Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[Calgary-Bound]

That email was atip-aiprp  @  hc-sc.gc.ca, right?

You actualy got a reply back when you emailed them.Maybe I should have my wife check her spam mail since we sent it from her work.

[Eddy070]

HOT DIGGITY!!!  a REAL e-cas update this morning (the Saturday of Labour Day weekend, nonetheless!):

" We started processing your application on August 18, 2011
Medical results have been received."

One step closer!! Now if only I could get my PPR in the next few days and avoid the hassle of submitting an app for a new LMO/CAQ/WP.

Side note - if I do get PPR soon but have already submitted an app for my WP, is there any way to cancel it, per se?

Wow, Congrats.....
This month really starts off very nice....let's us hope for more movement next....Go Buffalo Go

[amaranth]

Wow, Congrats.....
This month really starts off very nice....let's us hope for more movement next....Go Buffalo Go

*chants*
*LET'S GO BUFF-A-LO!* *LET'S GO BUFF-A-LO!* *LET'S GO BUFF-A-LO!*
... should we all do the wave now?  

(if it wasn't so freaking hot today, I'd dig out one of my Sabres jerseys   )

Anything to keep the momentum up in Buffalo, right?  

[sithvixen]

Hello Everyone,

We applied in March (Outland) and my husband got his email on August 8.  I can't remember if there was a March buffalo thread but I'll post it there as well.  We are hoping to flagpole in the next few weeks.

I was kind of curious....it says on the letter that if you are already in Canada and have a valid temporary resident status, you can call for an interview instead of leaving and re-entering.   Does a 1 yr visitor record count as that?  I suspect not but I thought I would ask. 

[ddobro2]

If that was a question, I didn't (yet), no. I take it you didn't get anything back either? I basically called the DMP and got a confirmation of when they sent the results to Ottawa. Ottawa of course ignored my fax and told me to call the Call Centre, which I did, but it's pretty much useless because they don't put all stuff there for the agent to see due to "privacy issues" or something  I swear, I need a Ph.D. in immigration studies or something. By the way, the call center agent seemed to tell me that Buffalo does not lose medical results, ever (hmn, ever? didn't sparkle call someone who mentioned they do - at least misplace them?)

You actualy got a reply back when you emailed them.Maybe I should have my wife check her spam mail since we sent it from her work.

[ddobro2]

Doubt there's a March Buffalo thread. There's a March thread for various VOs but one Buffalo thread. You got your PPR already? Wow, that's awesome. Congrats. Hopefully someone else can help you out with the TRV and how to land if you  have one.

Hello Everyone,

We applied in March (Outland) and my husband got his email on August 8.  I can't remember if there was a March buffalo thread but I'll post it there as well.  We are hoping to flagpole in the next few weeks.

I was kind of curious....it says on the letter that if you are already in Canada and have a valid temporary resident status, you can call for an interview instead of leaving and re-entering.   Does a 1 yr visitor record count as that?  I suspect not but I thought I would ask. 

[spiritrac]

There is a March thread I would imagine it would be for all those who applied in March. last post on it was August 31

[ddobro2]

By the way, SithVixen, I added you to our little spreadsheet so we can keep track.  That's 10 out of 13 applications so far to the PPR stage or beyond for Marchers at Buffalo      Best of luck and congrats again.

[sithvixen]

Thanks, I actually found your spreadsheet very helpful.  I was unaware that they would send it by email; and thank goodness we checked because sure enough, they sent the email the week before!  Knowing the time frames also inspired the check, I saw that everyone was getting theirs around the same date!

Great idea with the spreadsheet! 

[sithvixen]

Hello Everyone,

We applied in March (Outland) and my husband got his email on August 8.  I can't remember if there was a March buffalo thread but I'll post it there as well.  We are hoping to flagpole in the next few weeks.

I was kind of curious....it says on the letter that if you are already in Canada and have a valid temporary resident status, you can call for an interview instead of leaving and re-entering.   Does a 1 yr visitor record count as that?  I suspect not but I thought I would ask. 

Someone else responded to my question on a main post.  They did indicate that a visitor record is a valid status and that I just have to keep trying the 1888 number to schedule an appointment.  I will let you know how that goes, I'm not even sure if Calgary is a valid appointment site.  But I resent having to call that number, I never get through. 

[ddobro2]

Lol, thanks but it's been here before I started updating it (just taking it over for someone else who was done) 

Great idea with the spreadsheet! 

[doctorkb]

Someone else responded to my question on a main post.  They did indicate that a visitor record is a valid status and that I just have to keep trying the 1888 number to schedule an appointment.  I will let you know how that goes, I'm not even sure if Calgary is a valid appointment site.  But I resent having to call that number, I never get through. 

How urgently do you want to land?

As I understand it, these landing interviews (i.e. to do it without going to a border crossing) are booked months in advance.

Two options for you:

1. drive the 3-4 hours from Calgary to the US border, cross then turn around and come back.  There, you're landed.

2. Not even sure this is possible, but... try going to Calgary Int'l Airport and then to the Immigration counter.  Play dumb.  Say you'd like to "land" and ask if that's something you can do with them right then.  In theory, they should be able to help you out.  In practice... don't know.  Alternatively, you could find the cheapest flight from Calgary to a US destination, go through US customs, then "change your mind" and ask to stay in Calgary.  You'll have to go through Canadian Customs (at which point you can land) since you're have technically left the country (and had access to duty-free shopping).  You can land then.

Just a couple ideas that might be quicker / cheaper / easier than trying to get the local appointment.

[Feaky Snucker]

You can land in Calgary - an immigration specialist told me you can, but you won't get your card or anything for a few weeks. I remember it being more convenient to leave and come back rather than waiting longer. Then again it is cheaper to just go to the Calgary airport. Call ahead and ask to make sure though.

[rjessome]

2. Not even sure this is possible, but... try going to Calgary Int'l Airport and then to the Immigration counter.  Play dumb.  Say you'd like to "land" and ask if that's something you can do with them right then.  In theory, they should be able to help you out.  In practice... don't know.  Alternatively, you could find the cheapest flight from Calgary to a US destination, go through US customs, then "change your mind" and ask to stay in Calgary.  You'll have to go through Canadian Customs (at which point you can land) since you're have technically left the country (and had access to duty-free shopping).  You can land then.

This won't work.  Not to mention that it would really annoy quite a few US immigration people to not board a flight that you are checked in for.  You know how touchy US immigration people are.  You cannot go to the airport just to land without physically leaving Canada.

The two options are to make the appointment to land locally in Calgary or to leave Canada and re-enter either by flag-poling or actually leaving and coming back.

[ddobro2]

The fact that she needs to call the Call Centre to make this appointment is, I'm sorry, not very efficient. No wonder she can't get through - there are plenty of people who haven't gotten sponsorship approval two months later calling in, just as an example. And then there's the Labor Day holiday, which will just jam the lines even more when they open on Tuesday. I can't believe she just can't call the Calgary or Edmonton offices directly to make an interview appointment.