Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[mapleleafs2011]

Here for the spreadsheet.

- Applied CIC received app January 27th
- I was approved as the sponsor on April 19th. Application was transferred to Buffalo

[Lasiar]

someone plz tell me where my husband can get the photos he is required to send with his passport.. He says that CVS cant do it to the specifications. this is what is says the specs are.   3.ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE ENCLOSED TWO PICTURES. The photographs must be unblemished as they will be used to produce
your Permanent Resident Card once you are in Canada. The requirements are as follows:
<DIMENSIONS - 35mm x 45mm (1 3/8" x 1 3/4") finished size. Show a full front view of the person's head and shoulders showing full face centred in the middle of the
photograph. Measure between 25 mm and 30 mm (1" and 1 3/8") from chin to crown
<BACKGROUND - be clear, well-defined and taken against a plain white background without shadows
<COLOUR - photograph can be in black and white, or colour
<CONDITION - no creases or staple holes should mar the face of the person. Facial features should be visible
<AGE OF PHOTO - 1. Within 6 months; 2. Bear the date the photo was taken (not the date the photo was printed) directly on the back of one print (stick-on labels are not
acceptable)
<PHOTO PAPER - 1. Produced from the same unretouched film or from the same file capturing the digital image or from two identical photos exposed simultaneously by
a split-image or multi-lens camera; 2. On photographic paper that has a backing which accepts and retains the date without smearing. Photos without this backing are not
acceptable; 3. On prints that are well-fixed and washed to prevent fading and discolouration
<IMPORTANT - must be original photo (not taken from any existing photo)

[mattrox10]

Holy crud I got my PPR!!! I can't believe it! I burst into tears upon seeing the email and frantically phoned my husband at work. I got it by email today from Seattle. I am so tempted to reply and tell them how much I love them for processing so quickly. 

Gogogo if you want to please update me on the spreadsheet and maybe the transfers one too if that is still active. I feel like I should say more but my brain has melted.

That is so exciting! I sure hope mine goes through quickly like this too.

[GOGOGO]

Hi mapleleafs2011, you're added to the spreadsheet.  Welcome here, and good luck!

Here for the spreadsheet.

- Applied CIC received app January 27th
- I was approved as the sponsor on April 19th. Application was transferred to Buffalo

[Lasiar]

someone plz tell me where my husband can get the photos he is required to send with his passport.. He says that CVS cant do it to the specifications. this is what is says the specs are.   3.ENSURE THAT YOU HAVE ENCLOSED TWO PICTURES. The photographs must be unblemished as they will be used to produce
your Permanent Resident Card once you are in Canada. The requirements are as follows:
<DIMENSIONS - 35mm x 45mm (1 3/8" x 1 3/4") finished size. Show a full front view of the person's head and shoulders showing full face centred in the middle of the
photograph. Measure between 25 mm and 30 mm (1" and 1 3/8") from chin to crown
<BACKGROUND - be clear, well-defined and taken against a plain white background without shadows
<COLOUR - photograph can be in black and white, or colour
<CONDITION - no creases or staple holes should mar the face of the person. Facial features should be visible
<AGE OF PHOTO - 1. Within 6 months; 2. Bear the date the photo was taken (not the date the photo was printed) directly on the back of one print (stick-on labels are not
acceptable)
<PHOTO PAPER - 1. Produced from the same unretouched film or from the same file capturing the digital image or from two identical photos exposed simultaneously by
a split-image or multi-lens camera; 2. On photographic paper that has a backing which accepts and retains the date without smearing. Photos without this backing are not
acceptable; 3. On prints that are well-fixed and washed to prevent fading and discolouration
<IMPORTANT - must be original photo (not taken from any existing photo)

NVM guys we found a place. sorry I'm really hyper and blatting like a 2yr old.

[Amoss]

  Congratulations to JAYJAY2, podkayne8 an Lasiar!! 

How exciting!!!!!

[Belinasha]

Would someone be able to add me to the spreadsheet? App received March 6, 2012 by Mississauga by UPS. Thanks!

[GOGOGO]

Hi Belinasha, you're on the spreadsheet now.  Welcome and good luck!

Would someone be able to add me to the spreadsheet? App received March 6, 2012 by Mississauga by UPS. Thanks!

[JAYJAY2]

is there any programs that my can take advantage of as a new canadian immigrant?

Thanks

[GOGOGO]

Yes, for example, free English/French classes based your level of competence (after an assessment done at a language assessment center). You can pick either English or French but not both.

Note: Not sure where you live but in Toronto area there are only a few French classes available and they require certain level of French knowledge.  As I don't know French at all I won't be able to benefit from it.

Take a look at the following page and search for service centers that are convenient to you and talk to them.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-settlement.asp

As a matter of fact, I went to a YMCA Newcomer Information Center today for a language assessment and got to know that they also provide guidance on what you need to do/know as a newcomer like how to get SIN, Health Card, transportation information, etc.  They also offer free seminars/workshops about Canadian history, workplace culture, resume/interview tips, etc.  They have an employment center that can assist you to find a job.

is there any programs that my can take advantage of as a new canadian immigrant?

