US outland applicants' thread :)

[hmks]

I wouldn't want to hazard too much of a guess as to how much longer of a wait you have, but I think you have a reasonable chance of DM by mid-March.

You can cross the border at the same time with your husband and children. I don't know where you found information that says you can't cross with them, but it's not correct. My wife and I have crossed together several times in both directions over the past year. Unless there's something in your background check that's causing CBSA a concern, you shouldn't have any big problems. You might be pulled into secondary, so have your husband's sponsor approval letter, as well as any other correspondence you've received from CIC. If asked, explain that you know you're just visiting, and you understand that you'll have to go back to the US if you don't have PR. In most cases, CBSA merely wants to see that you understand the rules, and you're not trying to go around them.

Unless you get an agent having a bad day, but that's a whole different story...

Great! Thank you so much! What a relief that I will be able to cross with them. We were trying to figure out the logistics of moving with 3 small kids if we couldn't cross together. Thank you so much for the information!

 

[maledil]

Hello everyone! We sent in our application in March as common law. We got SA in August and then in Sept they asked for more proof of cohabitation. We sent that within a couple of weeks and then in late November they requested an RCMP police certificate as my partner had lived here in Canada with me for 1.5 years. We sent that in on December 18th and now we've heard nothing. Everything on MyCIC shows 'in progress' but with others from the US progressing so fast I can't help feeling something is wrong. I know it hasn't even been a year yet but was wondering if I should try to contact my MP just as a check in. Or am I just being impatient and I should just wait? Thank you.

 

[CDNPR2014]

Hello everyone! We sent in our application in March as common law. We got SA in August and then in Sept they asked for more proof of cohabitation. We sent that within a couple of weeks and then in late November they requested an RCMP police certificate as my partner had lived here in Canada with me for 1.5 years. We sent that in on December 18th and now we've heard nothing. Everything on MyCIC shows 'in progress' but with others from the US progressing so fast I can't help feeling something is wrong. I know it hasn't even been a year yet but was wondering if I should try to contact my MP just as a check in. Or am I just being impatient and I should just wait? Thank you.

the fact you had to comply with multiple document requests means your processing will not be like the others with straighforward cases, so there's no point in comparing your processing to others being approved. at this point, there's no reason to get an MP involved, as there has been no notification of significant issues needing their involvement and you are still within the posted processing time. right now, all an MP will be able to do is get a status update, and more than likely they will get the same information as you. if you feel it's worth reaching out to an MP, there is nothing stopping you. just be aware they may not be able to provide many answers. if you want to know what's going on with your file, then the best thing to do at this point is to order the GCMS notes to see what movement there may be in the file.

remember, it has only been about 5 weeks since you sent in your RCMP report, and there were holiday closures since then. Ottawa's movements were slowed between dec and mid-january, with things just starting to pick up, so you will need to give it more time. also note, sometimes (not always) IRCC will wait to continue processing until the "due date" listed on the request they sent, if there was one. all that can be done right now is to wait and remain patient. approval will come soon.

 

[maledil]

the fact you had to comply with multiple document requests means your processing will not be like the others with straighforward cases, so there's no point in comparing your processing to others being approved. at this point, there's no reason to get an MP involved, as there has been no notification of significant issues needing their involvement and you are still within the posted processing time. right now, all an MP will be able to do is get a status update, and more than likely they will get the same information as you. if you feel it's worth reaching out to an MP, there is nothing stopping you. just be aware they may not be able to provide many answers. if you want to know what's going on with your file, then the best thing to do at this point is to order the GCMS notes to see what movement there may be in the file.

remember, it has only been about 5 weeks since you sent in your RCMP report, and there were holiday closures since then. Ottawa's movements were slowed between dec and mid-january, with things just starting to pick up, so you will need to give it more time. also note, sometimes (not always) IRCC will wait to continue processing until the "due date" listed on the request they sent, if there was one. all that can be done right now is to wait and remain patient. approval will come soon.

Thank you I needed a reality check. I will order the GCMS notes just in case. With any luck they will show up after all is approved

 

[Omegabyte]

Anyone with updates? Received the new PPR email? CoPR mailed from Ottawa?

 

[barch88]

Anyone with updates? Received the new PPR email? CoPR mailed from Ottawa?

SA is Decision Made and my Application has been forwarded to Ottawa as of Jan 26th, 2017.

Sponsorship:

• We received your application to sponsor on January 4, 2017.
• We started processing your application on January 18, 2017.
• We sent you correspondence acknowledging receipt of your application(s) on January 19, 2017.

Permanent Residence:

• We received your application for permanent residence on January 4, 2017.
• Medical results have been received.
• We sent you correspondence on January 19, 2017. If you have not yet provided the information or the requested documents, please do so as soon as possible. Please wait until you receive the correspondence before sending us additional information, as the correspondence will outline all information that is required.
o This was for my Electronic Copy of my Schedule A, since I used the new forms they require an E-Copy, even though I included a completed and validated copy with my original packet. I also provided an UP-FRONT police certificate. They did NOT request a new Police Certificate, so I’m assuming they are accepting my up-front one, even with the new forms.

