Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[cantor2537]

Wow, it's at August 22 now? I checked yesterday and it was still at "working on applications received Aug. 15" and I remember it being stuck on that for awhile.....so that's a nice jump. While technically that means that applications they received on Aug. 22 and before (so including yours) should have been processed, this isn't an exact science and I would just give them a bit more time. Most people receive the sponsorship approvals via email, so have your sponsor be on the lookout in his/her email, but it's not across the board. A letter may come to the sponsor's address as well (which should explain the delay). You said that you sent it via courier so that means you used the Robert Speck Parkway address......so I'm assuming they signed for the package and you were able to verify that online....so at least that's some comfort to know that it got there, right?

Yeah, I'm actually the sponsor, so I'm just checking my email religiously at my office. Have it signed on to gmail... It just made the jump to Aug 22 today. I just feel so helpless at this point. It's like my life is out in this void and I have no control over it.

 

[cantor2537]

Well I just called the Call Centre, and they were actually very helpful. They have received it, gave me my Client ID number, says it's still "in process". God, I just want this process to be over with!

 

[ddobro2]

This process makes one scrutinize every little thing doesn't it? No, I feel you. What you might want to do, just for some peace of mind, is simply add their domains to your safe email or whatever it's called list. In the AOR message, at the bottom it says, "This is an automated message. Please DO NOT RESPOND to this message. By providing your e-mail address on your application form, you authorized CIC to transmit your file and personal information to this specific e-mail address. Please ensure that this e-mail address is checked regularly. Any e-mails sent to you by CIC will end in “@cic.gc.ca” or “@international.gc.ca.” Please add these to your “safe senders” list in your email program and check the junk mail folder in case important emails get filtered. If CIC is advised that the e-mail address you provided is not functional or no longer exists, we will communicate with you by mail." (bold my emphasis).

Actually, I believe stumpedmom had a situation where they were sending emails but she never received anything and she did not know she got PPR until her MP told her. I don't want to freak you out though, lol.

Here's a question, and I ask only because up until I found this forum 2 or 3 weeks ago I never checked my spam mail folder, what happens if they email you something important and you don't respond? I don't think I've been sent my PPR, because I found this forum shortly after my MP's office contacted Buffalo a second time and was told my file was still in process and have been obsessively checking my junk mail just in case ever since. What if they requested a file or something via email though and I didn't get it because it went to my junk mail? Everything else we received prior to when my file was sent to Buffalo came via snail mail, so I just figured everything from Buffalo would as well. I know odds are low that happened, because they told the MP's office my file was only missing the RCMP background check, but it still freaks me out. Gah! I hope my GCMS notes and/or my PPR get here soon!

 

[ddobro2]

You are just beginning. There is a longer wait to go through with Buffalo, so please don't feel like that at this point, you will drive yourself crazy. You have to try to be zen because this is such a test of patience.

Yeah, I'm actually the sponsor, so I'm just checking my email religiously at my office. Have it signed on to gmail... It just made the jump to Aug 22 today. I just feel so helpless at this point. It's like my life is out in this void and I have no control over it.

 

[cantor2537]

Thanks... I'll do that. I have been checking my spam folder too but nothing there. At least I know they have entered information into their computer and that I sent it to the correct address. I'm such a freak when it comes to these things.

This process makes one scrutinize every little thing doesn't it? No, I feel you. What you might want to do, just for some peace of mind, is simply add their domains to your safe email or whatever it's called list. In the AOR message, at the bottom it says, "This is an automated message. Please DO NOT RESPOND to this message. By providing your e-mail address on your application form, you authorized CIC to transmit your file and personal information to this specific e-mail address. Please ensure that this e-mail address is checked regularly. Any e-mails sent to you by CIC will end in “ @ cic.gc.ca” or “ @ international.gc.ca.” Please add these to your “safe senders” list in your email program and check the junk mail folder in case important emails get filtered. If CIC is advised that the e-mail address you provided is not functional or no longer exists, we will communicate with you by mail." (bold my emphasis).

Actually, I believe stumpedmom had a situation where they were sending emails but she never received anything and she did not know she got PPR until her MP told her. I don't want to freak you out though, lol.

 

[Eddy070]

Yeah but your file has been at Buffalo for over 7 months now.....

Yeah, I see what you mean about the spreadsheet.....but I honestly think that cluster of February people is just a coincidence.....because I just don't see the immigration officers deciding to up and sample a bunch of people filing at the same time for extra background/criminality attention for the purposes of quality control. I dunno, I just don't.....but anything is possible. It is odd though that all of you are still orange.......did you all not get an AOR even after that long? Then there's poor buffalo-toronto and Eddy070.....the others I don't know about because they haven't been posting so they may have gone through the process but just never logged in to report. Anyway, I'm at 6 months (sounds like a pregnancy, don't it?) and getting really tired of this, so I can't imagine how the rest of you are faring..... :-\

We are still waiting and not sure what buffalo has in store for us...Just can't waiting untill this process is done...Finger crossed

 

[ddobro2]

There have actually been lawsuits against CIC regarding their use of email communications.

