US outland applicants' thread :)

[OhCanadiana]

According to this notice: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/notices/notice-buffalo.asp

All files will be redirected to Ottawa. It has explicitly said Buffalo applicants. I am wondering if this also pertains to the satellite office. Mine was transferred to LA a few weeks ago and I haven't heard anything yet. Are all files in America being sent to Ottawa?? It doesn't make that clear. ???

I don't think we'll know until someone reports whether they get communication from either a satellite VO or from CPP-O either proactively or as a result of an e-mail/fax asking them this question.

Since there are no facts, both guesses are equally valid for now:
- As you point out, the Buffalo notice just mentions Buffalo
- However, the other offices were satellites for Buffalo (you selected Buffalo and Buffalo delegated the file to LA). Going forward, it seems CIC wants to centralize everything in CPP-O for the pilot and they will no longer process files at the satellite offices. As a result, other VO websites have the same notice re Buffalo closing ("Important message: The Visa and Immigration Section at the Consulate General of Canada in Buffalo, New York, is closed and visa services have been transferred across the North American processing network") in the big yellow box, and have updated the info for processing office for PR apps to say "See Case Processing Pilot in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada." To take a look at your VO, LA, the link is: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions/los-angeles.asp. Based on other geographies this may mean that VOs may be limited to a support capacity to conduct interviews and issue counterfoils where necessary.

Unfortunately, there's no communication with facts on this one way or the other yet. If you have an urgent matter (e.g., interview), reach out to LA and ask. If you find out anything, report back here to help others who may not have urgent reason to know but who would be comforted by the knowledge.

 

[Amoss]

This is the info on CIC's site for the LA satellite office,

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions/los-angeles.asp

Processing office for permanent resident applications:
See Case Processing Pilot in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.

NOTE: All new Economic Class applications must first be ma

So, this would seem to indicate all files at satellite offices will also be forwarded to Ottawa. ??? ???

 

[Amoss]

I don't think we'll know until someone reports whether they get communication from either a satellite VO or from CPP-O either proactively or as a result of an e-mail/fax asking them this question.

Since there are no facts, both guesses are equally valid for now:
- As you point out, the Buffalo notice just mentions Buffalo
- However, the other offices were satellites for Buffalo (you selected Buffalo and Buffalo delegated the file to LA). Going forward, it seems CIC wants to centralize everything in CPP-O for the pilot and they will no longer process files at the satellite offices. As a result, other VO websites have the same notice re Buffalo closing ("Important message: The Visa and Immigration Section at the Consulate General of Canada in Buffalo, New York, is closed and visa services have been transferred across the North American processing network") in the big yellow box, and have updated the info for processing office for PR apps to say "See Case Processing Pilot in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada." To take a look at your VO, LA, the link is: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/offices/missions/los-angeles.asp. Based on other geographies this may mean that VOs may be limited to a support capacity to conduct interviews and issue counterfoils where necessary.

just saw we have the same link! double verified.. haha

 

[AW2011]

Just got off the phone with CIC in regards of confirmed/scheduled interviews with Buffalo and was told to "just go if you have a scheduled interview". So for people who have scheduled Buffalo interviews, don't cancel your flights and hotel. Best of luck to everyone!

 

[LovingMyCanuck]

This is so perfect! I just recently got married and now my husband and I have been on over drive to work on our applications. The only bummer is we have to wait for our medical and FBI to be done. (Who knew we had to make appointments for FBI).

I also have a question can I do my FBI in Canada and medical, even if I am visiting in Canada? I'm going this August. Thanks.

 

[parker24]

This is so perfect! I just recently got married and now my husband and I have been on over drive to work on our applications. The only bummer is we have to wait for our medical and FBI to be done. (Who knew we had to make appointments for FBI).

I also have a question can I do my FBI in Canada and medical, even if I am visiting in Canada? I'm going this August. Thanks.

Yes you can! We did Just make sure to call around for the medicals, some DMP's costs are REALLY high and some are average. Good luck!

 

[OhCanadiana]

This is so perfect! I just recently got married and now my husband and I have been on over drive to work on our applications. The only bummer is we have to wait for our medical and FBI to be done. (Who knew we had to make appointments for FBI).

I also have a question can I do my FBI in Canada and medical, even if I am visiting in Canada? I'm going this August. Thanks.

Excellent!!!

Yes, you can. For the FBI, you may want to take a cashier's check with you if you plan to pay with check so it is drawn on a US bank.

 

[tinytortoise]

This is really great information. Thanks OhCanadiana for putting it together!

 

[LovingMyCanuck]

Thanks Parker. Thanks OhCandiana. By the way does anyone know how does this change in VOffice will affect applications?

 

[Kiri]

Thanks Parker. Thanks OhCandiana. By the way does anyone know how does this change in VOffice will affect applications?

Until a few of us get through the process with the new changes, we won't really know for sure as there is no estimated times or anything posted yet. I wish they would post some stuff... but right now it's just speculation and wait and see what happens.

