US outland applicants' thread :)

[VAtoBC]

yes, many people are experiencing issues with signing into ECAS. if you have not received sponsor approval yet, then most likely you will not be able to sign in at all. generally, ecas does not start until AFTER sponsor eligibility. Receipt numbers generally do not work on ECAS, only File numbers and UCI#s, which are not created until the application is actually opened by CIC (unless someone had a previous application with CIC)

Also, many people are not receiving AORs now, so there's no use in expecting one to be sent. Lately, for most applicants, the first sign of communication from CIC has been the sponsor eligibility (SA) letter. It is common to wait around 60 days for SA, so you are well within the expected time frame. To see how others from your month are progressing, check out that month's thread. OR go on the CIC website to see what date of application they are currently processing. there's no reason to expect you will hear from CIC before your application date is listed online.

oh, and $1040 hardly covers the total cost of processing PR applications when labor, technology and office costs are considered. I doubt it even covers 0.1% of what CIC actually spends. in the grand scheme of things, and compared to applicants from other countries, US applicants have a pretty easy process.

Thanks for your response rhcohen2014. I've given CIC my email address, so is it safe to assume I'll receive the SA "letter" to which you refer via email? A friend is staying in my home in Canada while I'm "visiting" here in the USA, so I'll ask her to open any hard copy correspondence I may receive from CIC.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Thanks for your response rhcohen2014. I've given CIC my email address, so is it safe to assume I'll receive the SA "letter" to which you refer via email? A friend is staying in my home in Canada while I'm "visiting" here in the USA, so I'll ask her to open any hard copy correspondence I may receive from CIC.

most times, yes, the sponsor receives notification in email format, though CIC does like to keep people on their toes and randomly sends regular letters instead.

fyi, here's the link for sponsor processing. it's currently taking 53 days to process applications, and they are working on apps received before or on Oct.5, 2015. So if you sent your application in after that, it will still be some time before you hear anything. Also, the call center won't look into reasons for delays at all until you are PAST the processing date listed online.

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp

 

[ascouple]

Thanks for your response rhcohen2014. I've given CIC my email address, so is it safe to assume I'll receive the SA "letter" to which you refer via email? A friend is staying in my home in Canada while I'm "visiting" here in the USA, so I'll ask her to open any hard copy correspondence I may receive from CIC.

If you gave them an email, you will receive your SA (and presumably subsequent stages) by email. Other than things that require original documentation of course.

 

[IvanP]

Anyone able to use "Check your application status" on CIC website lately? I've been getting "no record" and today get error message that the page after the one where I agree to security policy is unavailable. I'm getting SOOO frustrated. Paid UPS $55.00 to get our package submitted before I left the country to be with my partner here in the USA over 40 days ago and still haven't even received AOR. My tax dollars at work?! Really pisses me off that people filing sponsorship applications for fraudulent relationships are causing such long delays for the rest of us, like my partner and I who have been together for FIVE years.

I don't think fraudulent relationships are a huge problem for CPP-Ottawa applications because they are coming from the US. Though Canada is, of course, light years better than the US, most Americans are too stubborn to realize it, so Canada hasn't needed to build a fence or worry too much about Americans pretending they are married to Canadians to migrate to the tundra to the north. 8)

CIC is just understaffed and underfunded.

 

[keesio]

CPP-Ottawa seems to be getting cases from a bunch of other visa offices to help with the load. But it shouldn't impact US applicants since they are in a separate queue it seems.

 

[BeShoo]

I'm aware of the Ottawa spreadsheet, just wondering if there was one specific for US applicants. Or is Ottawa specific to US applicants?

All U.S. applications are done by Ottawa, and they are getting some scattered cases from other offices, but it seems like maybe 90% of their work is U.S. applicants.

 

[chala]

Anyone able to use "Check your application status" on CIC website lately? I've been getting "no record" and today get error message that the page after the one where I agree to security policy is unavailable. I'm getting SOOO frustrated. Paid UPS $55.00 to get our package submitted before I left the country to be with my partner here in the USA over 40 days ago and still haven't even received AOR. My tax dollars at work?! Really pisses me off that people filing sponsorship applications for fraudulent relationships are causing such long delays for the rest of us, like my partner and I who have been together for FIVE years.

I recall not receiving any SA letter at first. When I enquired to Ottawa I found out they had sent me an email notification, but had my email address entered incorrectly, so I never did receive the approval. So give them a call and perhaps they can confirm your SA.

 

[missmatalini]

Thanks for your response rhcohen2014. I've given CIC my email address, so is it safe to assume I'll receive the SA "letter" to which you refer via email? A friend is staying in my home in Canada while I'm "visiting" here in the USA, so I'll ask her to open any hard copy correspondence I may receive from CIC.

Off topic here. Where in VA are you staying and where are you headed in BC?

My hometown is Virginia and I ended up in Kelowna B.C . . .

 

[EmSNYC]

Is there any direct experience of forum members applying from the US while living there but not being US citizens?

 

[rhcohen2014]

Is there any direct experience of forum members applying from the US while living there but not being US citizens?

yes, and that *appears* to be a reason an interview is called. i can't say 100% that's the specific reason, it just seems to be a "trend". applicants with interview are seeing a 12-16 month approval time, rather than the straightforward 6-8 month timeline.

 

[EmSNYC]

Thanks.
Well, that's a big difference. Nevertheless, I think I am a pretty straightforward case, so I will just sit tight and hope luck will assist me.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Thanks.
Well, that's a big difference. Nevertheless, I think I am a pretty straightforward case, so I will just sit tight and hope luck will assist me.

i think it also depends on where the applicant is from. i'd imagine how long it takes ottawa to obtain the proper security information from both countries factors into the delays. the way cic works is always a mystery, so there's always the chance it doesn't matter.

 

[EmSNYC]

I see. Well, fwiw I come from a visa-exempt country and I have lived / I live abroad for work reasons, so nothing shady/overly complicated there. Let's wait and see...

 

[keesio]

yes, and that *appears* to be a reason an interview is called. i can't say 100% that's the specific reason, it just seems to be a "trend". applicants with interview are seeing a 12-16 month approval time, rather than the straightforward 6-8 month timeline.

It is a potential trigger for an interview but not always. There have been a few I think who did not get an interview. If you are not a US citizen but you have a solid application otherwise, I think it is reasonable to expect decent processing times. Maybe not the fast-track 3-6 months that the US citizens see but 8-10 months is certainly reasonable to expect.

 

[VAtoBC]

Off topic here. Where in VA are you staying and where are you headed in BC?

My hometown is Virginia and I ended up in Kelowna B.C . . .

My partner lives in Danville, VA, where I am "visiting" at the moment. My home is in White Rock, BC, where we hope to live together after PR status is granted.