Question about Application Transfer to VO?

[tacobowl123]

Going through the forum, i'm seeing a lot of talk about the application being moved to a different VO, what exactly does this mean? and why is it done?

For context, I'm an outland sponsor, applying under the family class and will be sending the application package to the courier address that is listed on the checklist and will be applying from the USA. I'm just curious about this process.

 

[Zambezi]

For most applications, once the sponsor approval side is decided, the file is transferred from the Canadian processing centre to a local VO either in the PA's home country or in a nearby country responsible for processing visas for the surrounding region. The local VO then does the relationship eligibility assessment as well as the background/criminality/security screenings for the Principal Applicant.

Many US apps are processed completely in Canada though, so yours might not be transferred or it might be transferred to one of the other Canadian centres.