January 2012 Applicants - Join here!

[Amoss]

Sponsors who are outside of Canada and got approval by snail mail - how long did it take? I got approval on May 16 and still no letter on May 29. I'm in California.

I am the sponsor and I am in Taiwan. I think it took about 2+ weeks. In my personal opinion, Canada post is not that great.... so, these things just take time.

[canadiangirl78]

I am the sponsor and I am in Taiwan. I think it took about 2+ weeks. In my personal opinion, Canada post is not that great.... so, these things just take time.

Ok well one would think it would be faster to the US than Taiwan but I guess not! Or I will be one of those unlucky ones who never gets a letter and can't get one resent.

[dreamcatcher]

Congrats missmini!, you must be VERY excited!.  That means my CSQ shouldn't be too far away from being done.  I live in Australia so that's why it's probably taking a bit longer in the mail to get to me.  It's a good feeling knowing that it won't be long now.  Getting closer each day.   

Update:  My Sponsor received our CSQ approval on May 23 when I talked to my wife on Skype today.  It was all processed in just over 2 weeks so that's good!.  My sponsor is sending the forms by express to me and then I will forward them to my visa office.  missmini, do you think I will need to send them copies or the originals of the CSQ, as I'm thinking I will need to keep the originals, or will my visa office send the originals back to me?.  Anyway, I can email my visa office to confirm all of this first.  Things are starting to look up!!.  It's great news, time to be  , and don't worry everyone, everything will all work out.

[Aamnk]

Do they send a mail before the ecas status changes from inprocess to decision made??
Stating that the file is in the final review???

[mit8383]

Please add me in spreadsheet

App sent on January 28, 2012 ( mississauga )
App Received on January 30, 2012 ( mississauga )
Sponsorship approved on April 30 2012
File Transfer To New Delhi : April 30 2012
Medical Done : January 19 2012

Thanks !!

[missmini]

Ok well one would think it would be faster to the US than Taiwan but I guess not! Or I will be one of those unlucky ones who never gets a letter and can't get one resent.

u should have that letter; so even if u don't get it the first try do ask them to resend it until u do but i think u will get it

[missmini]

Update:  My Sponsor received our CSQ approval on May 23 when I talked to my wife on Skype today.  It was all processed in just over 2 weeks so that's good!.  My sponsor is sending the forms by express to me and then I will forward them to my visa office.  missmini, do you think I will need to send them copies or the originals of the CSQ, as I'm thinking I will need to keep the originals, or will my visa office send the originals back to me?.  Anyway, I can email my visa office to confirm all of this first.  Things are starting to look up!!.  It's great news, time to be  , and don't worry everyone, everything will all work out.

yaaay congrats for u too!!!!! as u can see it is exciting although i know it was just a small step and without the visa that document is useless i was still very happy; wooow ur letter was dated May 23rd, that's before ours it was very fast considering u sent it later - what's the date on ur CSQ? (just curious) it's actually more clear to me that in our case it probably got stuck because of the vo (maybe when micc contacted our vo they weren't even aware that they have our package; but when they contacted ur vo it was all there, ready to receive it and add it to ur package)

from what i understood from the MICC letters they will forward a *copy* of the csq themselves (no need of extra action from ur side); but since the vo asked u for it already then u can mail them a copy of that letter with a COPY of the CSQ (also emailing them would work ) do not send the original, they don't need it, all they want is to see that Quebec also accepted u; but u as applicant on the other hand need the original of that document like water since u cannot land in Quebec without it; once landed u will still need the original for any service in Quebec (driving license, health card, french courses, univ enrollment, etc); even me i still have the original safe although it's so many years old by the way if u don't know french this document could help u enroll for online french courses already before u land (u'll see details in the letter)

i don't plan to send a copy to our vo yet; funny but i still find it early to contact them knowing other ppl's timeline from the same vo; i'll give them a few more weeks and if still no news i'll try my luck and drop them email with the copy of the csq too and other changes

yaaaay good luck for the rest of it; u will probably b done soooo much faster

[welkin16]

Do they send a mail before the ecas status changes from inprocess to decision made??
Stating that the file is in the final review???

