US outland applicants' thread :)

[Omegabyte]

It sounds like a lot of people are getting DM this week. I do wish they'd also add an 'approved' or 'Not approved' field would make me feel better. Other people have said the PPR emails go out in batches and it looks like there should be one coming soon so fingers crossed!

If you didn't hear any negative information from CIC, in the form of an email or letter explaining why your application isn't going to be approved, and giving you 30 days to add information to change the visa officer's mind, you're approved.

CIC is pretty good at letting you know when there's a deficiency in your application. If you have DM in ECAS, you're 99.9% OK to celebrate!!

The PPR emails go out in batches. Everyone that received DM this week should have their PPR within a week or two.

 

[danawhitaker]

If you didn't hear any negative information from CIC, in the form of an email or letter explaining why your application isn't going to be approved, and giving you 30 days to add information to change the visa officer's mind, you're approved.

CIC is pretty good at letting you know when there's a deficiency in your application. If you have DM in ECAS, you're 99.9% OK to celebrate!!

The PPR emails go out in batches. Everyone that received DM this week should have their PPR within a week or two.

What I haven't stumbled across a lot of is what happens if something pops up in the background check they don't like. It seems more common for things to come up earlier in the process, such as questions about the relationship being bona fide, lack of documentation for common law status, etc. I'd assume at that point they'd ask for documentation about whatever they found before rendering a DM?

 

[Omegabyte]

You're getting the PR side approved? So once "DM" is approved on the PR how long does it take until you can actually move and land, about 30 days to get the letter? You are Nov applicants?

That's fast! I'm a Jan applicant from the US, hoping to have it done in 4-6 months, our lease is up in August and I'd hate to have to find a temporary place while waiting for my PR to go through!

Right now, it's taking about 4-6 months for US -> Canada Outland PR to go through. The process for Ottawa VO changed in January. Once you get a DM, they request a copy of your passport photo/signature page, any endorsements in your passport, 2 photos for your PR card, and Annex A (mailing address for CoPR). That "PPR" email is sent about a week or so after DM. You return that info, then it takes about 2 weeks to get your CoPR.

The US Outland applications getting DM this week from Ottawa are mostly August/September 2016.

 

[Omegabyte]

What I haven't stumbled across a lot of is what happens if something pops up in the background check they don't like. It seems more common for things to come up earlier in the process, such as questions about the relationship being bona fide, lack of documentation for common law status, etc. I'd assume at that point they'd ask for documentation about whatever they found before rendering a DM?

Yes, they usually give you a chance to address any deficiencies in your background check as well.

In 99% of the cases I've read, the denial wasn't a total surprise. The Visa Officer sent them an email or letter explaining why they're going to be denied, and giving them 30 days to amend their application.

 

[danawhitaker]

Yes, they usually give you a chance to address any deficiencies in your background check as well.

In 99% of the cases I've read, the denial wasn't a total surprise. The Visa Officer sent them an email or letter explaining why they're going to be denied, and giving them 30 days to amend their application.

Not that I was particularly worried about anything in mine, but it's just that unknown factor because the background check part seems so mysterious.

 

[yelloweyedmage]

PPR is a passport request, right? What all is involved in that for American citizens?

 

[Landagirl]

PPR is a passport request, right? What all is involved in that for American citizens?

Correct.

They seem to be sending emails to the applicant.
They ask for a photo copy of your passport picture page, not the whole passport for US citizens.
They also want 2 new passport photos that have to be exactly as the photo specification sheet, they send you a link in the email. US passport pictures are 2x2 and are not accepted.
There will also be an Annex A in there that the applicant has to fill in their address and sign and date it. All this needs to get mailed with a return envelope. Depending on if you mail it from Canada or US there are different return options and addresses to send it to.
My husband mailed it all to me and I sent it Canada post.

 

[barch88]

Correct.

They seem to be sending emails to the applicant.
They ask for a photo copy of your passport picture page, not the whole passport for US citizens.
They also want 2 new passport photos that have to be exactly as the photo specification sheet, they send you a link in the email. US passport pictures are 2x2 and are not accepted.
There will also be an Annex A in there that the applicant has to fill in their address and sign and date it. All this needs to get mailed with a return envelope. Depending on if you mail it from Canada or US there are different return options and addresses to send it to.
My husband mailed it all to me and I sent it Canada post.

