Thread for Outland LONDON, UK Applications!

[johare12]

Does anyone know the exact rules when it comes to volunteering under visitor status?

I understand it is not possible to do any kind of internship or anything. But I'm sure we can volunteer.

I've volunteered with various charities and local high schools but I am looking at volunteering at special events with the police, do you think this is allowed or is it not. I have no idea how the rules work!

 

[scottishmaple]

Does anyone know the exact rules when it comes to volunteering under visitor status?

I understand it is not possible to do any kind of internship or anything. But I'm sure we can volunteer.

I've volunteered with various charities and local high schools but I am looking at volunteering at special events with the police, do you think this is allowed or is it not. I have no idea how the rules work!

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Volunteer_Work-Canada

 

[johare12]

http://britishexpats.com/wiki/Volunteer_Work-Canada

thanks

 

[srehal]

Hey Srehal,

if you look in my signature indeed there is quite a few people who are still waiting to hear from CIC - me included ... my sponsorship approval was on the 13th of July, so pretty similar to yours... how did you find out when your file was transferred ? I have no idea for myself, and just assume that it is on the same day as the sponsor approval...

Unfortunately, you might have to wait for a little longer. If you look at the spreadsheet, you will see that people that are not from visa-exempt countries tend to wait a little longer, because of backgrounds checks where they need to liaise with other countries. In fact, there is a second thread for people going through London but not visa-exempt, and the average waiting time is longer. Of course - I hope you and your husband won't have to wait any longer, but just to be prepared...

Good luck in the process, and if you are not already in the spreadsheet and want to be included, feel free to add yourself in the corresponding spaces - the spreadsheet is open for all, and you can edit the information.

Cheers,
Sweden

Hi Sweden,

Thank you for the great advice. How can I fill in my details in the spreadsheet? Its unfortunate that it takes so long. The CIC website says the processing will take 8 months (for 80% of applications), whereas the UK website cites 6 months. I hope he is here with me soon....fingers crossed

 

[srehal]

Hey Srehal,

if you look in my signature indeed there is quite a few people who are still waiting to hear from CIC - me included ... my sponsorship approval was on the 13th of July, so pretty similar to yours... how did you find out when your file was transferred ? I have no idea for myself, and just assume that it is on the same day as the sponsor approval...

Unfortunately, you might have to wait for a little longer. If you look at the spreadsheet, you will see that people that are not from visa-exempt countries tend to wait a little longer, because of backgrounds checks where they need to liaise with other countries. In fact, there is a second thread for people going through London but not visa-exempt, and the average waiting time is longer. Of course - I hope you and your husband won't have to wait any longer, but just to be prepared...

Good luck in the process, and if you are not already in the spreadsheet and want to be included, feel free to add yourself in the corresponding spaces - the spreadsheet is open for all, and you can edit the information.

Cheers,
Sweden

Sweden,
My application was confirmed to be transferred by an email that was sent to my legal representative (I used one in my case), however nothing came to me directly,
Cheers,

 

[blueboom]

I was approved as a sponsor today for my spouse, meaning that our file should be transferred to London this week! I can't wait for the waiting to begin, hahahaha.

I think I have to sit down and look at the London spreadsheet good and hard before I screw it up.

 

[srehal]

I'm so tired of waiting. It seems July sponsor approvals haven't even been touched yet. This is ridiculous. They are basically punishing us for finding mates in different countries. If they say 6 months, it should dealt within these timeframes. Its ridiculous, they need to realize that they need to move things along, each file concerns a couple that is probably in high anxiety/anguish from being apart, and they make it worse by leaving so many questions unanswered, or leaving us out of the loop.

I wonder if all visa offices are dealing with delays? Are these delays in London a normal thing, or is it just recent? I wonder if the new spousal residency rules are delaying everything for everyone?

Everyone is in my thoughts and prayers, and I feel like I'm not alone, and I feel, we will all get through this, but the make is so darn difficulty,

Cheers,
Sonia

 

[R151NG5UN]

I'm so tired of waiting. It seems July sponsor approvals haven't even been touched yet. This is ridiculous. They are basically punishing us for finding mates in different countries. If they say 6 months, it should dealt within these timeframes. Its ridiculous, they need to realize that they need to move things along, each file concerns a couple that is probably in high anxiety/anguish from being apart, and they make it worse by leaving so many questions unanswered, or leaving us out of the loop.

I wonder if all visa offices are dealing with delays? Are these delays in London a normal thing, or is it just recent? I wonder if the new spousal residency rules are delaying everything for everyone?

Everyone is in my thoughts and prayers, and I feel like I'm not alone, and I feel, we will all get through this, but the make is so darn difficulty,

Cheers,
Sonia

Hey,

It looks like a lot of the VO's with the quicker processing times (ND, Sydney, Manilla, Beijing and some of the U.S VO's) have processed the majority of May and a lot of June but not all of June. July approvals seem to have been really screwed badly, they have been doing May and June since beginning of September and they still have not finished with them properly. On our spreadsheet about 1/3 of the July approvals have been done but it just seems to have gone so slow.

