US outland applicants' thread :)

[OhCanadiana]

Did you explain any of your plans in your letter? If not, it may help to elaborate a bit to include your plans/checklist for your move so they see you've thought about it in detail.

CIC seems to be increasingly asking for details on this...

 

[OhCanadiana]

Congratulations

avocadosandcheese on being able to focus on starting life in Canada now
and alf+jlh for your PPR

You now have an extra reason to celebrate Canada Day ​

 

[alf+jlh]

Congratulations

avocadosandcheese on being able to focus on starting life in Canada now
and alf+jlh for your PPR

You now have an extra reason to celebrate Canada Day ​

Thank you! That's very true! Now only if the the passport would come back my husband could have spent his first Canada day asa PR!

 

[Amoss]

thanks everyone! I definitely appreciate the tips! I hope to be sending stuff by Monday at the latest to prove our intent!

 

[Isometry]

Anyone know how long it's taking to get a PR card these days? I've got to go to Portugal in 2 weeks and I'm really hoping to have it before then.

 

[computergeek]

Anyone know how long it's taking to get a PR card these days? I've got to go to Portugal in 2 weeks and I'm really hoping to have it before then.

They are quoting 46 business days at the present time, so that's something like 9 weeks (oddly enough, almost exactly the same amount of time they quote for renewing a card).

My understanding is that all you need to do is show a copy of your COPR at the border when you return, explain your PR card is "in process" and they should allow you to re-enter. The specific section that covers this (ENF 4 "Port of Entry Examinations" - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/enf/enf04-eng.pdf) is 11.3:

BSOs at ports of entry have the discretion to authorize the entry of permanent residents, even in
the absence of documentation. If documentary evidence is not available, the BSO at Immigration
Secondary must establish the person’s permanent resident status through questioning and
checking the person’s status in FOSS. The status of persons who became permanent residents
before 1973 has to be verified by contacting the Query Response Centre at National
Headquarters at: QRC@cic.gc.ca.

Once a BSO is satisfied that a person is a permanent resident, the examination should be
concluded and the person should be allowed to enter Canada without delay.

So the PR card isn't strictly required.

 

[Isometry]

They are quoting 46 business days at the present time, so that's something like 9 weeks (oddly enough, almost exactly the same amount of time they quote for renewing a card).

My understanding is that all you need to do is show a copy of your COPR at the border when you return, explain your PR card is "in process" and they should allow you to re-enter. The specific section that covers this (ENF 4 "Port of Entry Examinations" - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/enf/enf04-eng.pdf) is 11.3:

So the PR card isn't strictly required.

Ugh. The officer at the border when I landed told me 6 weeks, and that I'd definitely have it way before the Portugal trip. He seemed new, though, which is why I was asking again. Good to know I can reenter without it, though.

Congrats to avocadosandcheese and alf+jlh!

 

[apstone]

So they updated the CIC processing times again. I am usually one for being able to just sit back and wait it out, however long it takes. Seems like a lot of people are coming through from January now, so that's good.

However, maybe some of you have more info on the information the CIC page shows us. Today, it says that the initial processing time is 82 days, and that they are working on applications received February 29th. This 2/29 date has not changed in several updating sessions, and I am wondering what date we are supposed to go off of to expect some movement to a VO.

I see that some users like Parker24 and some others from the spreadsheet have had movement, and that they applied in March. So...are we supposed to expect something at 82 days from application received, or when our date is around the same time as the date provided. 2/29 is like 4 months (~120 days) before today, so it is a big difference from 82. My application is 67 days old, so I am either about 2 weeks from movement or just half way through.....

I tend to lean towards the 82 day bit of it, seeing as some in March have had news. Also, doesn't really seem possible that they are still working on applications from 2/29 for 2-3 straight weeks

Any thoughts? Or are we all just speculating?

 

[avocadosandcheese]

So they updated the CIC processing times again. I am usually one for being able to just sit back and wait it out, however long it takes. Seems like a lot of people are coming through from January now, so that's good.

However, maybe some of you have more info on the information the CIC page shows us. Today, it says that the initial processing time is 82 days, and that they are working on applications received February 29th. This 2/29 date has not changed in several updating sessions, and I am wondering what date we are supposed to go off of to expect some movement to a VO.

I see that some users like Parker24 and some others from the spreadsheet have had movement, and that they applied in March. So...are we supposed to expect something at 82 days from application received, or when our date is around the same time as the date provided. 2/29 is like 4 months (~120 days) before today, so it is a big difference from 82. My application is 67 days old, so I am either about 2 weeks from movement or just half way through.....

I tend to lean towards the 82 day bit of it, seeing as some in March have had news. Also, doesn't really seem possible that they are still working on applications from 2/29 for 2-3 straight weeks

Any thoughts? Or are we all just speculating?

it doesnt seem to make much sense what they say online...my advice (and what it seems most of us have done) is go by the spreadsheets so you can get a better idea of actual timing...

 

[apstone]

yeah, i take more stock in the spreadsheets. just seems weird that they go to the trouble of having a regularly updating site that doesn't male any sense. bureaucracy lol.

on another note, I wanted to see whta you guys would do if you were me:

My application is straightforward and uncomplicated, except for one thing. I got arrested for being drunk in public about 1 year ago. Yeah, dumb thing to do, but these things happen, and at the time, my then-fiancee was going to apply to come down to the states, so I didn't really care. I was charged, but the charges were dropped the next day and I left without even paying a fine. However, it did come up on my FBI record. I know that it is not a big deal and that I won't get denied because of it, but I want to avoid any possible delays if they ask for the court records.

