Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[Shirsho]

what is e-cas tracker

 

[muffy1]

Hi Everyone,

I am new to the forum. Just wanted to state what was going on with our application....maybe I'm looking for some encouragement....who knows?

I'm a US citizen, hubbie is Canadian. We filed outland. Applications received in Mississauga in October 2011, sponsorship approved December. Late December, received a letter from Buffalo stating we needed to pay ROPR fee and submit FBI clearance. First week in January mailed the document and receipt of online payment of fee. After over a month, sent an email last week to confirm receipt of documents. Received an email from Buffalo stating nothing was received. I am assuming it was lost in the mail. Received another FBI clearance document today and mailed overnight to Buffalo to arrive there tomorrow by noon. Just making our cutoff date in a few days.

How long do you think it will take to review this? The background check conducted stated that I had no criminal record. Do you think I can hope for a short review of this document or should I assume the worst? Let us assume everything is in order and my PR application gets approved. What should I expect the next steps to be?

Thanks for advice or maybe others have had similar circumstances?

 

[belee1985]

I am confused, I thought that Canadian offices don't place a stamp in passports anymore starting December 1st 2011? Why are people still requested to send in passports? Are these passports in question from countries that require visas to even visit Canada? If this is the case, then it would make sense. Otherwise, since US citizens don't require visas to visit Canada, I am confused as to why the embassies still request passports... Anyone have any idea?

Source:

Elimination of Counterfoils for Approved Permanent Residence Applicants from Visa-Exempt Countries
Summary

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will no longer issue a counterfoil to applicants approved for permanent residence from visa exempt countries. All approved applicants will continue to be issued a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document.
Background

Currently, all applicants approved for permanent residence, even from countries exempt from the Temporary Resident Visa requirement, are issued a counterfoil and seal in the passport that they are using for their initial travel to Canada to become a permanent resident.
Instructions

As of December 1, 2011, missions will no longer issue a counterfoil to applicants approved for permanent residence, if the “CNTRY OF ISS. OF TRAVEL DOC:” field on the COPR identifies a regular passport issued by the United States of America or a country identified in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations 190(1)(a) or (b) or 190(2)(b), (c), (d) or (e).

The Canada Border Services Agency’s Border Services Officers (BSOs) and Migration Integrity Officers in Canada and abroad will be advised of this change. BSOs will continue to evaluate individuals at the Primary Inspection Line and determine which persons are immigrating to Canada and refer those new immigrants to Immigration secondary for finalization of permanent residence status. In cases where the new immigrant is not finalized at the port of entry as required, staff should advise the individual to contact the CIC Call Centre for options to correct their status in Canada. The Call Centre will continue to follow their current procedures when contacted by immigrants who require finalization of permanent residence status.

 

[Quince777]

Sincere congratulations to all of those who have recently received their ppr!

 

[ddobro2]

That operational bulletin does say definitively that visa-exempt passport holders will not receive a counterfoil in their passport but it doesn't exactly say that in all cases applicants will be asked to submit only photocopies of the passport: "An officer may use discretion in determining whether it is necessary to see the original passport or whether a photocopy of all passport pages is sufficient." (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2011/ob348a.asp)

In any case, sometimes the visa officer isn't using his or her discretion so much as s/he's using a form letter that doesn't include that language for whatever reason. Unless you've got a trip coming up that will get in the way of submitting the passport within the time given, do you really want to go making copies of all the pages anyway and then hoping you didn't miss anything? I know it's not a good feeling to drop that thing into an envelope and put it in someone else's care, but I think sending the original passport book is the easier way to go anyway.

I am confused, I thought that Canadian offices don't place a stamp in passports anymore starting December 1st 2011? Why are people still requested to send in passports? Are these passports in question from countries that require visas to even visit Canada? If this is the case, then it would make sense. Otherwise, since US citizens don't require visas to visit Canada, I am confused as to why the embassies still request passports... Anyone have any idea?

Source:

Elimination of Counterfoils for Approved Permanent Residence Applicants from Visa-Exempt Countries
Summary

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will no longer issue a counterfoil to applicants approved for permanent residence from visa exempt countries. All approved applicants will continue to be issued a Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) document.
Background

Currently, all applicants approved for permanent residence, even from countries exempt from the Temporary Resident Visa requirement, are issued a counterfoil and seal in the passport that they are using for their initial travel to Canada to become a permanent resident.
Instructions

As of December 1, 2011, missions will no longer issue a counterfoil to applicants approved for permanent residence, if the “CNTRY OF ISS. OF TRAVEL DOC:” field on the COPR identifies a regular passport issued by the United States of America or a country identified in the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations 190(1)(a) or (b) or 190(2)(b), (c), (d) or (e).

The Canada Border Services Agency's Border Services Officers (BSOs) and Migration Integrity Officers in Canada and abroad will be advised of this change. BSOs will continue to evaluate individuals at the Primary Inspection Line and determine which persons are immigrating to Canada and refer those new immigrants to Immigration secondary for finalization of permanent residence status. In cases where the new immigrant is not finalized at the port of entry as required, staff should advise the individual to contact the CIC Call Centre for options to correct their status in Canada. The Call Centre will continue to follow their current procedures when contacted by immigrants who require finalization of permanent residence status.

 

[ddobro2]

https://ecas.carroll.org.uk/

what is e-cas tracker

 

[ddobro2]

Happens to plenty of people, doesn't necessarily mean anything. As far as what "updates" you get before being finalized, just look at the person who posted right before you. Everything is possible.

