Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[Quince777]

Assumed the envelope would arrive delivered by a person, but just discovered it crammed into our too-small apartment mailbox.

Isn't it like the best thing to have in your mailbox when you go down to check it? I'm so ready for this .

[ddobro2]

Lol, my reaction was more along the lines of, "oh, it's here." But yes, it's a really good feeling to know that even fewer steps lie between you and PR-dom.

Isn't it like the best thing to have in your mailbox when you go down to check it? I'm so ready for this .

[veronica.law]

Lol, my reaction was more along the lines of, "oh, it's here." But yes, it's a really good feeling to know that even fewer steps lie between you and PR-dom.

Hey ddobro2 so is that means if I am from visa exempt country I don't have to send in passport and they will send me something directly?

[AmericaninQuebec]

Hey ddobro2 so is that means if I am from visa exempt country I don't have to send in passport and they will send me something directly?

You will get a PPR request that will ask you to either send your passport or a photocopy of the biodata page in your passport. Once they have double checked the info in your passport/photocopy they will then send you your COPR (confirmation of PR) that you take with your passport (and CSQ if you're going to QC) when you land.

[veronica.law]

You will get a PPR request that will ask you to either send your passport or a photocopy of the biodata page in your passport. Once they have double checked the info in your passport/photocopy they will then send you your COPR (confirmation of PR) that you take with your passport (and CSQ if you're going to QC) when you land.

Oh I Have already sent in the copy with the application. Would it be faster? Haha

Ps my friend's lawyer told her that some of the files in Buffalo VO have chances to transfer to Ottawa and Ottawa is super fast that's why some of the ppl can get PPR within 6 months

[cantor2537]

Oh I Have already sent in the copy with the application. Would it be faster? Haha

Ps my friend's lawyer told her that some of the files in Buffalo VO have chances to transfer to Ottawa and Ottawa is super fast that's why some of the ppl can get PPR within 6 months

Never heard of transfer to Ottawa.

Ours got transferred to LA. SOme got transferred to NYC, Detroit, Seattle. These offices tend to be faster.

We got a letter for request for RPRF Jan 20, only about a month after transfer to LA. I'm sure had I paid this fee back when I applied, we would be done already. Now it'll delay our process by a couple months. We are about as straightforward a case as you can get.

[ddobro2]

It's actually not just the biodata page but all pages.

You will get a PPR request that will ask you to either send your passport or a photocopy of the biodata page in your passport. Once they have double checked the info in your passport/photocopy they will then send you your COPR (confirmation of PR) that you take with your passport (and CSQ if you're going to QC) when you land.

[ddobro2]

Ottawa is a pilot office and concerning Family Class applications being transferred there, I have only seen it happening from VOs like Cairo and Damascus. Additionally, Ottawa is meant to handle processing of certain files after a successful IAD appeal. Of the Buffalo files I've heard of being transferred there, it's only been those of the PNP stream.

Never heard of transfer to Ottawa.

Ours got transferred to LA. SOme got transferred to NYC, Detroit, Seattle. These offices tend to be faster.

We got a letter for request for RPRF Jan 20, only about a month after transfer to LA. I'm sure had I paid this fee back when I applied, we would be done already. Now it'll delay our process by a couple months. We are about as straightforward a case as you can get.

[veronica.law]

Never heard of transfer to Ottawa.

Ours got transferred to LA. SOme got transferred to NYC, Detroit, Seattle. These offices tend to be faster.

We got a letter for request for RPRF Jan 20, only about a month after transfer to LA. I'm sure had I paid this fee back when I applied, we would be done already. Now it'll delay our process by a couple months. We are about as straightforward a case as you can get.

I just heard the lawyer says and we are all currently living in canada and are non-us citizen.

[Shirsho]

How long does it take for the file to be "in process"? AOR is Jan 4, 2012....No news today too on E-cas and e-mails:(

[Quince777]

How long does it take for the file to be "in process"? AOR is Jan 4, 2012....No news today too on E-cas and e-mails:(

Unfortunately, there is no definite answer for this. Each case is different!

[AmericaninQuebec]

Oh I Have already sent in the copy with the application. Would it be faster? Haha

Ps my friend's lawyer told her that some of the files in Buffalo VO have chances to transfer to Ottawa and Ottawa is super fast that's why some of the ppl can get PPR within 6 months

I think most people send a copy with their application (I know I did), but I've only ever heard of one person receiving PPR without having to resubmit passport or a copy.

I've also only ever seen people going through offices further abroad (Cairo, for example) getting transferred to the pilot program in Ottawa. There are so many satellite visa offices in the U.S. it just seems unlikely that they would send it to Ottawa.

[AmericaninQuebec]

It's actually not just the biodata page but all pages.

When I got PPR in December I didn't have the option (this was in the week after they'd made the change) so I didn't realize it's a copy of all pages. Thanks for the correction.

[awor]

Here's a dumb question: When you submit a copy of your passport "and all pages," do you have to photocopy every single page of your passport, or only the ones with stamps on them?

I have 4 kids, plus my passport... all those pages 

[ddobro2]

I don't think it's a dumb question. As far as what Buffalo puts in the PPR, they don't go into any detail whatsoever, perhaps not surprisingly: "Within the next 30 days please submit your passport(s) or a photocopy of all passport pages for you and your accompanying family members," is all there is to it. If you look at the Operational Manual from last year, though, you'll see a bit more information as to why: "An officer may use discretion in determining whether it is necessary to see the original passport or whether a photocopy of all passport pages is sufficient. A photocopy of only the bio-data page is not acceptable, as notations may have been made on other pages regarding the individual's name, marital status or other pertinent information."

As far as only copying the pages that are stamped, there's no way to know what the consequence of that will be until you actually do it, if you do it. I personally didn't want to bother with any risk or misinterpretation on mine or their part (not to mention that I had a student permit stamped into one of the pages of my passport and I didn't know what the protocol would be for how to copy that, if applicable), so I just sent the physical biometric passport in.
 
We also require two (2) recent photographs of yourself and each accompanying family member

Here's a dumb question: When you submit a copy of your passport "and all pages," do you have to photocopy every single page of your passport, or only the ones with stamps on them?

I have 4 kids, plus my passport... all those pages