Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[kelKel]

I feel for you Dralon. I know you're beyond positive thinking at this point but the time will come very soon I can feel it.

 

[stellar__]

Hi, I'm new!

Just got sponsor approval and am super excited...I'm Canadian, 26; husband is American, 28. We were living together in Wisconsin (I was working on a TN visa), but then we both lost our jobs because of the recession, and so I got a job back in Toronto. I was anxious that I wouldn't meet the sponsorship requirements because I couldn't use my notice of assessment (last tax year I only filed ~$4000 Canadian income), so I had to do the financial statement for the past 12 months with a mix of my earnings from the States, my new job in Toronto, and self-employment. But it approved, and quickly, so yay!

Now waiting to see how long the Buffalo processing time will be. My husband is applying to go back to school in Toronto for Sept 2011 as an international student, hoping his PR is approved before tuition is due so they can change his status to domestic and we don't have to pay international student rates. So, hopefully it goes quickly! If he can start working in the spring already, that would be awesome...

 

[catjane]

What a bunch of really nice people. I wish you all good luck with your endevours!

 

[pmary]

pmary -

If you apply via Buffalo - there's always a chance that you may be called for an interview. If you are, this interview will take place in the US. Do you hold a passport from a country that allows you to enter the US without a visa? Or would you require a visa to visit the US? If you require a visa, then I would recommend against going through Buffalo. A few people on this board were unable to attend their Buffalo interviews (because the US would not grant them a visit visa) and they had to abandon their applications and start complete from scratch as a result. Canada will not move your interview to a different country.

Dear scylla

yes I need visa to enter US. But what is happen if my interview waived ?

1 ) will they request my passport . and I will send my passport for them . and they issue my PR . and send my passport to me to Canada ?

2 ) then for landing will I need US visa ? should I exit Canada and enter US and then again enter Canada ?

 

[scylla]

pmary -

If your interview is waived:

1) Yes - you send your passport and then they return it to Canada.

2) No - you don't need a US visa. You exit Canada - but then you turn around before you enter the US and re-enter Canada to land.

 

[pmary]

Dear scylla

I have a post graduated work permit , I have lived in Toronto since 2005 . Am I eligible to send my application to Buffalo.

 

[scylla]

pmary -

I'm afraid I'm not familiar enough with the rules to confidently answer your question. I think as long as you have been admitted legally for at least a year - you can apply through Buffalo. However you should certainly not take my word for this and research further.

Again, given you need a visa to enter the US, I really wouldn't recommend going with the Buffalo option. However it's obviously your choice.

Good luck with whatever you decide to do!

 

[MexiCana]

Scylla is correct, pmary. So long as you have been legally admitted to Canada for at least one year you can apply through Buffalo.

My partner was admitted to Canada as a temporary worker for 18 months and we applied through Buffalo.

You can confirm this information by reading Buffalo CIC's website.

 

[pmary]

Dear scylla and MexiCana

do you know if there is an interview , how long before the day of interview they inform me? one month ...?

 

[scylla]

pmary -

Sorry - I don't know. My husband didn't have an interview.

 

[kelKel]

Pmary, the only issue as Scylla has mentioned that if you are called for an interview you better be 100% sure you can get a US visa. A gentleman just a little while back was called for an interview and was refused the US visa therefore the whole application was abandoned. Have you already filed the application? There is no determining factor or timeline as to when you'd be called for an interview every case is different.

 

[pmary]

Dear kelKel

"was abandoned" , Do you mean refused or he should start again ?

 

[kelKel]

Pmary I can't recall exactly what happened to his application although I'm trying to find the thread.

 

[fafi]

Well, I officially landed yesterday and it was super easy! I had to import a car, a pet, and all my stuff so I had no "goods to follow" list. No one ever came to look at my car, never opened the truck to check anything out, and they actually told me to leave my cat in the tr and not to bring her in to customs and they never even looked at her vet paperwork. Overall, a simple and painless procedure.

how was importing your car? especially cost wise? i can't seem to find anything that will tell me how much it'll cost to import my car!

 

[minna]

how was importing your car? especially cost wise? i can't seem to find anything that will tell me how much it'll cost to import my car!

The cost will vary depending on what kind of car you have, how old it is etc -- basically, the total price will depend on what they need to fix/change to bring it into compliance with Canadian regulations.

The RIV fee is about $200 cdn. You can pay that at the border when you cross or you can pay online after you've crossed. That fee basically covers the inspection. But, you are still responsible for the cost of any necessary repairs. I think, all told, I spent about $1000.00 cdn importing my car, including all necessary repairs, and inspection fees. I didn't have to pay out all at once, though, and you might be able to get away with spending less. That does not include the price of insurance/licensing/registration.

The RIV website is pretty useful - if you enter in your car's make and model, and the border crossing you'll be using, it should generate a step-by-step list of what to do.