A lot of people here have been getting doc requests from Buffalo.....well these people who sued apparently also got doc request emails from their VOs but they never received the emails, thereby never seeing that deadline to "reply by 90 days," and consequently their PRs were refused. Fortunately for them, these rejections were overturned on appeal by a judge: http://www.visaplace.com/blog-immigration-law/canada-visa-news/immigration-refusals-overturned-on-appeal-as-cic-e-mails-never-received/

This process makes one scrutinize every little thing doesn't it? No, I feel you. What you might want to do, just for some peace of mind, is simply add their domains to your safe email or whatever it's called list. In the AOR message, at the bottom it says, "This is an automated message. Please DO NOT RESPOND to this message. By providing your e-mail address on your application form, you authorized CIC to transmit your file and personal information to this specific e-mail address. Please ensure that this e-mail address is checked regularly. Any e-mails sent to you by CIC will end in “ @ cic.gc.ca” or “ @ international.gc.ca.” Please add these to your “safe senders” list in your email program and check the junk mail folder in case important emails get filtered. If CIC is advised that the e-mail address you provided is not functional or no longer exists, we will communicate with you by mail." (bold my emphasis).

Actually, I believe stumpedmom had a situation where they were sending emails but she never received anything and she did not know she got PPR until her MP told her. I don't want to freak you out though, lol.

 

[g-man]

So do we get any acknowledgement from CIC Missassauga about receipt of the initial packet or should we just rely on delivery confirmation to know they go it?

 

[AmericaninQuebec]

Actually, I believe stumpedmom had a situation where they were sending emails but she never received anything and she did not know she got PPR until her MP told her. I don't want to freak you out though, lol.

Yeah, but I keep telling myself that odds are good I didn't get anything and miss it. I found this forum a week after my MP spoke with them in Buffalo, plus I got that email response from Buffalo after I'd started checking my junk mail folder religiously. I will go add those emails to my safe list though. Good idea. Thanks!

 

[ddobro2]

You have to rely on the signature, if you use a courier, or the tracking number, if you use Canada Post Priority Mail. CPCM won't acknowledge receipt. Your acknowledgement from them is effectively the sponsorship approval.

So do we get any acknowledgement from CIC Missassauga about receipt of the initial packet or should we just rely on delivery confirmation to know they go it?

 

[g-man]

Thanks for clarifying. You're welcome to use my profile details in your spreadsheet or I can PM them to you.

Sent: 2011-10-25
Rec'd: 2011-10-27

 

[cantor2537]

So do we get any acknowledgement from CIC Missassauga about receipt of the initial packet or should we just rely on delivery confirmation to know they go it?

You don't hear anything, but you can call the call center and if they've inputted your information into the system, they will give you your client number. That's the acknowledgement I got. They are processing my sponsorship application right now.

 

[Stumpedmom]

ddbro...you have that right, our file was transferred from Buffalo to Los Angeles, and we were not notified. My MP did the inquiry Aug 15, the day we got a response from Buffalo about the transfer. The email communication from Buffalo and then LA with my MPs office, stated that the PPR was issued on June 30th.

I really hate explaining that just because some people get really worried about their files, and then the MPs who follow strictly to the time lines, tell them that we are all liars, and making it up...even tho they take the spreadsheets into their offices....

 

[ddobro2]

Well it's fortunate you were on the ball and went through your MP. Crazy how Buffalo lets important information like that fall through the cracks for some people

ddbro...you have that right, our file was transferred from Buffalo to Los Angeles, and we were not notified. My MP did the inquiry Aug 15, the day we got a response from Buffalo about the transfer. The email communication from Buffalo and then LA with my MPs office, stated that the PPR was issued on June 30th.

I really hate explaining that just because some people get really worried about their files, and then the MPs who follow strictly to the time lines, tell them that we are all liars, and making it up...even tho they take the spreadsheets into their offices....

 

[Stumpedmom]

Well it's fortunate you were on the ball and went through your MP. Crazy how Buffalo lets important information like that fall through the cracks for some people

Especially when in July we sent 2 emails about updating the mailing address, and to get status of the file, and Buffalo responded to both, that we were in process, and that they received the address update. The mailing address was NEVER updated...even now after the DM based on the fact we sent it to Buffalo not Los Angeles....grrrrrr