My address disappeared on e-cas today..Wonder what that means?...AOR is Jan 4, 2012 and haven't received an update as of yet...

 

[ddobro2]

Oh yes, pinklady had mentioned that recently London has just been sending out the COPR with no PPR at all.

OK so I have quite a strange update!

You may remember I posted that I hadn't received an AOR from Buffalo at all, not even anything from Mississauga!

Anyway, so I sent Buffalo a case specific enquiry to see if they had my application on the 6th February. Having heard nothing back, I went away skiing last week and mid week my eCas suddenly changed to decision made! I was like what the hey?! No AOR! No in process - just straight to that! I was a little worried it may have been bad news!

On my return from skiing, I had a knock on the door this morning and a Canada Post guy had an envelope for me from the High Commission in London! It was my COPR!!! My visa office was supposed to be Buffalo, which was confirmed by the call centre as I had been admitted to Canada for a year, but it seems I was sent to London to alleviate the backlog at Buffalo and be processed quicker! 4 ½ months in all!

I am still shocked now! Can't believe it is all over! Plan to land this weekend and celebrate with family and friends a lot! So even though I am not a Buffalo app in the end I wanted to say thanks to those I spoke to directly and for all the advice I have read on this post. I wish all of you who are still waiting a speedy approval.

Cheers.

 

[g-man]

Welp got an email this morning about my file being transferred to Seattle. I swear I picked LA for my local office, but Seattle will work too considering it is close to my new adopted home. Anyone been through Seattle before? E.g. processing times, interview likelyhood, etc?

 

[DCGelfling]

Hi everyone!

I married my sponsor in December, and we're in the process of putting together our app.

I just made an appointment for the medical exam, and they want us to have a Section A? Something about a green form with carbon copies or something, I think. I have my Appendix C, but I can't figure out what or where the Section A comes from. Am I doing this too soon, or are they thinking of a different kind of application?

The appointment isn't til Spring Break since I have to travel for the exam, so at least I have some time to catch up if I need to.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[ddobro2]

Just take the Appendix C that is on the last page of the Country Specific Information: United States form. The IMM 1017 (Medical Report: Section A) is used for non-excessive demand exempt applicants and is pretty much the most frequently used form by the DMP. When you show up with the Appendix C, they'll give you (and all of your family members undergoing the test, if applicable) the IMM 1017 (they have plenty of copies) to complete, so make sure you have the correct number of photos for these forms. If you look at the document checklist on the same form mentioned above, you'll see it asks for Copy 2 of the Medical Report-Section A that the DMP will sign and give to you when you undergo the medical examination. That's the "green form" you referred to. It has to be the original and it serves as proof you actually underwent the examination. The DMP sends Copy 1 to the Regional Medical Office assigned to his jurisdiction along with the medical results. Eventually (hehe) the VO requests the medicals from the RMO and assesses them as part of processing your application.

Hi everyone!

I married my sponsor in December, and we're in the process of putting together our app.

I just made an appointment for the medical exam, and they want us to have a Section A? Something about a green form with carbon copies or something, I think. I have my Appendix C, but I can't figure out what or where the Section A comes from. Am I doing this too soon, or are they thinking of a different kind of application?

The appointment isn't til Spring Break since I have to travel for the exam, so at least I have some time to catch up if I need to.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Midwest]

Hello everyone! Has anyone done the medical exam for outland sponsorship in Canada instead of the USA? I've recently found out that the exam is much cheaper in Canada than in States. Do you need to have a vaccination list when you there?

 

[cantor2537]

Welp got an email this morning about my file being transferred to Seattle. I swear I picked LA for my local office, but Seattle will work too considering it is close to my new adopted home. Anyone been through Seattle before? E.g. processing times, interview likelyhood, etc?

It'll probably be quick. We picked Seattle but our file got transferred to LA. If you're a US citizen, it's highly unlikely you'll get an interview.

Processing times at satellite offices are generally very short. We got RPRF request in 1 month after transfer (would've got PPR I'm sure had I paid all fees initially). After we paid our fees, three weeks later we got PPR.

 

[g-man]

I'm not too worried about getting an interview but you never know! My wife and I have only been married for 18 months now so it makes one wonder with the new rules & regs from CIC regarding conditional PR.

Anyways I hope that Seattle means faster processing like you say!

It'll probably be quick. We picked Seattle but our file got transferred to LA. If you're a US citizen, it's highly unlikely you'll get an interview.

Processing times at satellite offices are generally very short. We got RPRF request in 1 month after transfer (would've got PPR I'm sure had I paid all fees initially). After we paid our fees, three weeks later we got PPR.

 

[ddobro2]

Plenty of people, including me. Yep, it can be a lot cheaper. I was never asked for a vaccination list, and I don't think the majority of people have been. I don't see anything talking about immunization records on the DMP pages on CIC's website either. The only thing at all related is that when the DMP goes through the list of questions on the other form they use - IMM 5419, they will be asking you about all of your medical history, and for those questions which you give a positive response to, they'll follow up to ask details including the type of treatment and description of drugs used (they need the chemical or pharmaceutical name of the medication, not the proprietary or generic name). But of course medications are not the same as vaccines. I wouldn't worry about it unless your DMP specifically requested it.

Hello everyone! Has anyone done the medical exam for outland sponsorship in Canada instead of the USA? I've recently found out that the exam is much cheaper in Canada than in States. Do you need to have a vaccination list when you there?