First Letter (Federal Skilled Worker Class)-Temp File id-Sent to Nova Scotia

[Khanboy]

Dear All,

I need your valued suggestions on the following situations:

I applied for Canadian Permanent Residence in August 2008 using the Simplified Application Process form (old one) before the new instructions. I received a letter at the end of december 2008 with the fee receipt and file id stating that "This refers to your application received at this office b/w July 1 and Nov 2008.blah blah blah..... your application is being reviewed by the case processing centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada and if your application is eligible for processing you will receive instructions within 4 months of this letter or your fees will be refunded."

"The application is handled under the new rules on November 28, 2008." I wanted to know I applied to the London office before the new rules and they have forwarded my application to the Nova Scotia, Canada themselves. Is that the usual way?

My occupation is already listed. Is this the usual way the letter comes for the people who applied before the new instructions and application packs? Now the more confusing bit "My friend also applied with me at the same time using the old form i.e before 28 Nov 2008 and he received a letter with file number saying that you need to submit the Application form 008, background declaration form and economic background form within 120 days to the London visa office with supporting docs required by your local visa office?

Can anyone I mean expert explain these 2 conditions; entirely different for me and my friend? What does that means we have the same occupation and we are one the list as well of 38 occupation and applied at the same time?

Please resolve the issue asap as it have lost my sleep :-).

Kind Regards,
Khan

[Leon]

The plan to change rules was actually announced on February 27, 2008 and all applications since then are subject to the new rules although the new rules themselves were not posted until November 28.  According to the new rules, if you are on the list of 38, you should send your application to Sydney for pre-approval before it gets sent to your local visa office.  Applications with a job offer should be sent directly to the visa office.  Maybe your friend has a job offer?  Or maybe they just made a mistake on handling your applications differently.

[Khanboy]

Dear Leon,

I can confirm that my  friend does not have the job offer and we filled the form by sitting next to each other. We had everything in common regarding the PR.

As I mentioned his letter said for further assessment you need to submit the form to your local visa office in london and he has been given a file number with bar code id. For me entirely different directly sent to nova scotia and mentioned clearly will be handled under new rules although we applied in August 08 with the one page form i.e simplified form. Do they make mistakes? How come my friend has to submit these forms 008, back dec and eco class etc. with docs within 120 days is he on the fast track process or not?

Now all form must be sent to Nova Scotia? He is concerned as well. Dont know who is in problem? They said I will be informed for eligiblity in four months either with Sydney file number or refund of fees?

Can you give me your expert opinion where I stand just for an idea? Anything like this happened in the past? Is this a mistake or speedy process?
Cheers
Khan

[Leon]

I am not sure if they are supposed to send old applications to Sydney for pre-processing or process them at the visa office but it seems that they have made a different decision between your and your friends files.  Probably it means that his will go a bit faster since they have already decided he qualifies under the list of 38 without sending him to Sydney first so he is probably now at the stage that you will be when your file is approved by Sydney and comes back to London.

If you want to find out which one is by mistake, you can contact the London office.  Maybe they will find that they should not have sent your file to Sydney and will put you in process like your friend or maybe they find out that your friends file should have gone to Sydney too and will delay him also.

[zednought]

Is there anything obvious that differs between yours and your friend's application. For example, his current NOC is one that is in the list of 38 and yours is not?

You are not alone though. I've also heard of post-Feb 08 applications going to NS for pre-processing with a four month lead-time (see this link) trackitt.com/discuss/fsw/19155609/.

[Kubik]

Khanboy,

See below link:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/faq/immigrate/skilled/skilled-faq12.asp

It has a frequently asked question there: "Do I need to reapply if I submitted my application on or after February 27, 2008, but before the Minister's instructions were issued?" and the answer is a very short "No"

So, you submitted your application after 27-Feb but before the instructions (and the list of 38 occupations) were issued. This means theoretically, now you should have been awaiting further instructions (like myself) or have already received a letter requiring back-up documents, bacground info etc (like that friend of yours). However, this is theoretical only. It all sounds as if they treated your application as if they received it in Dec 08, not in August (Could it be a delay of mailing system? Did you use courier services or ordinary mail?). I heard that in many cases phoning your immigration office for information you get nothing but a flat phone bill, instead you can try sending a message to them using the immigration office's links on CIC's website (I sent to my office queries for info twice this way, and they were kind enough to reply)

Good Luck

[Khanboy]

Thanks Zed and others,

I would like to confirm that our occupations are on the list and same. Nothing indifferent! Please no mail delays as well. I had the recorded delivery and it reached there on 19 Aug 2008. I think they sent it deliberately to Nova Scotia! Have not heard of anyone whats the reply they usually get from Nova Scotia? Even new applicants; I mean the first letter is it like mine or different? Any idea! Mentioned wait for 4 months! Might be something stucked in their mind with my application?

Any idea anyone out there what sorts of things they are concerned? Although not requested but I mailed them my passport copies, permanent residence uk copies and driving licence copies as identification docs; which my friend did not (simple application)? I was thinking like due to docs I sent they have forwarded my application to Nova Scotia but I think I am on the wrong path? Something unusual and different? Not happy with my application :-( Please share your views?

Kind Regards,
Khanboy