Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[GOGOGO]

Hi Habsfan, here is the CIC processing time page... http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp.  They are talking about 82 days for stage 1 processing (sponsorship approval) and they are now working on applications received on February 1, 2012.  So you may expect another month or 2 for yours to have sponsorship approved, before your application is passed to Buffalo VO for further processing.  And don't count on them sending acknowledgements, as it's quite common people not getting any.

For your information, you can take a look at the Buffalo spreadsheet (link in my signature) to get a feel for processing time from other forum member's timeline.  Please share your dates if you would like to be added to the spreadsheet.

Good luck with your application!

I was mostly enquiring about the letter confirming that they received your application and are processing it.. if my memory is good, I think they were saying it normally takes around 5 weeks to get this letter..

[cgagnon]

Hi Habsfan, here is the CIC processing time page... http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp.  They are talking about 82 days for stage 1 processing (sponsorship approval) and they are now working on applications received on February 1, 2012.  So you may expect another month or 2 for yours to have sponsorship approved, before your application is passed to Buffalo VO for further processing.  And don't count on them sending acknowledgements, as it's quite common people not getting any.

For your information, you can take a look at the Buffalo spreadsheet (link in my signature) to get a feel for processing time from other forum member's timeline.  Please share your dates if you would like to be added to the spreadsheet.

Good luck with your application!

CIC updated the time to 89 days still working on application received on February 1st.

[GOGOGO]

So they changed the number within the past 2 hours and forgot about changing the last updated date (still May2) on the same page.  
Wonder if they do updates manually or if they have any buggy program to do the job.
Anyway, it's only an approximate figure for reference.

CIC updated the time to 89 days still working on application received on February 1st.

[Amoss]

18 months?! I guess they say 11 months for 80% of the cases and 18 months for 100% of the cases?? OR... and I don't want to say it... 18 months is what the next quarterly update will put Buffalo at as the new processing time

Well, the update should be any day now...

OR, and I will easily say it,  the agents love to exaggerate and gives the most awful predicaments over the phone. My opinion is that they have never had to apply for a visa in their lives so they have no idea about what it feels like to be on the other end.

[moochops]

18 months   my visitor visa extension runs out in August and it'll be a cold day in hell that they extend it for the third time  

I'm keeping an eye on Prophet3 and York Region lol they are close to me on the spreadsheet. Maybe they will find our files propping up the leg of the canteen dining table 

[Kiri]

Does this mean that if I'm living in Canada on a visitor extension it can take 18 months... or since I'm living here on visitor visa it's 11 still?  Ya'll have me freaked out now.  Sending off my application on the 14th.

I also have a question... if I have to go to the states for less than one day (drive down to NY to meet someone for work stuff in the morning and drive right back the afternoon).. will I lose my visitor extension if I do get one?  Will I risk not getting back in?  Cause I'm gonna need to this summer (I'm sending off for PR not this coming Monday but next so I'll have the info once they inform me they have it before I go.)  Will it restart my 6 months to go down and back and I have to reapply for extension?  Or since it's less than 24hours will it still apply?

If I DO lose the extension and I'm in process I'm sure they will approve if I reapply if they dont' grant me that long of one at the border.  But what are the odds they will reject me coming back same day if I have the proof of medical exam, and that my PR app is in and in process and all fees paid?

This is all based on them approving it.  Still waiting.  I'm here on implied right now as I was supposed to leave April 30th.

[Amoss]

18 months  my visitor visa extension runs out in August and it'll be a cold day in hell that they extend it for the third time 

I'm keeping an eye on Prophet3 and York Region lol they are close to me on the spreadsheet. Maybe they will find our files propping up the leg of the canteen dining table 

How long did your stage one take? like how long ago did it get transferred to Buffalo?

[moochops]

Stage 1 was right on target for their processing timescales (6 weeks I think) it was transferred to Buffalo on (9th August 2011 ) and went in process on 6th Jan.

So I know it's still within the guidlines - and yes I really should shut up and stop moaning but AAARGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH.

That felt better

[Amoss]

Stage 1 was right on target for their processing timescales (6 weeks I think) it was transferred to Buffalo on (9th August 2011 ) and went in process on 6th Jan.

So I know it's still within the guidlines - and yes I really should shut up and stop moaning but AAARGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH.

