US outland applicants' thread :)

[keesio]

It's a bit of a slap in the face when other VO offices do everything in 1/3 the time.

Which visa offices are quicker? I always thought CPP-Ottawa for standard US applicants (no red flags) have some of the best timelines out there.

 

[Panamai]

Which visa offices are quicker? I always thought CPP-Ottawa for standard US applicants (no red flags) have some of the best timelines out there.

Mississauga, Paris, Sao Paulo, Manila, Tel Aviv, Rome, Sydney.. just to name a few. They aren't the standard for US applicants, but quite a bit faster it seems.

 

[keesio]

Mississauga, Paris, Sao Paolo, Manila, Tel Aviv, Rome, Sydney.. just to name a few. They aren't the standard for US applicants, but quite a bit faster it seems.

I suppose if you look at the overall listed time that CIC has posted for CPP-Ottawa. But it is common knowledge that US applicants are in a different queue

 

[fruitball4u]

Right there with you. I haven't been waiting as long as you, but I'm so tired of waiting to start my life that I'm experiencing major depression. Everything is hinging on them approving my PR. It's a bit of a slap in the face when other VO offices do everything in 1/3 the time. Feigning happiness for those who are blazing through is becoming increasingly difficult when I know how much longer I have to wait.

Hang in there! You're not alone!

I'm right there with you, friend. I applied May 19th, and seeing people after us already in process is a real kick to the face. It's just so frustrating and leaves us wondering what we did wrong (nothing) and why they got so lucky when we didn't (who knows). Hell, I applied to change my work permit to a visitor permit back at the beginning of May and am STILL waiting on an answer. When I applied, the wait was around 50 days. I should have had an answer this week. Then a few days ago, the wait jumped up to over 115 days. This whole "not knowing" if I can stay in Canada while waiting on my PR is giving me a damn ulcer.

I'd also like to be able to leave the country - but don't want to do that until I've either gotten my extended visitor permit or gotten PR. I just got engaged a month ago and we can't even plan our wedding because we have no clue how long I'm going to be stuck waiting around.

I wish that CIC employees had to take a course in compassion, because this rat race is really infuriating and demeaning.

Ugh. Anyway. Sorry for the novel, just wanted to commiserate with you a bit. Let's just keep all of our fingers crossed that we get approved quickly and painlessly.

 

[Sunset0505]

I read that when cases go "In Process" going to DM won't be long...well we went in process 23JUN2015 and nothing...what kind of time frame do others have between "In Process" and DM?

 

[Ontariobat]

I read that when cases go "In Process" going to DM won't be long...well we went in process 23JUN2015 and nothing...what kind of time frame do others have between "In Process" and DM?

It took me 11 days, it took others over a month. Some people got their CoPR without a DM notice. Maybe worth another attempt at the call centre just to see if they can give you an update?

As for the people waiting, I really sympathize. I lost sleep, didn't know if the application would go through or not, we couldn't move out of this awful basement apartment we're living in, my work permit expired, etc. That said, waiting since May is pretty much nothing. You guys should really try to leave ecas alone for another 3-4 months. My process took 19 months for a seemingly frustrating officer given how complete my application was and how similar it was to other people's that breezed on through. I would go in expecting 9 months to a year and if it's less then that's a bonus. I expected around a year when I submitted my application even though the month prior it had said 11 months was generally the longest you'd wait.

 

[Panamai]

I suppose if you look at the overall listed time that CIC has posted for CPP-Ottawa. But it is common knowledge that US applicants are in a different queue

I'm not going on the CIC posted times; I'm going on what I've seen in these forums. Check out the 2015 spreadsheet and you'll see what I mean. US applicants nearly always go to Ottawa for processing. I do know that. But, they aren't given any sort of preferential treatment.

 

[Majromax]

I read that when cases go "In Process" going to DM won't be long...well we went in process 23JUN2015 and nothing...what kind of time frame do others have between "In Process" and DM?

I'm not sure that anyone here can really say for your application, since as I recall you're being processed in LA rather than Ottawa.

 

[Brewbrew85]

I read that when cases go "In Process" going to DM won't be long...well we went in process 23JUN2015 and nothing...what kind of time frame do others have between "In Process" and DM?

I'm starting to think "in process" might not mean anything more than just that "they have your file and will get to it when they get to it". I filed May 28, 2015, got SA and already "in process" for 2nd stage. Seems a bit too quick to me and since a lot of other's statuses changed to "in process" all on the same say, (Aug 6), I'm thinking maybe it doesn't mean much or it's something new. When I looked further where it says "The following tables will help you understand the status of your application" I clicked on the 1st link and for "In process" it says explanations are:

Application Received by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
We have received your application and will review it in order of receipt. We will send you an acknowledgement letter.

Documentation Verified by CIC
We are reviewing your application to make sure it is complete and that no documents are missing. We will return incomplete applications for resubmission.

An Interview May be Required
We will review the application and decide if an interview is necessary. If so, we will inform you in writing of the date, time and location of the interview.

So if I'm correct, simply them receiving my application would be considered "In process" according to this definition. Which, unfortunately, probably means I'm still in it for the long haul..

 

[rugrat907]

I'm starting to think "in process" might not mean anything more than just that "they have your file and will get to it when they get to it". I filed May 28, 2015, got SA and already "in process" for 2nd stage. Seems a bit too quick to me and since a lot of other's statuses changed to "in process" all on the same say, (Aug 6), I'm thinking maybe it doesn't mean much or it's something new. When I looked further where it says "The following tables will help you understand the status of your application" I clicked on the 1st link and for "In process" it says explanations are:

Application Received by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
We have received your application and will review it in order of receipt. We will send you an acknowledgement letter.

