Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[pdb1]

Is there any progress in getting the PR for Buffalo applicants? I am a British Citizen living in the US. The london office seem to be processing PR application much quicker than the Buffalo office. Should I have applied for my visa through the London office? I hope to get my wife (my sponsor) approved sometime this week. Is it possible to change the visa office to London...NOW?

[boomerang11]

So no progress... Although I am glad to see some "In Process" and "Initial Assessmen

Well here's some good news.... I received my CSQ on Friday!    It's not an e-cas update, but it's another stepping stone, right??? 
Actual effective date for CSQ is May 13, 2011.  Please update on the spreadsheet. Thanks a bunch!

[Love-Buf-Wings]

Hey guys,

Congrats to all those who have made progress!

Question: how do you order a Case Specific Inquiry? When is this useful? I need to know whether our forwarded police certificate has been included in our file. I also haven't heard anything about whether or not our interview has been waived. Our file is still in "process" with no updates.

[sparkle]

Hey guys,

   Congrats to all those who are in progress. Question: how do you order a case specific inquiry? When is this useful? I need to know whether our forwarded police certificate has been included in our file. I also haven't heard anything about whether or not our interview has been waived.

In order to send a case specific inquiry, you have to email Buffalo at the following address -

buffalo-im-enquiry @ international.gc.ca

However, I emailed them once before for the same reason, to check if a document we sent has been added to our file, but they always reply this -

"Due to high volumes, we cannot acknowledge receipt of email, fax, regular correspondence (applications, payments, documents or information) or medical exam results.
 
If you have recently submitted documents or information to this office, we will update your file accordingly, if needed.
 
If we require additional documents, we will contact you."

So I don't think it's a good idea, unfortunately, Buffalo never acknowledges receipt of any document.
Also, as far as your interview is concerned, they will let you know about that in the Initial Assessment document. However, not everyone gets it, and the most latest IA was received by palamr, who applied on Dec 18, 2010.

[argenta]

...There's no reason for them to replace your passport with a Canadian one. 1) The applicant is being processed for PR, not Canadian citizenship. 2) Even if it was for citizenship, you are still not required to surrender your old passport to the Canadian government.

Passport request happens at the final stage, when the PR applicant has been approved. They ask for the passport so they can place the PR visa in it and give you your Confirmation of Permanent Residence, so that you can land in Canada as a PR. So, yes, the passports are returned.

Buffalo sometimes transfers files to the satellite offices (NY, Seattle, Washington, LA, Detroit) when they are backlogged -- which they definitely are right now. It was likely transferred to help expedite things on both ends.

Hi again.

My husband and I received a package from the Canadian Consulate in NYC this morning - it included no communication from CIC, only the documentation of our relationship and photos from our PR application. We hope that this means they no longer require this info, but we aren't sure exactly why it's being returned. Has anyone else received communication (or lack thereof) such as this?

Thanks (and congrats to all the recent successful apps!)

[Love-Buf-Wings]

In order to send a case specific inquiry, you have to email Buffalo at the following address -

buffalo-im-enquiry  @  international.gc.ca

However, I emailed them once before for the same reason, to check if a document we sent has been added to our file, but they always reply this -

"Due to high volumes, we cannot acknowledge receipt of email, fax, regular correspondence (applications, payments, documents or information) or medical exam results.
 
If you have recently submitted documents or information to this office, we will update your file accordingly, if needed.
 
If we require additional documents, we will contact you."

So I don't think it's a good idea, unfortunately, Buffalo never acknowledges receipt of any document.
Also, as far as your interview is concerned, they will let you know about that in the Initial Assessment document. However, not everyone gets it, and the most latest IA was received by palamr, who applied on Dec 18, 2010.

Hi Sparkle,

    Is that what a CSI is? Oh, I already emailed Buffalo on that email and you are right I got the same reply as you...perhaps I was thinking of CAPS notes, but I should wait a couple of months before I request that.

    Good luck Sparkle! We're in the same boat!

[amaranth]

Hi again.

My husband and I received a package from the Canadian Consulate in NYC this morning - it included no communication from CIC, only the documentation of our relationship and photos from our PR application. We hope that this means they no longer require this info, but we aren't sure exactly why it's being returned. Has anyone else received communication (or lack thereof) such as this?

Thanks (and congrats to all the recent successful apps!)

This seems to be another of CIC's great inconsistencies... Some people get their photos and other stuff back, but more often than not, nothing is returned. I'd say this is a good thing for you. Let's hope this means your PPR will be on it's way soon! 

[puzzle69]

Interesting news! My wife just received a call from the CIC. They were wondering what was going on with my son and why he wasn't being granted Canadian citizenship. My wife explained the whole situation with him being adopted and the Consulate General in Atlanta denying him a Proof of Citizenship card. The CIC confirmed this and said they were going to proceed with sponsorship for him and myself. We could then apply for his citizenship after we land, and it should only take a year from that point. My wife then asked what sort of time frame we were looking at until we get a PPR. The immigration officer couldn't give us a time frame, but confirmed that our application is in process in Buffalo. Everything was in order and all they needed was our IMM 1017's from our medicals. We are off to FedEX them to Buffalo immediately. We still haven't gotten a File# but the CIC officer said not to worry, we are further along than what is stated on the Ecas update. 

Sparkle, I guess you can update that we are officially "In Process" on my spreadsheet according to the phone call from the CIC. Very excited! 

[buffalo-toronto]

Thats awesome Puzzle.

I was although before you, my file was initially transfered on March 10th but then CIC-M requested for some documents which got there by end of March so lets see if that makes any difference to my file, hopefully mine is also in Process but Ecas shows Application Received only.

Good for you!!

[buffalo-toronto]

Puzzle, on your timeline it says AOR recvd April 4, was that thru Ecas or Email?

[puzzle69]

Through Ecas on April 7th.

[argenta]

This seems to be another of CIC's great inconsistencies... Some people get their photos and other stuff back, but more often than not, nothing is returned. I'd say this is a good thing for you. Let's hope this means your PPR will be on it's way soon! 

Thanks amaranth - hope you're right!

[tulamoon]

Soooo anyone with the "newer" system experience. Our ecas changed to application received by Buffalo on April 7th, and since then we've heard nothing. No emails, no letters, nothing. is this normal? I thought you were supposed to get a file number or something. Anyone know?

[Romain]

Soooo anyone with the "newer" system experience. Our ecas changed to application received by Buffalo on April 7th, and since then we've heard nothing. No emails, no letters, nothing. is this normal? I thought you were supposed to get a file number or something. Anyone know?

Well tell me about it.... i Have Application receive in January 19th....
Last news i had was April 19th when i was told that our file was transferred to NYC.
Since then no news ! CAIPS notes only show that a file was created with nothing started.....

[Feaky Snucker]

Soooo anyone with the "newer" system experience. Our ecas changed to application received by Buffalo on April 7th, and since then we've heard nothing. No emails, no letters, nothing. is this normal? I thought you were supposed to get a file number or something. Anyone know?

Our ecas changed to application received March 11th, since then nothing. We didn't get anything telling us they'd received it - just the ecas update...