• We started processing your application on January 28, 2017.

Current Status: “In Progress”

 

[ssolinga]

Hi all. Im a Nov. 7th 2016 applicant. Already have the SA. My application was just transfered from Ottawa to NYC. I was wondering if thats a good thing or bad thing? and what happens next? The letter said I will hear something in up to 2 months.

 

[danawhitaker]

Hi all. Im a Nov. 7th 2016 applicant. Already have the SA. My application was just transfered from Ottawa to NYC. I was wondering if thats a good thing or bad thing? and what happens next? The letter said I will hear something in up to 2 months.

I haven't seen this type of transfer mentioned recently for a U.S. applicant. Are you a U.S. citizen?

 

[CDNPR2014]

I haven't seen this type of transfer mentioned recently for a U.S. applicant. Are you a U.S. citizen?

yes, this is out of the norm. generally, NYC does not handle spousal sponsorship applications. If files are transferred to the us, they are usually transferred to LA and require an interview. It will be interesting to see if files are now going to NYC with the new process...

Hi all. Im a Nov. 7th 2016 applicant. Already have the SA. My application was just transfered from Ottawa to NYC. I was wondering if thats a good thing or bad thing? and what happens next? The letter said I will hear something in up to 2 months.

can you share what IRCC sent that suggests your file is now in NYC?

 

[CDNPR2014]

hey all. I'm doing my US taxes myself this year, and came upon this guide. it reads pretty easily and i already learned something new. Apparently, we CAN file electronically from canada. i'm guessing the accountant here couldn't for whatever reason or just found it easier to do it by paper. anyway, happy tax season!

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p54.pdf

 

[Stevin]

hey all. I'm doing my US taxes myself this year, and came upon this guide. it reads pretty easily and i already learned something new. Apparently, we CAN file electronically from canada. i'm guessing the accountant here couldn't for whatever reason or just found it easier to do it by paper. anyway, happy tax season!

https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p54.pdf

Thank you so much for sharing! I know that my spouse has to file in the US for 2016 as he was still not a PR here. He received PR Feb 02/17 - does he still have to file here? Just wondering.

Thank you

 

[Aquakitty]

Hi all. Im a Nov. 7th 2016 applicant. Already have the SA. My application was just transfered from Ottawa to NYC. I was wondering if thats a good thing or bad thing? and what happens next? The letter said I will hear something in up to 2 months.

Huh, that's interesting. No one has been transferred to NY in many years. So, evidently they have drastically changed the process. It's nothing at all to worry about. Please keep us updated

 

[Aquakitty]

Hello everyone! We sent in our application in March as common law. We got SA in August and then in Sept they asked for more proof of cohabitation. We sent that within a couple of weeks and then in late November they requested an RCMP police certificate as my partner had lived here in Canada with me for 1.5 years. We sent that in on December 18th and now we've heard nothing. Everything on MyCIC shows 'in progress' but with others from the US progressing so fast I can't help feeling something is wrong. I know it hasn't even been a year yet but was wondering if I should try to contact my MP just as a check in. Or am I just being impatient and I should just wait? Thank you.

Hmm, that, too, is unusual. What did you originally supply for co-habitation evidence? My husband lived in Canada for 8 years but did not require an RCMP PC. Was there anything unusual about your application? Any criminal history in the US or anything?

That said, nothing is "wrong", but they've triggered on something that required the extra step.

 

[CDNPR2014]

Thank you so much for sharing! I know that my spouse has to file in the US for 2016 as he was still not a PR here. He received PR Feb 02/17 - does he still have to file here? Just wondering.

Thank you

if your husband was not a "resident for tax purposes" in canada, he does not need to file canadian taxes for 2016. He will need to file for 2017. the CRA website and google is a good resource for deciding if he was a resident for tax purposes.

 

[maledil]

Hmm, that, too, is unusual. What did you originally supply for co-habitation evidence? My husband lived in Canada for 8 years but did not require an RCMP PC. Was there anything unusual about your application? Any criminal history in the US or anything?

That said, nothing is "wrong", but they've triggered on something that required the extra step.

We seem to attract unusual requests. SA took 5 months because they wanted the IMM 5409 even though their own documentation says it wasn't needed. I thought I'd read somewhere he didn't need to submit an RCMP check so we didn't do one up front. I can't imagine what flag they would have seen to request it. He has never been arrested for anything anywhere. Not even traffic tickets. His FBI record showed nothing. We've been together for 5 years with lots of relationship proof and no previous experience with immigration and sponsorship and neither of us have been married or common-law before so really the only flag is not enough proof we lived together

Original proof of cohabitation I sent in was separate formal documents showing we had the same address. Unfortunately we had nothing with our names on it together. I sent in all his school permit and transcripts showing address and sent in work things for me showing the same address for the same time. For the last 6 months we lived together we had a lease and bills in our names but I expect it was the first year they were worried about. I also attached Commissioned letters from friends and family that talked about us living together in Canada.

When I sent in additional proof it was a letter from our landlord stating we had lived together and I had it Commissioned. I also sent some more official documentation showing addresses to show they were the same. It might not be enough but that's all I could find. Hopefully its enough.