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US outland applicants' thread :)

DanOCan

Star Member
Aug 21, 2013
122
9
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
14-04-2015
Doc's Request.
23-10-2015
AOR Received.
07-05-2015
File Transfer...
18-06-2015
Med's Done....
07-01-2015
VISA ISSUED...
03-12-2015
LANDED..........
10-01-2016
Joyce_tosf said:
I was wondering what experiences people have had crossing the border with an application currently in progress. By my calculations we should receive his FBI check back by mid-October, at the latest, and will send in our application as soon as it's received. He was hoping to visit me in Canada for our anniversary this Fall for about a week but I don't want to take any chances in case he isn't let through by customs. Can anyone let me know what they've brought with them as proof of ties to their home country. He will definitely be going back home and has no intentions to stay while we wait for our application to process.
My wife came to visit me this summer and she had no issues crossing the border. They asked her the standard questions: purpose of visit, length of stay, etc. She never had to produce anything, not even her return ticket. I think with the US being a visa-exempt country there isn't a huge issue with crossing the border, unless you were showing up with a bunch of stuff that isn't congruent with your stated purpose and duration. Someone saying they were coming for two weeks and carrying four suitcases of clothes and a box of kitchen appliances and knick-knacks would make it look like that person is intending to move or stay longer and that could trigger some extended questions.
 

missmegan

Star Member
Sep 30, 2014
54
1
NY/Calgary
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
26-01-2015
Doc's Request.
Up front
AOR Received.
23-04-2015
Med's Done....
Up front
Interview........
N/a
Passport Req..
N/a
VISA ISSUED...
In Process: 19-08-2015
After some agonizing months of doubt, we've finally heard something from the CIC! They've requested my husbands proof of residency here in Canada as well as the RPRF which we've alreat paid upfront.

Anyone know if an Internet bill would qualify for a utility bill? Also, should we send more than one document of proof? And where do we send this? We want to send it right away so we can finally see that DM!

Meg :)
 

Joyce_tosf

Hero Member
Aug 12, 2015
240
5
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
15-08-2016
Doc's Request.
09-12-2016 (Provided 17-12-2016)
AOR Received.
08-09-2016
File Transfer...
15-09-2016
Med's Done....
Upfront (PASSED)
Passport Req..
21-02-2017
VISA ISSUED...
08-03-2017
DanOCan said:
My wife came to visit me this summer and she had no issues crossing the border. They asked her the standard questions: purpose of visit, length of stay, etc. She never had to produce anything, not even her return ticket. I think with the US being a visa-exempt country there isn't a huge issue with crossing the border, unless you were showing up with a bunch of stuff that isn't congruent with your stated purpose and duration. Someone saying they were coming for two weeks and carrying four suitcases of clothes and a box of kitchen appliances and knick-knacks would make it look like that person is intending to move or stay longer and that could trigger some extended questions.
So good to hear! Thanks so much! That's such a relief! =)
 

Aquakitty

VIP Member
Mar 21, 2011
3,014
164
BC
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Ottawa
App. Filed.......
04-03-2015
AOR Received.
14-04-2015 - SA Received: 20-04-2015
Med's Done....
28-01-2015 Upfront
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
N/A
VISA ISSUED...
25-06-2015
LANDED..........
11-07-2015
missmegan said:
After some agonizing months of doubt, we've finally heard something from the CIC! They've requested my husbands proof of residency here in Canada as well as the RPRF which we've alreat paid upfront.

Anyone know if an Internet bill would qualify for a utility bill? Also, should we send more than one document of proof? And where do we send this? We want to send it right away so we can finally see that DM!

Meg :)
Sounds like they lost some of your documentation, that would explain the extreme delay in any case. I think an internet bill is fine. I would send as much proof as you can just to be safe. Make sure you clearly label it with your UCI number, Application number, name, address.
 

shm17

Newbie
Jul 14, 2014
7
0
Does anyone know how long it takes to process medicals? We just got asked to redo ours. We knew that our medicals had expired, but we were hoping it would be waived. But our timeline was a little too long. Any idea how long they take to get to CPC-Ottawa after the doctor's appointment?
 

