Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[AmericaninQuebec]

Then they're really not going to like me because I called them on their BS in my cover letter that accompanied my CSQ copy (politely pointed out, of course  ). Mail and fax both.

Yeah, I was very polite in my email as well, but as a friend pointed out to me the simple fact that I'm a woman and asserting a point probably caused her to label me as a b*tch anyway.

My husband says if we don't hear anything by next week he wants to go back and see the MP with our GCMS notes and email exchanges. I don't even know what they could do at this point, but I suppose having the MP pester Buffalo again couldn't hurt.

Once all of this is behind us I'm seriously contemplating writing something about it to the Montreal Gazette. I know they're really sympathetic to immigrants, and maybe they'd find the apparent (at least to me) lies, inefficiency, and forced inability to communicate with CIC interesting enough to do an article on it.

Until then, my fingers are crossed that Buffalo starts sending out "finalizations" to people again. Preferably starting with those of us who applied in February/March/April (or before) and are still waiting.

[amaranth]

Okay, here it is... landing story!

I picked up my visa in Buffalo on Nov. 10. Nothing new to add to what others have posted about that process.

I landed on Nov. 17. Husband snagged me and most of my stuff from my parent's place just outside Buffalo (convenient, no?) We got to the border around 7:30pm, and it was dead. In 8 years of crossing at least 3+ times a month at the Peace Bridge, I have never seen it that dead before 1 or 2 am. We got up to the interrogation booth, and Husband told the officer I was landing. He gave us the little yellow paper and sent up to the building.

There was nobody in the building besides the officers, and they all looked bored. The officer I got was fantastic. I really wish I could remember her badge number! We went up to the counter and handed her all my paperwork. (seriously, that counter is high. I'm 5'7, and it was just below shoulder height. I had to stand on tiptoe to sign the COPR!) As she was typing things into her computer, she frowned, and asked when we started our application. Thus began what shall henceforth be known as the FUBAR conversation (this is as verbatim as possible. I will never forget this conversation!)...

Officer: When exactly did you submit your application?
Me: December 17, 2010
Officer: Wow, really?
Me: Yeah.
Officer: And it took them this long to finalize? Were there any issues?
Husband: Nothing more than Buffalo's apparent ineptitude.
Officer: *heavy sigh* You know, Buffalo used to be the best run offices in the world. We got this new computer system early last year, supposed to make everything easier... Buffalo has totally gone down hill.
Me: Yup, I've heard all about the computer stuff!
Officer: Seriously, none of the other offices ANYWHERE have had as many issues as Buffalo. They just can't seem to wrap their heads around it. It's ridiculous. Completely, absolutely FUBAR.
*this is where Husband laughs to the point of hiccups*
*sharp glare from officer sitting nearby*
Officer: I'm glad you know what that means. I didn't want to have to explain it!

From that point, it was pretty much all the typical stuff, explaining SIN card and whatnot. Then "Congratulations, welcome to Canada", and we were directed to the customs counter. I handed the B4 to the officer, he looked it over (all I had on it were personal belongings... clothes and books and whatnot, with guesstimated value for each box)
Officer: This is all personal belongings? No car or anything?
Me: Nope, no car.
Officer: Then why did you fill this out?
Me: *slightly confused* I wasn't sure if I needed to?
Officer: You sure you have nothing else coming in later? No car?
Me: I don't have a car...
Officer: You sure? Nothing coming later?
Me: Absolutely sure.  
He stamped the back of my COPR with "NO GOODS TO FOLLOW" and we were on our way.

So, pretty painless process. We went to get my SIN the following week, and apply for OHIP. Haven't switched the driver's license yet, but that's next on the agenda.

Last night we celebrated the end of this bull$#!% at a Tea Party concert (my 20th show, haha... seriously, best Canadian band EVER.) Still recovering!  

The end. I'm going back to bed now  

[AmericaninQuebec]

Congrats amaranth! Love the FUBAR conversation. Definitely made me laugh. I wish they hadn't changed computer systems! Ugh! That helps explain why a woman I know who applied in 2009 had her PR from Buffalo pretty much 4 mths after she sent it in, and now no one seems to be getting processed that quickly through there.

Anyway, happy thoughts. Happy thoughts! It's Friday and so far still no snow on the ground here in Quebec. 