 

[crna80]

Quote-This is so perfect! I just recently got married and now my husband and I have been on over drive to work on our applications. The only bummer is we have to wait for our medical and FBI to be done. (Who knew we had to make appointments for FBI).

I also have a question can I do my FBI in Canada and medical, even if I am visiting in Canada? I'm going this August. Thanks.

I am American, visiting my Canadian husband. I did my medical here in Canada i thought it was pretty reasonable $240 CN total, and I got an appt quickly. The one thing i might mention about the FBI. I'm not sure if you have to send a self- addressed envelope for return documents. We had to do that for the channeler, which after reading this I'm not sure if that's acceptable. However, the channelers are in the USA as is the FBI. And Canada Poste doesn't not sell American postage. so if you need to send a SASE, then bring along US stamps with you.

 

[Amoss]

Found the following here: http://canadausvisas.com/blog/canada-immigration-news/cic-to-speed-up-processing-of-successful-family-class-appeals (immigration lawyers)

One of the frustrations people who successfully appeal family class decisions to the Immigration Appeal Division (“IAD”) is the delay between when the IAD allows an appeal and when a mission abroad resumes processing.

In response to this issue Citizenship and Immigration Canada has introduced a pilot project. Following a successful appeal, the processing of a Family Class Application for a Permanent Residence Visa will no longer be sent back to the original embassy, but rather will resume at Case Processing Pilot – Ottawa (CPP-O).

The implementation of the pilot project will take place in two phases.

From now until September 2011, all successful family class appeals will be forwarded to CPP-O. CPP-O will create a file, conduct security checks, and forward the file to the respective visa office for processing.

Starting in September, CPP-O will conduct security checks, and then triage the files into relatively low admissibility risk files and complex ones. For relatively low risk files, CPP-O will process the entire file, and print the Confirmation of Permanent Residence. Files that are identified as having complex admissibility issues will still be forwarded abroad.

These procedural changes will hopefully significantly reduce processing times following success at the IAD.



Obviously they knew this some time ago, and you'd think that they'd allow the the embassy/consulates to finish up their workloads on their desks... and just send the new files to CPP-P

 

[LovingMyCanuck]

Quote-This is so perfect! I just recently got married and now my husband and I have been on over drive to work on our applications. The only bummer is we have to wait for our medical and FBI to be done. (Who knew we had to make appointments for FBI).

I also have a question can I do my FBI in Canada and medical, even if I am visiting in Canada? I'm going this August. Thanks.

I am American, visiting my Canadian husband. I did my medical here in Canada i thought it was pretty reasonable $240 CN total, and I got an appt quickly. The one thing i might mention about the FBI. I'm not sure if you have to send a self- addressed envelope for return documents. We had to do that for the channeler, which after reading this I'm not sure if that's acceptable. However, the channelers are in the USA as is the FBI. And Canada Poste doesn't not sell American postage. so if you need to send a SASE, then bring along US stamps with you.

Thank you for the extra tips. I really needed to know that ! By the way you say you are visiting your husband in Canada, do you have a visitors record? If so for how long?

Until a few of us get through the process with the new changes, we won't really know for sure as there is no estimated times or anything posted yet. I wish they would post some stuff... but right now it's just speculation and wait and see what happens.

I guess the only thing right now is to wait.

 

[OhCanadiana]

For those of you who already mailed your passports or submitted info to Buffalo in response to PPR, someone over on the skilled worker side got news that Buffalo will be processing the COPRs and mailing them

They got my passports on May 18th, I'm still waiting for return of passports with the visas. Yesterday I sent email to buffalo office asking if the closing of the VO will cause any delays in this last stage, and this is what they said:


As your passports have already been received here, your visas will be issued as usual.

Immigration Section
Consulate General of Canada
Consulat général du Canada
Buffalo

Hope that helps bring some ;D ;D ;D 8)

ETA: And, apparently they are still doing in-person processing too :

I understand that there is confusion around the closing of the Buffalo consulate. If you have a passport request from Buffalo (ie one just asking you to submit passports to Buffalo and NOT one which asks you to submit passports to some other office.) - you can still go and get it stamped in person. I know cause I just got this done yesterday (Tuesday - May 29).

They are turning away everyone else (except citizens and people who have been called for an interview I guess) - and therefore the queue at the consulate is extremely small and you can get your immigrant visa and COPR in about an hour. There is a parking lot right in front of the HSBC building - so you should be in and out in no time.

If you have a PPR, I would say catch the next flight to Buffalo and get the stamping done tomorrow (Thursday) and save yourself the grief of wondering what would happen to your case.

Hope this helps.

For the greater glory of God!
St. Catherine. Pray for us.

Hurry, though ... who knows how long they'll stay open!

 

[OhCanadiana]

Just got off the phone with CIC in regards of confirmed/scheduled interviews with Buffalo and was told to "just go if you have a scheduled interview". So for people who have scheduled Buffalo interviews, don't cancel your flights and hotel. Best of luck to everyone!

Thanks for reporting in! +1 for you See my post above for confirmation too!