Panamai

Hero Member
Oct 3, 2013
495
30
Kingston, Ontario
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Ottawa
App. Filed.......
29-01-2015
AOR Received.
28-03-2015
File Transfer...
31-03-2015
Med's Request
upfront
Med's Done....
16-01-2015
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
DM 05-11-2015
VISA ISSUED...
17-11-2015
LANDED..........
23-11-2015
Aquakitty said:
Sounds like they lost some of your documentation, that would explain the extreme delay in any case. I think an internet bill is fine. I would send as much proof as you can just to be safe. Make sure you clearly label it with your UCI number, Application number, name, address.
Extreme delay? I think she's a January applicant too, eh? I got the same email today. I'm starting to think it's the new standard. I've been keeping up with my notes pretty well and there hasn't been any talk of lost or lacking documentation yet. I sent in plenty of evidence of my partner's residence in Canada. I think they just want to make sure, after the 7-8 months of waiting, that the sponsor still lives in Canada. Almost like a touching base thing.
 

jamsham12

Hero Member
Jan 6, 2015
590
17
124
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
01/19/2015
AOR Received.
03/16/2015
File Transfer...
04/21/2015
Passport Req..
In Process: 08/06/2015 DM: 10/31/2015
VISA ISSUED...
11/16/2015
LANDED..........
12/30/2015
Panamai said:
Extreme delay? I think she's a January applicant too, eh? I got the same email today. I'm starting to think it's the new standard. I've been keeping up with my notes pretty well and there hasn't been any talk of lost or lacking documentation yet. I sent in plenty of evidence of my partner's residence in Canada. I think they just want to make sure, after the 7-8 months of waiting, that the sponsor still lives in Canada. Almost like a touching base thing.
We can expect DM next week eh?
 

ChellyCat

Hero Member
Jan 8, 2015
274
14
Mississauga, ON
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
04-Feb-2015
Doc's Request.
30-July-2015 (Proof of sponsor's Canadian residence)
AOR Received.
06-April-2015
Med's Done....
27-April-2015
Passport Req..
IP: August 6. DM: Sept 26
VISA ISSUED...
25-Sept-2015
LANDED..........
05-Oct-2015
I got the same email in late July and switched to IP about a week later (the big batch of us on August 6). It does seem to be standard as a lot of us got the same one. I don't think it's indicative of lost documents.

Do you think we'll get DM next week Jamsham? I was so hoping we'd have it by now and I'm starting to get discouraged again! :(
 

CamL-W

Hero Member
Jun 4, 2015
211
4
Ottawa
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC-Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
01-June-2015
Doc's Request.
03-December-2015
AOR Received.
SA Letter: 13-August-2015
File Transfer...
In Process : 06-August-2015
Med's Done....
09-March-2015
Passport Req..
New Imm Pics : 03-December-2015
VISA ISSUED...
DM: 10-January-2016 / COPR: 19-January-2016
I'm part of the big batch that got IP on August 6th, after a lot of research, I've learned that most IP's change to DM after about 12.5 days. We're currently at 8 days, so I think we will start getting some news next week. Anyways, I sure hope we do. This IP thing is making me so confused! Keep your head up ChellyCat!
 

Aquakitty

VIP Member
Mar 21, 2011
3,014
164
BC
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Ottawa
App. Filed.......
04-03-2015
AOR Received.
14-04-2015 - SA Received: 20-04-2015
Med's Done....
28-01-2015 Upfront
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
N/A
VISA ISSUED...
25-06-2015
LANDED..........
11-07-2015
Panamai said:
Extreme delay? I think she's a January applicant too, eh? I got the same email today. I'm starting to think it's the new standard. I've been keeping up with my notes pretty well and there hasn't been any talk of lost or lacking documentation yet. I sent in plenty of evidence of my partner's residence in Canada. I think they just want to make sure, after the 7-8 months of waiting, that the sponsor still lives in Canada. Almost like a touching base thing.
No SA and an American that applied in January? That is an extreme delay. CIC site states 60 days. If I misunderstood and they already got SA then I would agree with your sarcasm :p.
 

