll be living permanently.

Others have mentioned getting emails related to their application and the process. I've never gotten an email related to my immigration from Buffalo or Mississauga. ? Even though I'm sure I included my email in my application. Does anyone know why that would be? So far everything has been received via snail mail, except the RPRF receipt (because it was done online).

You don't necessarily need to have a U.S. address when you do outland family class sponsorship. While inlanders are obviously living in Canada, not all outlanders are living abroad during their application. Some people, like me, were living in Canada before even filing the PR application. So you can simply change the address to your husband's address in Canada where I'm assuming you'll be living once you move. I wouldn't use the online system to update address. Just contact Buffalo directly. Buffalo may or may not ignore the email though, maybe someone else with experience could attest to that. You could also fax them - I think it's (716) 852-2477 - or mail them to inform them of the change. When you get the PPR email, you'd just send your passport, pics, etc. to the Fort Erie, Ontario address rather than to Buffalo. There is no real difference apart from that.

 

[AllisonVSC]

Also just a side note it's kind of a pain how many visa photos you have to get.. I mean, what was the point in sending pictures with the initial application if you just have to send more with the passport request.

I wondered the same thing and have thread on the forum that the pictures sent with the original application are attached to parts of your application and as insurance that the parts all match to the same applicant and that they affix the visa to the right passport. I'm not sure which parts exactly, but one on your medical for sure.

One of the new pictures will be on your PR card. I assume the rest are attached to the gov't files relating to your new status as a permanent resident.

 

[mcmasters]

I don't think you've added me to the spreadsheet, but maybe you want to wait until I get my GCMS notes so I can give more detailed updates?

So far the only concrete ones are, mailed app March 1, app was received March 31, they began processing my application July 11, 2011. Meds were requested July 11, 2011, and have been received, but I don't know the official date for that.

If there's any info missing for anybody on the spreadsheet, could the relevant person let me know so I can add it?

 

[mcmasters]

Could someone post the text of their PPR letter and include info about these pictures?

Today is the first I've heard about needing to send pics along with the passport when it's requested.

Would it be helpful for me to get the photos taken ahead of time so they're done when the PPR comes? Are they standard passport size photos or are they different? Do they need to be from a certain time frame? (I'm wondering if I can reorder prints of the application photos I had taken back in February, which I also used for the medical exam photos).

Again, I feel like everyone else knows this stuff but me. ??? It's great coming here and learning a lot, but the daily check-ins also make me increasingly anxious to hear something from CIC! Blurgh.

I wondered the same thing and have thread on the forum that the pictures sent with the original application are attached to parts of your application and as insurance that the parts all match to the same applicant and that they affix the visa to the right passport. I'm not sure which parts exactly, but one on your medical for sure.

One of the new pictures will be on your PR card. I assume the rest are attached to the gov't files relating to your new status as a permanent resident.