+1(514) 937-9445 or Toll-free (Canada & US) +1 (888) 947-9445
SaugaBoss so sorry to hear about that. That's insane. Try to be positive. The 20 months is probably the maximum time needed to finish checks. You have a clear background and you've lived in the States your entire life so hopefully it's very quick. Try to take a deep breath!
 
im complaining to SIRC.... so Canada's security is relid on CSIS who doesnt even know the gender of the person who's background check they r doing WOW realllllll smart >:(
 
Vervain, I'm sorry to hear that you are STILL dealing with problems with immigration, when you have already been approved! So stupid!

And Sauga, that is freaking ridiculous! I'd like to write them a letter and complain too about the whole process! This is freaking ridiculous!
 
Dear Friends

I have a question .

If I a temporary residence of Canada can I apply via Buffalo Visa office ? or only US citizen can apply outlan Buffalo ?
 
i know it was reallyyyyyy bad news on top of that they said it can take up to 20 months for applicants from USA. so basically idk if my baby will be born in Canada...if it takes 20 months im going to have to live in the USA alone without my husband >:( >:( >:(

i dont know anyone on this forum who been waiting for more than 1 year due to CSIS background check... i did write a complaint to sirc and faxed it over last night, Dec 1 im going to contact my MP bc he told me to follow up in December. the CIC also told my MP its in background check with CSIS but it wasnt until Oct 27! >:(
 
poor Sauga i feel your pain on my side nothing for the whole week... monday i will be back in Canada away from my sweetie and back to work and fighting immigration idiotic system
 
Still no news here.
Debating ordering the CAIPS notes or whatnot -- my only hesitation is that I've heard this can slow you down in process... anyone know?
 
Ordering CAIPS notes does not slow down ur file. They are the notes that the IO puts in the computer system about your file. Ordering them does not require holding your actual file just accessing the computer. I just ordered mine and the request is sent to Ottawa not Buffalo. So no need to worry about slowing things down. Also it only costs 5.00 to order them if you are in Canada. I have heard it take about 4 weeks to get the copy. simple 1 page form sign and include a check or money order.
http://immipedia.ca/Ordering_FOSS_and_CAIPS_notes link to ordering information

send to this address
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Access to Information and Privacy Coordinator
Narono Building
360 Laurier Avenue West, 10th Floor
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 1L1
 
pmary said:
Dear Friends

I have a question .

If I a temporary residence of Canada can I apply via Buffalo Visa office ? or only US citizen can apply outlan Buffalo ?

Yes, if you meet the requirements. You can apply via Buffalo if you have been lawfully admitted to Canada or the United States for a period of at least one year.

That means you need to have been in Canada for a minimum of one year at the time of your application and you need to have been been admitted on a visa that was at least one year in duration. That is what is meant by "lawfully admitted for a period of at least one year."
 
Well, I'm off to start my journey towards the border today and will land tomorrow early afternoon. I'll let you all know how it goes once we get internet up in the new house. Thank you all for advice and understanding through this crazy time in all of our lives.

I hope everyone has a great week!
 
pmary -

If you apply via Buffalo - there's always a chance that you may be called for an interview. If you are, this interview will take place in the US. Do you hold a passport from a country that allows you to enter the US without a visa? Or would you require a visa to visit the US? If you require a visa, then I would recommend against going through Buffalo. A few people on this board were unable to attend their Buffalo interviews (because the US would not grant them a visit visa) and they had to abandon their applications and start complete from scratch as a result. Canada will not move your interview to a different country.
 
received my visa from Fort Erie in the mail today!, Probably going to go land on Wednesday!
 
does anyone remember what the percentages were for Buffalo processing times?

like 30% is 4 months...what was the rest
 
I thought it used to be:

30% - 4 months
50% - 6 months
80% - 10 months

But I could certainly be mistaken...
 
quoted from Kerianne...
Still waiting to get the letter to see exactly what it reads. I'm a littler erked at my "friends" right now too.
Since high school as anybody knows, you lose a lot of contact with people and close friends don't become so close anymore. I lost a couple of close friends when I moved to Canada, and it sucks because the people that would probably provide the best letters of declaration for me don't even talk to me anymore barely. So after posting a thread on facebook asking for letters and statements and having only a few people reply is VERY irritating. I'm not very close with my family, and the ones that I am already added stuff into my initial application. I am stressing out because I feel like I'm not going to have enough to prove the IO otherwise. I hope that he/she will. I am thinking about including this in my letter to the IO dicussing that I have a very small circle of friends and family, and hopefully that will be enough?

Kerianne, I suggest you follow up in a more personal way with your friends regarding those letters of declaration. I'm not sure how you put it on facebook but if it was just in your status it could very well be the case that they assume someone else will come through for you.

When I asked my family members they were very concerned about not knowing what to write and add to that it was a government document so I think they were a bit intimidated. But when I explained the purpose and how important it was given the conjugal class we applied in they understood and were (some still reluctantly) willing to help.

Maybe if you called those one or two close friends you lost when you moved to Canada (a) they would be glad to hear from you and (b) would be willing to write one given that you are required to provide more evidence in order to get your application approved.

What other evidences have you come up with, by the way?