Thanks for both replies!

I included my passport page via color photocopy, photos as requested in the application (exact specifications, signed, dated, and with the photographers address/stamp on the back). I also included all of my mailing information in the original application. ARe you sure they are even going to request this with the new application forms? How long after sending that off can you move/land? I'm guessing around another month? Why would they request this stuff twice if it's included in the original checklist?

 

[yelloweyedmage]

What would happen if visitor status expired before landing but after you get DM and instructions? (mine expires April 2nd) Is there an implied status of some sort while waiting for the final steps of PR to finish?

 

[Landagirl]

Thanks for both replies!

I included my passport page via color photocopy, photos as requested in the application (exact specifications, signed, dated, and with the photographers address/stamp on the back). I also included all of my mailing information in the original application. ARe you sure they are even going to request this with the new application forms? How long after sending that off can you move/land? I'm guessing around another month? Why would they request this stuff twice if it's included in the original checklist?

We all included it in our original package and they asked us for it again. If you read through the August and September threads, we all are getting the same request for all this stuff again. Something changed in December maybe and now instead of getting COPR in the mail, we are getting more hoops to jump through.

 

[danawhitaker]

We all included it in our original package and they asked us for it again. If you read through the August and September threads, we all are getting the same request for all this stuff again. Something changed in December maybe and now instead of getting COPR in the mail, we are getting more hoops to jump through.

I'll be curious to see whether the December applicant who got DM runs into the same issue, and if the theory about the photos being beyond a certain point of validity is what triggers it.

 

[Landagirl]

I'll be curious to see whether the December applicant who got DM runs into the same issue, and if the theory about the photos being beyond a certain point of validity is what triggers it.

I don't know. My hubby's pictures were done a couple days before I sent in the app so they were 4 months old give or take a day. His passport only 6 months old, so not sure what change. New policy with the changes in December, who knows.

Edit - the pics we sent in were done in Canada and complied with CICs photo specs.

 

[danawhitaker]

I don't know. My hubby's pictures were done a couple days before I sent in the app so they were 4 months old give or take a day. His passport only 6 months old, so not sure what change. New policy with the changes in December, who knows.

Edit - the pics we sent in were done in Canada and complied with CICs photo specs.

There was some discussion that it's not about being within six months since the time of application, but within six months for the PR card being issued. Since those can take quite a while after landing, 4 months from the time of application might be too borderline for them, because they'd also need to be valid for that.

 

[jennybenny]

Hey everyone,

Just wondering if I should be celebrating or biting my nails off... one place says 'decision made' but another says 'final decision: not started.' I was just able to link my application to my gckey so I'm not sure how long the 'not started' status has been up. I want to say this is good as I've already been told to pay my RPRF but I don't want to celebrate prematurely. We were asked to send our declaration and of common law again (because I forgot to get it motorized ) and one other form that was supposed to be filled out by both of us individually, but other than that we've had no issues...

Help/support/commiserating welcome

 

[danawhitaker]

Hey everyone,

Just wondering if I should be celebrating or biting my nails off... one place says 'decision made' but another says 'final decision: not started.' I was just able to link my application to my gckey so I'm not sure how long the 'not started' status has been up. I want to say this is good as I've already been told to pay my RPRF but I don't want to celebrate prematurely. We were asked to send our declaration and of common law again (because I forgot to get it motorized ) and one other form that was supposed to be filled out by both of us individually, but other than that we've had no issues...

Help/support/commiserating welcome

For the people who've gotten DM since the first of the year for Ottawa, this is absolutely normal. MyCIC is not showing final decision started until the COPR has been mailed out. That will not likely happen until they send the PPR e-mail asking for certain things to be mailed to them in Ottawa.

I highly recommend (in general, to anyone on this thread) keeping tabs on the monthly outland threads, even the ones not for your month, as a rule. It gives a good idea of what Ottawa's current trends are so that you can be prepared for how the process is currently working. The spreadsheets aren't always indicative, and not everyone posts in this thread.