[Kess]

There was nobody in the building besides the officers, and they all looked bored. The officer I got was fantastic. I really wish I could remember her badge number! 

Check the COPR.  The officer that processed my husband's paperwork had to write his number on the form.

[amaranth]

Check the COPR.  The officer that processed my husband's paperwork had to write his number on the form.

No number. Just her signature, which is impossible to read. Oh well!  

[ddobro2]

Well God bless the honesty of Canadian border officers. It sounds like they really found it hard to believe you were car-less (do people not realize it's still possible to live without one or something?). Haven't heard of a Canadian band called The Tea Party but I just watched a clip and I do like the global beats. Glad you were able to celebrate and congrats again 

Okay, here it is... landing story!

I picked up my visa in Buffalo on Nov. 10. Nothing new to add to what others have posted about that process.

I landed on Nov. 17. Husband snagged me and most of my stuff from my parent's place just outside Buffalo (convenient, no?) We got to the border around 7:30pm, and it was dead. In 8 years of crossing at least 3+ times a month at the Peace Bridge, I have never seen it that dead before 1 or 2 am. We got up to the interrogation booth, and Husband told the officer I was landing. He gave us the little yellow paper and sent up to the building.

There was nobody in the building besides the officers, and they all looked bored. The officer I got was fantastic. I really wish I could remember her badge number! We went up to the counter and handed her all my paperwork. (seriously, that counter is high. I'm 5'7, and it was just below shoulder height. I had to stand on tiptoe to sign the COPR!) As she was typing things into her computer, she frowned, and asked when we started our application. Thus began what shall henceforth be known as the FUBAR conversation (this is as verbatim as possible. I will never forget this conversation!)...

Officer: When exactly did you submit your application?
Me: December 17, 2010
Officer: Wow, really?
Me: Yeah.
Officer: And it took them this long to finalize? Were there any issues?
Husband: Nothing more than Buffalo's apparent ineptitude.
Officer: *heavy sigh* You know, Buffalo used to be the best run offices in the world. We got this new computer system early last year, supposed to make everything easier... Buffalo has totally gone down hill.
Me: Yup, I've heard all about the computer stuff!
Officer: Seriously, none of the other offices ANYWHERE have had as many issues as Buffalo. They just can't seem to wrap their heads around it. It's ridiculous. Completely, absolutely FUBAR.
*this is where Husband laughs to the point of hiccups*
*sharp glare from officer sitting nearby*
Officer: I'm glad you know what that means. I didn't want to have to explain it!

From that point, it was pretty much all the typical stuff, explaining SIN card and whatnot. Then "Congratulations, welcome to Canada", and we were directed to the customs counter. I handed the B4 to the officer, he looked it over (all I had on it were personal belongings... clothes and books and whatnot, with guesstimated value for each box)
Officer: This is all personal belongings? No car or anything?
Me: Nope, no car.
Officer: Then why did you fill this out?
Me: *slightly confused* I wasn't sure if I needed to?
Officer: You sure you have nothing else coming in later? No car?
Me: I don't have a car...
Officer: You sure? Nothing coming later?
Me: Absolutely sure.  
He stamped the back of my COPR with "NO GOODS TO FOLLOW" and we were on our way.

So, pretty painless process. We went to get my SIN the following week, and apply for OHIP. Haven't switched the driver's license yet, but that's next on the agenda.

Last night we celebrated the end of this bull$#!% at a Tea Party concert (my 20th show, haha... seriously, best Canadian band EVER.) Still recovering!  

The end. I'm going back to bed now  

[janamay1967]

The tracking number for our passports to be returned to us just activated this morning so I am believing they will show up on Monday!!! We will go to the border on Friday and try this Landing thing for ourselves! I have to admit that I am terrified that something will go STUPID at the end.

I am having HUGE hassles with my car. My U.S. finance company is refusing to give me authorization to bring it to Canada so I am about ready to tell them they can just come and F**king pick it up in Calgary! I guess if I don't bring a car across the process might be easier. Has anyone else had to get rid of a financed vehicle before they landed???

I can't wait to have a GOOD story to tell!

Merry Christmas!