Panamai

Hero Member
Oct 3, 2013
495
30
Kingston, Ontario
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Ottawa
App. Filed.......
29-01-2015
AOR Received.
28-03-2015
File Transfer...
31-03-2015
Med's Request
upfront
Med's Done....
16-01-2015
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
DM 05-11-2015
VISA ISSUED...
17-11-2015
LANDED..........
23-11-2015
Aquakitty said:
No SA and an American that applied in January? That is an extreme delay. CIC site states 60 days. If I misunderstood and they already got SA then I would agree with your sarcasm :p.
Ah, I didn't realize there was a lack of SA there. She didn't mention that in her recent comment. Yeah, that would be an extreme delay in SA. I wasn't trying to be sarcastic..?
 

missmegan

Star Member
Sep 30, 2014
54
1
NY/Calgary
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
26-01-2015
Doc's Request.
Up front
AOR Received.
23-04-2015
Med's Done....
Up front
Interview........
N/a
Passport Req..
N/a
VISA ISSUED...
In Process: 19-08-2015
Panamai said:
Ah, I didn't realize there was a lack of SA there. She didn't mention that in her recent comment. Yeah, that would be an extreme delay in SA. I wasn't trying to be sarcastic..?
Hi there! Sorry for any confusion. :) We are January 2015 applicants and we got SA back in March. It's just now that we've finally heard something from CIC requesting my husbands proof of residency. Any idea on if we send this in the mail or can scan documents and email them? If so, can someone verify the proper place to mail or email the documents? Please and thank you all! :) :)
 

Panamai

Hero Member
Oct 3, 2013
495
30
Kingston, Ontario
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Ottawa
App. Filed.......
29-01-2015
AOR Received.
28-03-2015
File Transfer...
31-03-2015
Med's Request
upfront
Med's Done....
16-01-2015
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
DM 05-11-2015
VISA ISSUED...
17-11-2015
LANDED..........
23-11-2015
missmegan said:
Hi there! Sorry for any confusion. :) We are January 2015 applicants and we got SA back in March. It's just now that we've finally heard something from CIC requesting my husbands proof of residency. Any idea on if we send this in the mail or can scan documents and email them? If so, can someone verify the proper place to mail or email the documents? Please and thank you all! :) :)
I just replied to the email they sent me. It's the same address that they wanted you to use, so I figured that would be fine. CPC-CTD-Ottawa@cic.gc.ca
 

ChellyCat

Hero Member
Jan 8, 2015
274
14
Mississauga, ON
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
04-Feb-2015
Doc's Request.
30-July-2015 (Proof of sponsor's Canadian residence)
AOR Received.
06-April-2015
Med's Done....
27-April-2015
Passport Req..
IP: August 6. DM: Sept 26
VISA ISSUED...
25-Sept-2015
LANDED..........
05-Oct-2015
CamL-W said:
I'm part of the big batch that got IP on August 6th, after a lot of research, I've learned that most IP's change to DM after about 12.5 days. We're currently at 8 days, so I think we will start getting some news next week. Anyways, I sure hope we do. This IP thing is making me so confused! Keep your head up ChellyCat!
I think your math is a bit off there, my friend! xD We are at 13 days now! :( Not really long enough to be alarmed yet, but still a bit disappointing nonetheless! I was hoping for one of those lucky within-a-week DMs :p
 

CamL-W

Hero Member
Jun 4, 2015
211
4
Ottawa
Category........
Visa Office......
CPC-Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
01-June-2015
Doc's Request.
03-December-2015
AOR Received.
SA Letter: 13-August-2015
File Transfer...
In Process : 06-August-2015
Med's Done....
09-March-2015
Passport Req..
New Imm Pics : 03-December-2015
VISA ISSUED...
DM: 10-January-2016 / COPR: 19-January-2016
ChellyCat said:
I think your math is a bit off there, my friend! xD We are at 13 days now! :( Not really long enough to be alarmed yet, but still a bit disappointing nonetheless! I was hoping for one of those lucky within-a-week DMs :p
13 days if you count weekends...CIC only works Monday to Friday.