What concerns me is this, although stage 1 has improved a lot since summer time this year, stage 2 hasn't!! it has become a lot slower which means any improvement on stage 1 times wont make a difference because it will be held up for a longer period at stage 2 as July approvals are seeing now.

Also another thing that is really annoying is how useless ECAS is and how unreliable it is and makes people worry and panic a lot more, as some people are actually in process or have DM before ECAS shows anything. ECAS is a good idea but it needs to be updated regularly and needs to be accurate and reliable, at the moment it is a joke!

This stage is unbelievable pain and so much frustration. Just hoping for a speedier process for everybody.

 

[Sweden]

Hi Sweden,

Thank you for the great advice. How can I fill in my details in the spreadsheet? Its unfortunate that it takes so long. The CIC website says the processing will take 8 months (for 80% of applications), whereas the UK website cites 6 months. I hope he is here with me soon....fingers crossed

Hey srehal,

I have added you based on your sponsorship approval date, you can find your name just under mine. I don't know when you sent your application and when it was received in Mississauga, so feel free to add these in the spreadsheet (the link is in my signature).
Good luck,
Sweden

 

[Sweden]

I was approved as a sponsor today for my spouse, meaning that our file should be transferred to London this week! I can't wait for the waiting to begin, hahahaha.

I think I have to sit down and look at the London spreadsheet good and hard before I screw it up.

Welcome to stage 2 and congrats on the stage 1 approval! Hope the second part goes quickly for you!
Good luck,
Sweden

 

[Sweden]

I'm so tired of waiting. It seems July sponsor approvals haven't even been touched yet. This is ridiculous. They are basically punishing us for finding mates in different countries. If they say 6 months, it should dealt within these timeframes. Its ridiculous, they need to realize that they need to move things along, each file concerns a couple that is probably in high anxiety/anguish from being apart, and they make it worse by leaving so many questions unanswered, or leaving us out of the loop.

I wonder if all visa offices are dealing with delays? Are these delays in London a normal thing, or is it just recent? I wonder if the new spousal residency rules are delaying everything for everyone?

Everyone is in my thoughts and prayers, and I feel like I'm not alone, and I feel, we will all get through this, but the make is so darn difficulty,

Cheers,
Sonia

Hey Sonia,

you're definitely not alone, and I hope it will come soon for you! We are considered a "fast VO" and it's really frustrating, I don't even want to start thinking about waiting time of 15 to 26 months ( quite a few VO on the list from CIC state that!)... but I agree - it's frustrating not to have any information, apart from the stated 8 months from CIC... if it was something "fixed" ( everybody 8 months) then at least we would know what to expect - but the "maybe tomorrow I will hear from CIC" is not a fun game to play.
it seems that London has been pretty consistent in dealing with applications in 7 to 8 months (that's to complete 80% of the applications, so some get done before that), nothing new there... but the spreadsheet can give you a better idea of course.

I'll keep my fingers crossed for you - and the few others that are left without information from CIC...
Cheers,
Sweden

 

[FuzzyFace]

Hi everyone,

It's comforting to see that we're not the only ones pulling our hair out in frustration at the delays in processing. We can't plan anything at the moment until we get news on my COPR. We have to move out of our flat, quit our jobs, sell our cars and ship our possessions, not to mention saying goodbye to friends and family, but we don't dare do anything until we get my COPR. We were hoping to be in Canada for Christmas but we have no idea when we will be able to leave England.

I've just sent an email enquiry through the CIC website but I'm not hopeful of getting a response anytime soon. Hoping they process a few more COPRs this week though.

Best wishes to everyone else who's waiting for news!

 

[Sweden]

Hi everyone,

It's comforting to see that we're not the only ones pulling our hair out in frustration at the delays in processing. We can't plan anything at the moment until we get news on my COPR. We have to move out of our flat, quit our jobs, sell our cars and ship our possessions, not to mention saying goodbye to friends and family, but we don't dare do anything until we get my COPR. We were hoping to be in Canada for Christmas but we have no idea when we will be able to leave England.

I've just sent an email enquiry through the CIC website but I'm not hopeful of getting a response anytime soon. Hoping they process a few more COPRs this week though.

Best wishes to everyone else who's waiting for news!

Hey FuzzyFace,

welcome to the forum! indeed at least here we can share the frustrations...and the waiting.... From the spreadsheet it seems like you had a "short" ( compared to most people who applied at the same time) first stage, maybe London is processing applications based on the dates they were initially received in CIC and not when they get to London ? I have read that theory for other VOs, maybe it's true for London as well. Hope you hear soon.
Best wishes,
Sweden

 

[scottishmaple]

Sweden, saw your change on the spreadsheet....getting excited for you!!!!!...lol Did Tracker notify you of a change or you find out yourself?

 

[Sweden]

Hello!

So - my application still only says "application received" but there is a new line on ecas stating "Home address:Vancouver, BC, Canada"!! so I take it as a good sign that they have opened my application (i put myself "in process" on the spreadsheet as of today, even if it doesn't say anything!) - as Vancouver is what we indicated as our final destination on the application!
I'm quite nervous about it, thinking that maybe it's the end, maybe not....
Sweden