Documentation Verified by CIC
We are reviewing your application to make sure it is complete and that no documents are missing. We will return incomplete applications for resubmission.

An Interview May be Required
We will review the application and decide if an interview is necessary. If so, we will inform you in writing of the date, time and location of the interview.

So if I'm correct, simply them receiving my application would be considered "In process" according to this definition. Which, unfortunately, probably means I'm still in it for the long haul..

"In Process" actually does mean something - they are actually looking at your file and are working on it. It means you should have a decision made in the next 3-4 weeks and possibly a lot sooner than that...some go to DM in a few days and others take a month...but either way, your application is moving forward and you should be receiving even better news relatively soon.

If the line that is making you think it's going to be awhile is the part that says they process in order of receipt, then forget that..there are tons of examples of people from 2015 who have gotten DM and landed, while others from the last three months of 2014 were waiting. It seems to just be luck of the draw...

 

[Aquakitty]

"In Process" actually does mean something - they are actually looking at your file and are working on it. It means you should have a decision made in the next 3-4 weeks and possibly a lot sooner than that...some go to DM in a few days and others take a month...but either way, your application is moving forward and you should be receiving even better news relatively soon.

If the line that is making you think it's going to be awhile is the part that says they process in order of receipt, then forget that..there are tons of examples of people from 2015 who have gotten DM and landed, while others from the last three months of 2014 were waiting. It seems to just be luck of the draw...

This is exactly right based on what I've seen. Why would one application from 2014 still be waiting while people who applied in March and April are already landed? No one really knows, it could be just getting the wrong case officer. or some people have to go through extra security checks, or maybe some people's applications are too complicated, it's all just speculation.

 

[cali2bc]

I'm starting to think "in process" might not mean anything more than just that "they have your file and will get to it when they get to it". I filed May 28, 2015, got SA and already "in process" for 2nd stage. Seems a bit too quick to me and since a lot of other's statuses changed to "in process" all on the same say, (Aug 6), I'm thinking maybe it doesn't mean much or it's something new. When I looked further where it says "The following tables will help you understand the status of your application" I clicked on the 1st link and for "In process" it says explanations are:

Application Received by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)
We have received your application and will review it in order of receipt. We will send you an acknowledgement letter.

Documentation Verified by CIC
We are reviewing your application to make sure it is complete and that no documents are missing. We will return incomplete applications for resubmission.

An Interview May be Required
We will review the application and decide if an interview is necessary. If so, we will inform you in writing of the date, time and location of the interview.

So if I'm correct, simply them receiving my application would be considered "In process" according to this definition. Which, unfortunately, probably means I'm still in it for the long haul..

Well, I guess if our applications follow the same IP-DM time frame as previous applications have shown on the spreadsheets, then maybe we will hear more soon.

 

[Dave4236]

New to forum but glad to have found it.
I am close to retirement and making plans on a timetable. My spouse sponsored application was in March 2015. I was looking at the CIC times to process and figured it would be 3rd quarter 2016 to get everything done. I found the forum here and all the great information and learned that "in process" means something. I have checked my status and it is in that "in process" category when I check on the CIC site. This seems to mean this all may happen a whole year faster than I had anticipated. Am I reading this all correctly?

This also then gives questions about how fast a real move to Canada does have to happen. The actual medical physical was about a year ago and the submission was maybe a month after that. So what are the various rules about how long you have before you enter Canada?

Thanks

 

[IvanP]

Howdy,

My family landed two years ago, but I thought this would be the best place to ask this question:

If you've recently received a police certificate from the FBI, could you please let me know how long it actually took? And did they charge your credit card right when they got your fingerprints, or when they actually did the check? I know the website says 11-13 weeks, but my experience in the past is that it has always taken a bit less than the posted time, and I'm hoping that's still true.

I've had to request one as part of the interview process for a job with the Canadian government, and it appears that channeler certificates are not accepted for any security checks going through the Canadian federal government (not just immigration checks). So, if you find yourself applying for a job with the federal government, keep in mind that you'll want to plan ahead and get yourself a police certificate from the US when you find out you're invited for a job interview.

The application process for the job I'm looking at is expected to take until late October, and I sent my prints to the FBI a week ago, so hopefully I'll just make it...

Good luck to you all!

 

[cali2bc]

New to forum but glad to have found it.
I am close to retirement and making plans on a timetable. My spouse sponsored application was in March 2015. I was looking at the CIC times to process and figured it would be 3rd quarter 2016 to get everything done. I found the forum here and all the great information and learned that "in process" means something. I have checked my status and it is in that "in process" category when I check on the CIC site. This seems to mean this all may happen a whole year faster than I had anticipated. Am I reading this all correctly?

This also then gives questions about how fast a real move to Canada does have to happen. The actual medical physical was about a year ago and the submission was maybe a month after that. So what are the various rules about how long you have before you enter Canada?

Thanks

The general rule has been to land prior to your medical expiration date, but CIC has, in many cases, extended the medical date for people who were cutting it close, or who already had expired medicals. You should keep an eye on ECAS for a status change to Decision Made, as well as your mailbox for COPR in the coming days. I believe your COPR will have an expiration date, and you'll have to land before that date.