Document Request from Hong Kong..beginning or ending ?

[Liuzhou]

Hello All,

I didn't get too much of a response on "the other" site....maybe I'll have more luck here.

Last week my wife was called and asked to send her CSQ from the Quebec government.  The CSQ is basically another layer of red tape required of citizens living in the province of Quebec.  The Quebec government is supposed to send this automatically if approved, so they either didn't send it, or it was misplaced in Hong Kong. (I was sent the original which I forwarded to my wife).  I faxed and emailed a copy of it to them in early April.

I would love to know if the Embassy is asking for this because they are finishing the file and making sure all the paperwork is in order, or are they just getting started ? (They did mentione her medicals were received and ok and all other documents were good...)

My thinking is that since the CSQ is essential for immigration to Quebec (even for family class) they wanted proof I was approved as a sponsor before they even look more at our file.

I suppose there is the chance they are almost finished and then realized they didn't have the CSQ on file...but since we are only at the 4 month mark, and HK is 8-13 months, it seems too good to be true that they could possibly be almost finished.

I would enjoy reading others opinions...especially if having gone/going through Hong Kong.

Kudos.

[RobsLuv]

I don't know much about it but it's been my understanding that the overseas visa offices "hold" processing while waiting for notification of CSQ approval.  After all, no sense in beginning processing if there's an ineligible sponsor  . . . so it's possible this is just the beginning of the overseas process, now that they've received confirmation of the CSQ. 

On the other hand, it's really hard to know for sure.  It does sound as though they did an initial assessment at least - because they've gone ahead and requested the medicals and made sure all documentation was in order.  Hopefully you're at least halfway there . . . not sure why it takes 8-13 months in HK to do what it takes other offices 2-8 months or 4-9 months, etc., but it still sounds like you're benefitting from the faster end of HK's timeline and at least they were on top of not having gotten the CSQ- rather than just sitting on it.  I'd say that's pretty good news.

[Liuzhou]

Ya...that was my thinking...if I am ineligble to sponsor, no point in even looking at the file....so they need the CSQ to get started.

You are correct that it would appear an "initial assessment" was done, which is why they commented on the medicals, her valid passport, etc.  However, in HK, the medicals are not requested to be sent since they are included with the original application....so my feeling is that they were just commenting to my wife that they actually had them.

We are happy that they are "looking" at the file and checking papers. It is a sign of life.  I will assume that if an interview is waived, we still have about 2-3 months before any other signs of life.  I almost had a heart attack last night...I called them and someone actually answered the phone !!  They never answer the phone.  Of course they couldn't tell me anything, not even confirm if they received my fax, but it was shocking to talk to someone...and she was very nice too !!

As for the 8-13 months...who knows.  Beijing can do it in 3-5 months.  For dependent children, they are at par with HK at 3 months, so HK CAN process things quickly.  They were extremely fast refusing my wife's TRV !!  :)

Of course the government will tell you there is more fraud coming through that embassy, but I don't buy it.  I can't believe that southern China has more fraud (resulting in 48% of cases for spouses being rejected), then other areas of the world.  I'm not denying it exists, but I don't believe it is that much worse then Taipei with it's 3% rejection rate.

It probably boils down to incompetent management of that Embassy, apathetic government, and not enough staff to process the work load.  It's most likely not the VO's fault.  Although many people would like to paint all VO's as demons, I would like to believe they are good people, doing the best job they can with the tools they have been given.

My tax dollars hard at work !!

Thanks for your comments.