No, they dont. u just got to wait....and even after decision made, they dont mail u...only the status gets updated....no mails...nada

[missmini]

Finally.. Congrats

yeeeeees thank u finally well since u got ur csq i was waiting for it every day!!!!! maybe not knowing someone got it so fast i would have been calmer but at the end we got it too....

thanks also to Amoss, canadiangirl and anyone else; i wish a smooth process for everyone!!!!

[huerlaw]

Buffalo applicants - I am not sure if you've heard but the Buffalo office is being shut down. Here is the update on the CIC website how this would effect the application currently in-process

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2012/ob425.asp

Initial article on the closure on CBC - http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/05/25/pol-weston-buffalo-consul.html

Cheers

[huerlaw]

For enquiries regarding Permanent Resident visa applicants from within Canada and the U.S.

Fax: (613) 946-6059
Email: ottpilot-immigration @ cic.gc.ca

[Aamnk]

No, they dont. u just got to wait....and even after decision made, they dont mail u...only the status gets updated....no mails...nada

Ohhh..ok ..thanx..coz ive read in some forums that they have received a mail stating that their process is in final review and a decision will b made soon..anywaz its a waitin game till you hav your stamped passport in your hand

[missmini]

Buffalo applicants - I am not sure if you've heard but the Buffalo office is being shut down. Here is the update on the CIC website how this would effect the application currently in-process

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2012/ob425.asp

Initial article on the closure on CBC - http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/story/2012/05/25/pol-weston-buffalo-consul.html

Cheers

not only Buffalo Berlin was shut down maybe a month ago (applications forwarded to Vienna), same with Tokyo (applications forwarded to Manila) and Malaysia (applications forwarded to Singapore); they also shut down other embassies like Dhaka or Teheran but those were not dealing with immigration; still in all these cases any file (visit, work, student, immigration visa) will put even more load on other embassies => probably longer waits (almost certain )

i think it's the New York consulate which takes over Buffalo's work or other satellite office?? it's so strange since they recently rented again that whole building for a 10 year period and now that money is lost (i read that in newspaper)

[mountain_pirate]

not only Buffalo Berlin was shut down maybe a month ago (applications forwarded to Vienna), same with Tokyo (applications forwarded to Manila) and Malaysia (applications forwarded to Singapore); they also shut down other embassies like Dhaka or Teheran but those were not dealing with immigration; still in all these cases any file (visit, work, student, immigration visa) will put even more load on other embassies => probably longer waits (almost certain )

i think it's the New York consulate which takes over Buffalo's work or other satellite office?? it's so strange since they recently rented again that whole building for a 10 year period and now that money is lost (i read that in newspaper)

And spent 12 million on renovating the place just in time to close it.

[Amoss]

not only Buffalo Berlin was shut down maybe a month ago (applications forwarded to Vienna), same with Tokyo (applications forwarded to Manila) and Malaysia (applications forwarded to Singapore); they also shut down other embassies like Dhaka or Teheran but those were not dealing with immigration; still in all these cases any file (visit, work, student, immigration visa) will put even more load on other embassies => probably longer waits (almost certain )

i think it's the New York consulate which takes over Buffalo's work or other satellite office?? it's so strange since they recently rented again that whole building for a 10 year period and now that money is lost (i read that in newspaper)

So far, I am not very happy about this news. But I am going to try and think positively. We have no idea what this means. From what I can tell, embassies and consulates in the USA will no longer handle permanent resident visas (this seems to include the satellite visa offices), and effectively immediately all files in process will be sent to Ottawa.

What a workload they are going to get. And how many visa officers do they have to handle potentially hundreds (or even thousands) of files. My file was just sent to LA for example, nothing has happened on it for 2+months and now it's on it's way to Ottawa with everyone else's. and we are given no indication of processing times.

ahem... positive thinking!