Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[Rouge]

hello,
I was wondering what the Initial Assessment (IA) letter is? Do people under Family class sponsorship get one or is it for other categories and is it like the AOR, some people get it while other never get one?
Thanks

 

[ddobro2]

Can look like either of these two: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/august-2011-applicants-lets-get-the-waiting-game-started-t78342.0.html;msg1216693#msg1216693
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t41886.0.html;msg1032052#msg1032052

People under Family Class as well as the other streams get it.

First of all, everyone should get AOR, and if you don't without doing anything, they are required to send it to you upon request so just "force" one by emailing them. Yes, you may or may not get an IA letter. As I've said before, Buffalo has a great deal of inconsistency and variance. The IA is not like the AOR because it will typically come via postal mail rather than email and includes information that is very critical for you to know. Let's say your interview will be waived, as chances are it will be. I don't believe they send an IA just to notify someone that their interview was waived (didn't happen to me and never heard of it happening to someone else) but if you are required to submit another document or the RPRF, you will get that information (along with the statement that your interview was waived) in the IA.

hello,
I was wondering what the Initial Assessment (IA) letter is? Do people under Family class sponsorship get one or is it for other categories and is it like the AOR, some people get it while other never get one?
Thanks

 

[Rouge]

Can look like either of these two: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/august-2011-applicants-lets-get-the-waiting-game-started-t78342.0.html;msg1216693#msg1216693
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/-t41886.0.html;msg1032052#msg1032052

People under Family Class as well as the other streams get it.

First of all, everyone should get AOR, and if you don't without doing anything, they are required to send it to you upon request so just "force" one by emailing them. Yes, you may or may not get an IA letter. As I've said before, Buffalo has a great deal of inconsistency and variance. The IA is not like the AOR because it will typically come via postal mail rather than email and includes information that is very critical for you to know. Let's say your interview will be waived, as chances are it will be. I don't believe they send an IA just to notify someone that their interview was waived (didn't happen to me and never heard of it happening to someone else) but if you are required to submit another document or the RPRF, you will get that information (along with the statement that your interview was waived) in the IA.

THanks for info!

 

[AW2011]

It sounds like they're just confused as to why you still own a house with your ex if you're trying to sponsor your spouse. I can only imagine how quickly they read through files, and how little time is probably spent analyzing them in any depth. On the surface it does seem odd, but once you explain it, at least to me, it makes sense.

Is your file at Buffalo or was it transferred? If it was transferred you'll want to send it directly to the satellite office. Otherwise yeah, you'll forward the copies to Buffalo.

There was no transfer notice to us. I believe it's with Buffalo. The house I own with my ex is paid for. He's been spending most of his time in Thailand after the breakup of our common law relationship. We agreed that I get to stay in it as long as I pay for all the expenses of the house. He's keeping it as an investment(we're talking the property market in Vancouver). I thought rather than moving during the wait for my spouse, I would have my spouse with me first and look for our new home together. We're a same-sex married couple. My spouse is very particular about our new home.
I had the situation written up in our file for Buffalo. Apparently someone was not reading it there or didn't get it as the note read "check with officer"(obviously he/she couldn't decide). Just have to send them another pile of papers for this.

 

[ddobro2]

I wanted to add you to the spreadsheet but can't find a single post where you give your specific dates (unless you PMd this to me?). So when in June was it filed and received, transferred to Buffalo? The AOR was what day in August?

Hello everyone!
I am an early June applicant. My Buffalo spousal application has been showing "started processing" since early August with no "in process" showing. Just wondering if "in process" will have to show before PPR as some applicants of same timelines are getting PPR?
I had the impression that "in process" is the final stage of "started processing"?

 

[AW2011]

I wanted to add you to the spreadsheet but can't find a single post where you give your specific dates (unless you PMd this to me?). So when in June was it filed and received, transferred to Buffalo? The AOR was what day in August?

Thank you ddobro2. Here's our timeline so far:
June 06, 2011 - Filed with Mississauga
July 25, 2011 - Sponsorship approved(by e-mail) & transferred to Buffalo
August 26, 2011 - AOR(by e-mail) from Buffalo
Oct. 05, 2011 - Medical Results Have Been Received(Ecas)
Till Now - Application Received(Ecas)

 

[AmericaninQuebec]

There was no transfer notice to us. I believe it's with Buffalo. The house I own with my ex is paid for. He's been spending most of his time in Thailand after the breakup of our common law relationship. We agreed that I get to stay in it as long as I pay for all the expenses of the house. He's keeping it as an investment(we're talking the property market in Vancouver). I thought rather than moving during the wait for my spouse, I would have my spouse with me first and look for our new home together. We're a same-sex married couple. My spouse is very particular about our new home.
I had the situation written up in our file for Buffalo. Apparently someone was not reading it there or didn't get it as the note read "check with officer"(obviously he/she couldn't decide). Just have to send them another pile of papers for this.

That's unfortunate that you took the time to explain that you had an amicable split, and now you're essentially a tenant in your ex's house because it made good financial sense for both of you and your ex isn't even in the country anyway. Hopefully it will be quickly and easily cleared up for you!

 

[AW2011]

That's unfortunate that you took the time to explain that you had an amicable split, and now you're essentially a tenant in your ex's house because it made good financial sense for both of you and your ex isn't even in the country anyway. Hopefully it will be quickly and easily cleared up for you!

Thank you! We're working on it. Hoping at least the interview will be in Seattle which is closer for us instead of Buffalo if we do get the letter. Wondering anyone here had his/her interview in Seattle before? We were there last year for his visitor's visa after our marriage but it was not granted due to his tie in Canada(we didn't file yet then).

 

[kourts]

Is there a time of day that most people received there PPR emails or is it just random?

 

[ddobro2]

I once checked which day of the week was most common and found out it's totally random so I would extrapolate that time of day would be random as well.

Is there a time of day that most people received there PPR emails or is it just random?

 

[Ambber29]

Thank you ddobro2. Here's our timeline so far:
June 06, 2011 - Filed with Mississauga
July 25, 2011 - Sponsorship approved(by e-mail) & transferred to Buffalo
August 26, 2011 - AOR(by e-mail) from Buffalo
Oct. 05, 2011 - Medical Results Have Been Received(Ecas)
Till Now - Application Received(Ecas)

Do they go by nationality? MY husband is an indian. We received the letter saying that they will set the interview date in three to four weeks. It has been 5 weeks already and no letter. We filed in late August. What is your nationality if you do not mind me asking?

 

[AW2011]

Do they go by nationality? MY husband is an indian. We received the letter saying that they will set the interview date in three to four weeks. It has been 5 weeks already and no letter. We filed in late August. What is your nationality if you do not mind me asking?

My spouse's nationality is Chinese. Good luck to you both.

 

[AllisonVSC]

Allison et al, moved my UHaul of belongings up to my permanent residence in BC today! Thank you for all your help in figuring it out!

Next up, car exportation/importation. Eek! Luckily, CBSA officer told me how today.

Glad to hear it's done. Did you have any problems at all?

 

[g-man]

It seems like a lot of foreign nationals on temporary visas in the US are using the Buffalo office for Canadian immigration processing. Must be part of the reason why Buffalo is so slow..

 

[AW2011]

It seems like a lot of foreign nationals on temporary visas in the US are using the Buffalo office for Canadian immigration processing. Must be part of the reason why Buffalo is so slow..

Not just the ones living in US but also lots of them living in Canada are using Buffalo as it's faster than in-land. But looking at the cases that went through, I still think the American citizens are getting done a lot faster than the non-Americans from Buffalo.