Thanks

[Kiri]

Yes, for example, free English/French classes based your level of competence (after an assessment done at a language assessment center). You can pick either English or French but not both.

Note: Not sure where you live but in Toronto area there are only a few French classes available and they require certain level of French knowledge.  As I don't know French at all I won't be able to benefit from it.

Take a look at the following page and search for service centers that are convenient to you and talk to them.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/before-settlement.asp

As a matter of fact, I went to a YMCA Newcomer Information Center today for a language assessment and got to know that they also provide guidance on what you need to do/know as a newcomer like how to get SIN, Health Card, transportation information, etc.  They also offer free seminars/workshops about Canadian history, workplace culture, resume/interview tips, etc.  They have an employment center that can assist you to find a job.

So even if you're fluent in English can you take these courses for French?  That would be very beneficial to a career here.  Or is it just for those from countries where they don't have a firm grasp on English or French?

[GOGOGO]

It's for any permanent resident before becoming a citizen.  And yes, you can take French classes even if you're fluent in English.  First You need to do a test at the assessment center to know what level of French (or Canadian Language Benchmarks CLB as they call it) you are at.  Then they will refer you to any available French class that is appropriate to your level.  Same process for English.

You can pick only one stream, either English or French.  Once you have picked one and started any course in that stream, you can no longer switch to another stream.

I think it's very beneficial to career too, especially if you want to get into government jobs as a lot of them require bilingual.  My English is not perfect but I can survive in general or at work.  Therefore I want to take the opportunity to learn French which I know nothing of, instead of improving my English.  However, there is no free beginner's class available in Toronto area as I was told by the lady in the language assessment center.

So even if you're fluent in English can you take these courses for French?  That would be very beneficial to a career here.  Or is it just for those from countries where they don't have a firm grasp on English or French?

[apstone]

It's for any permanent resident before becoming a citizen.  And yes, you can take French classes even if you're fluent in English.  First You need to do a test at the assessment center to know what level of French (or Canadian Language Benchmarks CLB as they call it) you are at.  Then they will refer you to any available French class that is appropriate to your level.  Same process for English.

You can pick only one stream, either English or French.  Once you have picked one and started any course in that stream, you can no longer switch to another stream.

I think it's very beneficial to career too, especially if you want to get into government jobs as a lot of them require bilingual.  My English is not perfect but I can survive in general or at work.  Therefore I want to take the opportunity to learn French which I know nothing of, instead of improving my English.  However, there is no free beginner's class available in Toronto area as I was told by the lady in the language assessment center.

Unless you have spent some time in Canada, I would wait to choose your language stream, especially if you can only choose one.  I've been here off and on for a little while, and I'm not sure how important French actually is, unless of course you are in Quebec/NB.  Here in Ontario, 99% of people use English every day and I hardly hear any French.  Maybe increasing your level in English to be 100% fluent would actually be a better benefit?  I speak a little French, and it took me 8 months of classes to learn and I haven't used it much since I've been in Canada.  To use it at the level required for a government job would take years and years.

Not saying it's not good/fun/useful to learn French, but I wouldn't pick just learning a little French over perfecting English.  Either way though, free classes are a great offer, when I get my PR, maybe I will take up French again just for fun

[Eddy070]

Hello all,

I just wanted to shared me and wife had our interview at Buffalo yesterday and thankfully I was approved, my passport was stamped after the interview along with my COPR.

Even though they asked both of us to be present at the interview, they only interviewed me.

We drove back to the border and I landed same day yesterday.

It took a little over than 1 year to have everything finished, out of that year, 8 months were just awaiting to be interviewed.

I will describe later how was the interview, landing was pretty simple as I was already with my wife so I didn't bring anything.

Best of luck to everyone.

B.

@ NYQUE Congratulation. And to all who have just gotten there PR Congratulation.
My regards to everyone who just started there application or still in process, Pls stay strong and never
give-up because the process is long and unpredictable but there is always possibilities of positive outcome.
Nothing good comes easy. Wishing you all Good-luck in Advance.  

[Kiri]

Unless you have spent some time in Canada, I would wait to choose your language stream, especially if you can only choose one.  I've been here off and on for a little while, and I'm not sure how important French actually is, unless of course you are in Quebec/NB.  Here in Ontario, 99% of people use English every day and I hardly hear any French.  Maybe increasing your level in English to be 100% fluent would actually be a better benefit?  I speak a little French, and it took me 8 months of classes to learn and I haven't used it much since I've been in Canada.  To use it at the level required for a government job would take years and years.

Not saying it's not good/fun/useful to learn French, but I wouldn't pick just learning a little French over perfecting English.  Either way though, free classes are a great offer, when I get my PR, maybe I will take up French again just for fun

I've been in Canada a year now and I hardly hear French in Ontario... but I'm going to take classes if they are free to learn to go with the other languages I have learned so I can put it on my resume since I'm fluent in English (native language).  I've heard that if you speak (like conversational) you can get $5 over minimum wage to start at some jobs or more.. especially if it's a skilled worker job.