[ddobro2]

Yep, besides a few people who took just over 4 months in October, it has trended toward longer waits before PPR for this past month. The people who took a few months are looong into the past. But have you checked out this post: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/ppr-after-a-month-t89781.0.html? Apparently, there's an IO in Buenos Aires who got kinda bored at work (or perhaps I'm rushing to conclusions). This person REALLY skipped the line because BA takes 11 months and the PPR came after 1 - his or her file spent more time in Mississauga!

That helps explain why a woman I know who applied in 2009 had her PR from Buffalo pretty much 4 mths after she sent it in, and now no one seems to be getting processed that quickly through there.

[jacobsdennis]

Congratulations, Amaranth on finally landing...!!!  I'm hoping to have a similar "pain-free" story to tell this upcoming Wednesday following our interview in Buffalo at 10am!  Whatever the outcome though, I will be sharing right after the interview!

[jacobsdennis]

Question:  My partner and I will be leaving Toronto on Tuesday morning drive down to Buffalo for our interview the following day and with the several options we have for locations to cross the US border, does anyone recommend a certain border crossing (i.e. less traffic, friendly officers on both sides)?  I'm wondering this for both going down to Buffalo and coming back from Buffalo.  Thanks, friends!

[jacobsdennis]

I thought someone in here quite a while back said they had an interview on this upcoming Wednesday as well.  We talked about meeting up in Buffalo.  Just wondering who you were that told me that on here!

[ddobro2]

It wasn't on this thread, but it was "MyMy." By the way, you can always check anyone's past posts by clicking on their profile and then selecting "Show the last posts of this person" under "Additional Information" at the bottom of the profile page.

I thought someone in here quite a while back said they had an interview on this upcoming Wednesday as well.  We talked about meeting up in Buffalo.  Just wondering who you were that told me that on here!

[jacobsdennis]

Awesome.  I didn't know that!!!  Thanks man!

[ddobro2]

Okay, so I just totally have to point something out given the "Buffalo has gone downhill since" comment. As you probably suspected, Buffalo is THE MOST BUSY VO by far.......it processed over 38,000 PR apps in 2010 (these are all streams, apparently). This is 30% more (unless I screwed up my math, haha) than the 2nd most busy VO, Manila, which gets applications finalized in fewer months, thank you very much (and something tells me it's NOT that they have more personnel stationed in Manila than in Buffalo). Here's the chart I downloaded from the Open Data site:

Mission                                      2010 All Points of Service*    244,638 Africa & Middle East                    36,654 Abidjan                                     2,670 Abu Dhabi                                     1,337 Accra - RPC                      2,915 Cairo                                     4,233 Damascus - RPC                    12,010 Nairobi                                     5,108 Pretoria                                     1,340 Rabat                                     5,022 Tel Aviv                                     2,019 Asia & Pacific                  102,184 Beijing - RPC                      9,368 Colombo                                     2,871 Hong Kong                    16,023 Islamabad                           3,736 Kuala Lumpur                        806 Manila                                   27,443 New Delhi                                   25,255 Seoul                                     3,474 Singapore - RPC                      8,798 Sydney Australia                      1,525 Taipei                                     2,126 Tokyo                                        759 Europe                                    49,099 Ankara                                     2,176 Berlin                                     3,082 Bucharest                                     3,705 Kiev                                     2,186 London - RPC                    17,293 Moscow                                     2,677 Paris - RPC                    13,103 Rome                                     1,034 Vienna - RPC                      1,324 Warsaw                                     2,519 Americas                    56,616 Bogota                                     2,863 Buenos Aires                         364 Buffalo - RPC                    38,468 Caracas                                        856 Guatemala                      1,040 Havana                                        910 Kingston, Jamaica                      1,724 Lima                                     1,060 Mexico City                      1,731 Port-au-Prince                      3,457 Port of Spain                      1,708 Santiago                                        115 Santo Domingo                         650 Sao Paulo                                      1,670 NHQ                                           85 Sydney NS                             0 CPP- Ottawa                            85

[gypsy494]

   AmericaninQuebec thank you for the info. Do I need to go to the border I crossed at it is like 6 hrs away?( was thinking of going to the one close by here and just asking) No when I crossed and asked for vistors I did not know for sure I was getting married we were going to do it this spring, but my Aunt was dying and my bf was having medical issues and thats why I was coming here  With bf the med issues were resolved we decided to go ahead and get married.
Just was gutted how I was treated it NEVER ever happened before I read horror storys and I was always so lucky coming and going over the years.
Thank you for your help.