Thread for Rome Visa Office Applicants

[katie3234]

Hello,

My name is Katie, I am applying through the Rome visa office with my husband who is an Albanian Citizen. We have only recently sent off our application and I am still waiting to be approved for Sponsorship. I look forward to hearing about everyones timelines! Hopefully we have a speedy process so he is able to join me in Canada! We still have a long wait ahead of us, but we are ready!

[CanuckyInItaly]

Hi eveyone,
I'm applying through Rome too and my husband is Italian.

Here's my time line:
- The application arrived at CPC Mississauga on Nov, 1st 2010.
- I was approved to sponsor my husband on Nov, 25th 2010.
- Our file was transferred to Rome on Dec, 6th 2010.
- We received our AOR on Feb, 8th 2011.
- In process since Jun, 15th 2011.
- Passport Request via email on Jul, 20th 2011.

Having a specific thread for applications processed in Italy is a great idea. I remember, when I first started browsing for specific infos on this forum, how frustrating it was not being able to find anything regarding Rome.

I'm sure this will be an asset for current and future applicants. It's comforting sharing the experience, time lines, feelings, possible rants or whatever else.

These are two links to previous threads regarding the same topic:
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/italian-spouse-sponsorship-t72980.0.html
http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/anyone-dealt-with-rome-office-t44703.0.html

Looking forward to seeing this thread growing day by day!

Barbara

[abbuffon]

First of all, I think it is a good idea to have this thread, since it is very difficult to get info about other people that went through Rome and it is even more difficult to get appropriate assistance/info from the VO in Rome (it seems they're really short of personnel)....
So this is about me and my application:
   Nationality:             Italy    
   Family Program:         Spouses & Partners
   Canadian Visa Office:      Mississauga, Canada
   Medicals Done:            27 Dec 2010
   Application Filed:         21 Jan 2011
   Sponsorship Approved:      17 Feb 2011
   File Transferred to Rome:      24 Feb 2011      
   AOR Received Date:         18 May 2011   
   Passport Requested:      28 Jul 2011   
   Approval Date/VISA Issued:   18 Aug 2011
   Application Status:         approved   
   Passport Received Date:      23 Aug 2011
   Total Processing Time:      209 days   

As you can see Rome is not one of the fastest VO, so you must be very careful to stick to what they ask in the application guides, or any delay will shorten the time between Visa issuance and Visa expiry (4 months in my case).

One issue took me a while to figure out: on the guide they ask that for every certificate that is not in English or French, you will need to submit both the certificate and the original copy of the translation prepared by an accredited translator. This is what I did:
- Italian birth and marriage certificates: got them done at the Comune on a multilingual form, so you don't need to translate; (check this link for instance http://www.comune.torino.it/servizionline/schede/userTorinoE.php?context=torinoE&submitAction=homeIndice&id=978&idRoot=134&refLanguage=it but they must do it everywhere)
- Police certificates: I found a friend (cannot be a relative) that translated the two certificates into English and signed a statutory declaration (with a copy of his document attached) where he states that the translation is true and accurate and he is responsible for it. So no need to pay a professional translator or a lawyer/notary or any "marca da bollo". This only applies to documents written in Italian (my experience), I don't know if you can do it with documents in other languages (Greek, Albanian, Arab, etc).

I'm married since 6 yrs to my sponsor and we have a kid together so we only sent some pics to prove our relationship was genuine (no bills, bank drafts, phone cards, etc.) and we didn't have to fill the Sponsorship Evaluation (IMM 5481) or the Financial Evaluation forms.

I hope my experience will help other people to submit their applications without too many headaches (that I had) and to stay calm during the long (about 7 mo.) evaluation process.

Best wishes!

[bistolfi49]

unfortunately I am Rome too

[katie3234]

Hey bistolfi49! Looks as though youa fm I are in the same boat, my sponsorship was just approved recently. It seems that italian citizens get approved a bit faster than 12 months through Rome. So good luck!

[bistolfi49]

I'm NOT an Italian citizen (and have never been)

[katie3234]

Sorry, I wasn't trying to make assumptions. just saying that in the year I have been on this forum speaking with people applying through Rome it seems that usually Italian citizens have a faster processing time, maybe because of less delays in the mail. My spouse however is Albanian, we are still hopeful that things will move faster than 12 months. What is your country of residence if you don't mind my asking? good luck with the whole process. 

[erika222]

hi guys
Rome is my VO as well.
Applied in december, got per in 3 March, and since than noooooothing at all.
What is the next step that rome visa office takes/??

bye

[bistolfi49]

erikaaa, I am honestly worry and I dont know how long the process will takes at this visa office,
other VOs are more active!!

[katie3234]

Erica welcome!! Rome seems to be extremely slow, I heard that they only have 3 VO's and apparently they are working on a new system .... Not sure how true those points are. But if they are learning a new system then I suppose we should expect more delays! BOO! What Country are you a resident of Erica if you don't mine my asking? Hopefully we will all have a speedy process. I know that CIC says it takes 12 months. But it seems as though most people are getting their visas within 8 - 10 months. Good Luck! I hope that you start hearing things soon! And Bistolfi49, I am worried also!

[katie3234]

I received an email from Rome saying they received our application.

"This confirms that your application for permanent residence in Canada has been received by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) on 2011/06/14."

And then it's signed by the rome with their details..... June 14 is actually the day it was received in mississuga, so I think they made an error on that date. Either way it is now in Rome, hopefully they will begin working on it sometime soon.

[erika222]

congrat Kati....hope Rome is awake now
It has been 7 months from my PER and nothing has changed....getting hopless :

[bistolfi49]

still no news? that's not good at all ... if they put you/us in process after a long period, how long they would take for processing it???

congrat Kati....hope Rome is awake now
It has been 7 months from my PER and nothing has changed....getting hopless :

[erika222]

Hi bistolfi, they say the processing time goes 15 months, but is this until you get the visa or until they contact you for the interview?not quite certain on Rome VO? What do you guys think is it a good idea to order CAIPS notes, do you know any site where to do this?....

[katie3234]

Erica- I can't believe that much time has passed. My lawyer said that usually Rome contacts people after 6 or 7 months to either set up a interview or waive the interview or ask for more information. So hopefully she was correct and you won't have much time to wait now!! Where is your spouse from? Rome takes up to 12 months, if it goes past 12 months thats when you are able to start pestering them or contact your MP. It might be worth it to order caips so you are able to see what's taking so long. Hopefully Rome gets their act together and starts processing a bit faster!! Good luck!!