So I have 3 options:
1) Do nothing and respond to something if they ask. Assume that the VO will see it for what it is and not pursue it
2) Obtain the court records and hold on to them, so if they do ask for them, I can immediately send them
3) Obtain court records and send them to the VO when my file is transferred, so they have them to reference and do not need to contact me to send them

I am leaning towards #2, but I don't want them to request them then push my file to to the bottom of the pile. If I do #3, it might be overloading them with info they didn't request. Catch-22 situation I guess

What do you guys think?

 

[computergeek]

We received the sponsor letter today (via mail) approving my sponsor. They have transferred my file to Los Angeles.

Letter was dated June 21, 2012.

 

[OhCanadiana]

So they updated the CIC processing times again. I am usually one for being able to just sit back and wait it out, however long it takes. Seems like a lot of people are coming through from January now, so that's good.

However, maybe some of you have more info on the information the CIC page shows us. Today, it says that the initial processing time is 82 days, and that they are working on applications received February 29th. This 2/29 date has not changed in several updating sessions, and I am wondering what date we are supposed to go off of to expect some movement to a VO.

I see that some users like Parker24 and some others from the spreadsheet have had movement, and that they applied in March. So...are we supposed to expect something at 82 days from application received, or when our date is around the same time as the date provided. 2/29 is like 4 months (~120 days) before today, so it is a big difference from 82. My application is 67 days old, so I am either about 2 weeks from movement or just half way through.....

I tend to lean towards the 82 day bit of it, seeing as some in March have had news. Also, doesn't really seem possible that they are still working on applications from 2/29 for 2-3 straight weeks

Any thoughts? Or are we all just speculating?

My two cents...

Let's review step 2 as context (since we have facts about what those figures represent). The timing the publish for visa offices to complete step 2, is the timing it takes the VO to complete processing for 80% of the applications. If you dig a bit deeper, you can find the 20%, 30%, 50%, 70%, and 80% statistics are published for step 2. There is quite a bit of variation: for Buffalo Regional Processing Center, for example, 20% of cases were completed within 5 months, 30% in 5 mo., 50% in 7 mo., 70% in 9 mo., and 80% took 11 months to complete in 2011. This makes sense as some applications may be more complicated and therefore require additional intervention or more research to process for one reason or another or additional information requested either from the applicant/sponsor or other agencies.

There isn't as much info about the dates published for step 1. However, I think it's reasonable to assume that there's also a variation in the timing it takes to process various applications.

While we all wish to be in the 20%, unfortunately that can't be the case for everyone. Given that CIC asks that you contact them if it has been longer than the timing posted, it's reasonable for CIC publishes as step 1 timing is when they are done - or close to done - with a certain date. CIC doesn't want to be deluged by calls since it would just slow things down (or make application fees more expensive since they'd need to increase staffing and the fees are supposed to reimburse the costs) if everyone called as soon as they started the first application from a certain date. Therefore, they likely publish figures for step 1 that also represent when they are done - or close to done - with a given date.

In contrast, the spreadsheets and what people report can help you get a sense of the best case scenario. And, we all like to hang on to that hope which helps keep us upbeat. For example, I know some April applicants have received their sponsorship AORs and sponsorship approval. Knowing this can give other April aplicants hope that they too will get a decision soon and the wait may be wrapping up ... and, it can also help make sure that other April applicants make sure to check their mail and e-mail spam a bit more closely. However, much as everyone may hope that their application is next in line, I think we can all agree that's simply not possible. Therefore, the reality is that some applicants won't hear for a while even if they too applied in April.

Bottom line: the devil's in the details and taking the time to understand what the figures mean. There is going to be a difference between what CIC publishes and what the spreadsheets report by the very nature of the information and volume of applications. Both sets of info make sense and need to be considered in context to be helpful and provide insights. Unfortunately, none of us have that elusive crystal ball to determine when a particular application will be completed and neither the spreadsheets nor the CIC published timing will pinpoint that date. However, they will help you bracket the likely timing for your case.

Hope this helps

 

[OhCanadiana]

We received the sponsor letter today (via mail) approving my sponsor. They have transferred my file to Los Angeles.

Letter was dated June 21, 2012.

Congrats - it must be a relief to *know* for a fact

 

[OhCanadiana]

They are quoting 46 business days at the present time, so that's something like 9 weeks (oddly enough, almost exactly the same amount of time they quote for renewing a card).

My understanding is that all you need to do is show a copy of your COPR at the border when you return, explain your PR card is "in process" and they should allow you to re-enter. The specific section that covers this (ENF 4 "Port of Entry Examinations" - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/enf/enf04-eng.pdf) is 11.3:

So the PR card isn't strictly required.

The challenge can be in getting allowed on a commercial mode of transportation. If you are flying commercially, for example, they will NOT consider a CoPR as a proof of status that makes you eligible to be allowed to enter Canada. Therefore, the Canadian government suggests you get a travel document (which airlines and other commercial carriers are approved to consider as proof of eligibility) if you are traveling before you get your PR card on a commercial carrier.

HOWEVER, if you are visa exempt, the airline will likely to let you on the plane based on your visa exempt status (they will likely assume you are going as a tourist and not ask many questions).

Once you arrive in Canada - having convinced the commercial carrier to carry you or on private transportation - then you won't have any trouble at the border since your status as a PR gives you the right to enter Canada.

 

[cgagnon]

We received the sponsor letter today (via mail) approving my sponsor. They have transferred my file to Los Angeles.

Letter was dated June 21, 2012.

Just so you know Computer Geek all our files will remain in Ottawa only the Visa will be issued by LA.