That felt better

No worries. I am a complainer too sometimes!  I was just curious because I want to know more about Buffalo's time lines and communication style. What kinds of stuff have you heard from them so far and how long did it take to hear that stuff?? That is, if you are so inclined to answer 

[moochops]

No worries. I am a complainer too sometimes!  I was just curious because I want to know more about Buffalo's time lines and communication style. What kinds of stuff have you heard from them so far and how long did it take to hear that stuff?? That is, if you are so inclined to answer 

I heard that the sponsor had been approved and the file transferred to Buffalo in August. (That was by email). Then I had to email them to force an AOR (which they said they had emailed although it seems they had my email address wrong  ).

The next thing I heard was a request for further info (updated police checks) and rprf which they sent by mail in January. I sent this back as soon as I got them which was end of Feb.

I've sent a couple of begging emails but get the standard "go away and we'll contact you when ready" emails.

This is how sad I am - they had my email address wrong - so I even created a hotmail account for the address that they had wron in the system (luckily it was available) just in case someone didn't change it on the file. The emails that they have sent me have always been in reply to mine - so I'm covering all bases lol

[Amoss]

I heard that the sponsor had been approved and the file transferred to Buffalo in August. (That was by email). Then I had to email them to force an AOR (which they said they had emailed although it seems they had my email address wrong  ).

The next thing I heard was a request for further info (updated police checks) and rprf which they sent by mail in January. I sent this back as soon as I got them which was end of Feb.

I've sent a couple of begging emails but get the standard "go away and we'll contact you when ready" emails.

This is how sad I am - they had my email address wrong - so I even created a hotmail account for the address that they had wron in the system (luckily it was available) just in case someone didn't change it on the file. The emails that they have sent me have always been in reply to mine - so I'm covering all bases lol

Oh no! That's terrible...   yeah, I have considered e-mailing them too because it's been about a month and a half since they got our file but I keep thinking I will get something sometime.

BTW, how many police checks did you have? and were the ones they requested to have updated from countries you don't even live in anymore? I ask because my husband has lived in 5 countries since he was 18 and it was a super pain in the butt to get them, and well, yeah.

oh Buffalo  

[Lasiar]

18 months?! I guess they say 11 months for 80% of the cases and 18 months for 100% of the cases?? OR... and I don't want to say it... 18 months is what the next quarterly update will put Buffalo at as the new processing time

Well, the update should be any day now...

OR, and I will easily say it,  the agents love to exaggerate and gives the most awful predicaments over the phone. My opinion is that they have never had to apply for a visa in their lives so they have no idea about what it feels like to be on the other end.

Yes I tend to agree with that. exaggerating bit.. at least I hope so and your right they don't know what it feels like to be on this end of it. if they did, they surely wouldnt treat people's feelings like they are nothing. thank you.

[Habsfan]

Hi Habsfan, here is the CIC processing time page... http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp.  They are talking about 82 days for stage 1 processing (sponsorship approval) and they are now working on applications received on February 1, 2012.  So you may expect another month or 2 for yours to have sponsorship approved, before your application is passed to Buffalo VO for further processing.  And don't count on them sending acknowledgements, as it's quite common people not getting any.

For your information, you can take a look at the Buffalo spreadsheet (link in my signature) to get a feel for processing time from other forum member's timeline.  Please share your dates if you would like to be added to the spreadsheet.

Good luck with your application!

Oooh ok nice! Thanks so much GOGOGO!
We won't worry too much about not hearing back from them for a little while longer then hehe

[PurpleLilly]

They also kept contacting us by snail mail, apart from one email which was PPR. They replied to all our email inquiries though, sometime within 48 hours, sometimes a lot later. PPR email to us had a different sender name (BFALOIMPA-AP＠international.gc.ca), not the usual Buffalo address (buffalo-im-enquiry＠international.gc.ca)

Hi, I see you are landed already, so its safe to say that this BFALOIMPA-AP @ international.gc.ca email address is legit? I just recieved an email from that address and I'm worried if it is some sort of scam. Also because the note that was sent to me looks like its a page scanned from a book. It had like a ring binder on the sides or something. Please advise. Thanks

[nsr]

Hi all

Update

Just got an email from BFALOIMPA-AP @ international.gc.ca that initial assessment is complete and an interview is required. We will inform you about date and time.

When should I expect next response from them about date. And how long they take to schedule interview.

Please share your timeline and experience with interview.

Thanks