Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[Rinnerz]

At any rate, I'm getting my medical done this Tuesday. Does anyone know what I would need to do after I'm finished? I hate that I now have to send this separately from my application. I don't want it to get lost in the process. Does the DMP send up the results? Can I give the Buffalo office a heads up to look out for it? I'm concerned this is going to cause a huge delay in my processing. Any advice is much appreciated.....

1) Normally to get your medical done, you need Appendix C filled out, your passport (for ID), the fee, AND some immigration size photos. How many depends on the DMP, usually 4 or 5 though. And sometimes DMPs ask for passport size photos (yay, more inconsistency). But you should definitely call them and doublecheck about the photos before going for your appointment. They need them to attach to the various forms.

2) Once the medical is done, it will take awhile for the DMP to receive all your lab results back (how long depends on your healthcare system there). When the DMP receives your results, he/she will then courier them to the regional medical center responsible for your area. If you're in the States or Canada for example, that'll be Ottawa. Later on, when Buffalo needs your medical results, they will use the form you send them (mentioned below) to request the results directly from the regional medical center.

3) Right after your medical (i.e. at the end of your appointment), the DMP will give you a slip of paper - copy 2 of Medical Report Section A. You HAVE to have this, so if he doesn't automatically give it to you, be sure to remind him. It's also known as form IMM017. Once you have this, you'll need to send this to Buffalo. The problem is that there's a good chance it will get lost or not attached to your file properly if you send it without your Buffalo immigration file number attached. So, you really should wait until Buffalo sends you your file number, THEN send it on to them. Make sure you send it via courier or some other form of tracking delivery, because chances are good that Buffalo won't bother telling you in writing when they receive it.

I'm not sure trying to give Buffalo a head's up will do you any good, if you don't even have your Buffalo file number yet. And you may want to photocopy the slip your DMP gives you before you send it on to Buffalo, just in case.

[quakingaspen]

So complicated... right down to the end.  

How about flagpoling?  Can he drive me to the border, and to the Canadian side so I can land without entering or exiting the US?

We're planning to land at the Thousand Islands Bridge, so I'm not sure if there are buses that run that way.  I guess I should look into it.

[CandC2009]

I dont see why you couldn't rent a car, I've rented a car and driven it across the border no problem and other family members have done it before as well. (As long as the rental agency has no policy against you driving the car across the border). When my husband gets his pasport request we plan on renting a car to go down there.

[buffalo-toronto]

Yea dont think there will be bus service to that place. best bet would be to rent a car, there shouldnt be a problem with that.

[sparkle]

Hey guys, quick question!

I am the sponsor, and I am planning to move to a new apartment (still in Canada). How important it is for me to change my address on file ? I doubt it that they will send me any mail, and even if they do, I can always receive it through my landlord even after I move out.
I don't want to delay the file by updating some information...I "think" me changing the address and all might delay it? right?

I will be applying for canadian citizenship  soon, so I will be showing my residential record, and I will eb showing that I moved out end of May. Do you think they would check back with our sponsorship file, and see that I never updated back then when I moved ?

[puzzle69]

Rinnerz,

Thank you for your detailed reply! You pretty much answered all of my questions. My DMP wants 5 pics, although they can't seem to decide on the sizes (immigration or passport). I think waiting for a file number from Buffalo is the wise thing to do. I really wish I could have sent it with the rest of my application. I am concerned it will get lost. I will definitely get the file number first and then send it by courier. Keeping my fingers crossed that it will end up with my file and not in the garbage!  Thanks again for all of your help.

[buffalo-toronto]

Hey guys, quick question!

I am the sponsor, and I am planning to move to a new apartment (still in Canada). How important it is for me to change my address on file ? I doubt it that they will send me any mail, and even if they do, I can always receive it through my landlord even after I move out.
I don't want to delay the file by updating some information...I "think" me changing the address and all might delay it? right?

I will be applying for canadian citizenship  soon, so I will be showing my residential record, and I will eb showing that I moved out end of May. Do you think they would check back with our sponsorship file, and see that I never updated back then when I moved ?

Sparkle, I think you should be fine although advisable would be to update the address. Dont think Citizenship and PR would check with each other on the details of a person. If you can get any mail from the landlord, I guess you should be fine then.

[sparkle]

Thank you for your reply buffalo-toronto !

We finally got the AOR just now !!!

[buffalo-toronto]

Thank you for your reply buffalo-toronto !

We finally got the AOR just now !!!

Nice! Congrats! How did you get it? snail mail or email?

[sparkle]

Email !

The best news I've got in a while ! I just wish this whole process gets done quickly so I can live with my husband !

[spiritrac]

congrats Sparkle we celebrate with you

[kerianne]

Congrats sparkle that's good news!

Enterprise seems to be the best rental because they usually allow unlimited driving within the bordering states. Could you walk across the US border if you're too worried about the car? I cross at the Sumas border in BC and they have a walk in, where you literally can cross by foot. You could have your husband waiting on the Canadian side. Tell the US your situation, enter the US and then walk back over to the Canadian side and land? I know that sounds a little outlandish (no pun intended) lol But if you're worried about cars and whatnot it's another option.

For the last three years of my border crossing I have avoided crossing by bus and train only because I've heard so many horror stories about the hours of waiting or being held up because of somebody else. I wouldn't want to be the reason that everybody else on the bus had to wait while I landed. But that's just me.

I think your best option would be to either have a Canadian friend drive you in their car, or rent a car Good luck! I ended up not going to Oregon this last weekend, so I am going to flagpole it Friday when my boyfriend gets off work

[quakingaspen]

Thank you for the thoughts and the insight!

I did send Enterprise an e-mail today to explain my situation, and ask if they could help me out.  Their website says you can only take the car across the border with specific permission from the particular place you're renting it from. 

I'll let you guys know what they have to say, but for now I'm thinking the best option would be to rent the car, have my husband wait in the city, and I'll drive over and land, then come back and meet him.  I hope this will avoid all the problems with my car, his car, and public transport.  I agree with you that I would not want other people to wait for me.

[Doiron]

Congrats Sparkle!!  I can't wait until I get an AOR...

If it is not too much of a bother can you add me to the spreadsheet, thanks so much!
Outland Buffalo - fam. class. USA to Canada
App Sent 2/16/2011
App received 2/18/2011
Sponsor DM 3/16/2011
In Buffalo 3/24/2011

Thanks again!

[puzzle69]

Congratulations Sparkle! Let's hope it's smooth sailing from here for you.