What is the normal process after a sponsor has been approved?

[brlnap92]

Hello;

I thought this information would be easy to find but I cannot find it on the CIC website or by doing a search here.

I am sponsoring my wife under family class, my wife is outside Canada, and I am doing an outland sponsorship. I paid all fees in advance, medical in advance, and submitted all required documents for myself and my wife.

I was recently notified that I was approved as a sponsor and that the file is being sent to the appropriate visa office abroad.

I just want to know (assuming that there are no issues/problems with my application) what is the process from here on forward?

Will I receive anything more from CIC to my Canadian home mailing address or from now on all communication (email, written, verbal) is between the CIC visa office abroad and my wife abroad?

If there are no issues or interview is the next step that my wife will be contacted to mail/courier her passport to the visa office? Or does she have to go personally?

Also, does she have to go personally to pick up her passport after it has the PR visa or it can be mailed/couriered to her?

Anything that I missed asking about?

As far as the landing process in Canada I am okay, was able to find information on that.

 

[Muby]

Processing time is different from any VO you should tell the office that your application were sent then people will be able to help you

 

[truesmile]

Agreed. What "VO"?

We received NOTHING at all via paper letter at our Canadian address throughout the whole process, only at the applicants address abroad.

 

[brlnap92]

I am not asking about processing time. I am asking about the process.

 

[MilesAway]

The process also varies by VO.

Most don't receive anything until PPR. Generally, PPR includes instructions as to how to send your passport. Usually, you can mail it or send it by courier. Some VOs also allow you to go in person. If you send your passport in by mail or courier, they will return it to you the same way. If you go in person, you usually get the passport back the same day.

I believe all letters would now go to the applicant, though the VO could still ask something of the sponsor, this is usually in the case of unemployed sponsors, or where residency/intent to return to Canada are in question.

You may or may not get an AOR from the VO. Some send them occasionally, others never send them. It's CIC, so no one knows what to expect, probably not even CIC!

 

[NewDad]

Are you saying, MilesAway, that the average applicant receives zero communication from the time sponsor is approved until the time the applicant gets an email to say they have been accepted? In Manila Visa Office the waiting list is over a year. So the application could have been stuck on someone's desk and you would never know?

There is definitely something wrong with a system that does not keep the client (be that sponsor or applicant) informed on at least a quarterly basis.

 

[keesio]

Are you saying, MilesAway, that the average applicant receives zero communication from the time sponsor is approved until the time the applicant gets an email to say they have been accepted? In Manila Visa Office the waiting list is over a year. So the application could have been stuck on someone's desk and you would never know?

There is definitely something wrong with a system that does not keep the client (be that sponsor or applicant) informed on at least a quarterly basis.

Unfortunately... yes. Well, almost. If they need more information from you, they will ask. And in most cases, there is a stage called "passport request" or "PPR" for short. That is when they ask you to either send a copy of your passport (if from a visa exempt country) or send in your actual passport. And when they ask you varies with the VO. For example, New Delhi will ask for it early in the process where Ottawa will ask for it near the end.

And yes, the lack of visibility can be maddening. I'd say at least half of the frustrations vented on this forum is due to not having any idea what state their application is in. People end up having to explicitly request GCMS notes to see what is going on.

 

[brlnap92]

Thank-you all for your replies and educating me on the process.

I have just one question, what is an AOR?

 

[brlnap92]

I think I figured out myself what AOR is, acknowledgement of receipt (of application I assume). Just let me know if I got it wrong

 

[Dan_from_Surrey]

Absolutely as others have said, the lack of communications or updates (sometimes they do not show up on ecas) is absolutely the worst part. Once you have your sponsorship approval, you basically are stuck sitting on your thumbs waiting for the clock to tick down.

 

[MilesAway]

In some cases people don't receive anything at all. This usually happens for the London and Ottawa VOs, as they generally deal with visa-exempt people, so sometimes those applicants don't hear a peep until the COPR shows up in their mailbox.

 

[nsr]

Once file is transferred to visa office, all communication will be to your spouse now. whether on physical address or email it depends what you gave them.

From here, depending on your visa office processing time, file will be sitting in queue for initial check.

1st step is Eligibility check- means they will check all information about your marriage and proofs you provided of relationship and all other documents. Then here they will decide whether interview is required or not?
Ecas should say Application received- medical results have been received.

2nd Step- If they need interview, they will let you(means your spouse) know that interview is required and they your are in interview queue and will be notified the date later. If interview not required then it goes to next step.

3rd step- IN PROCESS- If interview required, then file goes to "In process" after you pass interview. Otherwise file goes straight to IN PROCESS. means eligibility pass.

4th step- then they do background/security check- time depends on how many countries applicant stayed for more than 6 months. could be few weeks to months.

5th step- Passport Request

6th Step- they issue COPR. Ecas should say "Decision made" at this point.

7th step- Landing. Ecas should say "complete" after landing

8th step- PR card arrives to your address in canada in around 70 days.

 

[keesio]

Thanks nsr. That is pretty informative.

Step 4 is something I never considered. I just assumed they would use whatever clearance forms you sent in with your application (besides for the one in Canada).

 

[nsr]

Thanks nsr. That is pretty informative.

Step 4 is something I never considered. I just assumed they would use whatever clearance forums you sent in with your application (besides for the one in Canada).

yaa everybody have to go thorough this step. Police clearances just assist them doing this step. There are separate agencies that do this step for CIC after cic tell them to do it.

 

[AsifSameer]

very valueable information
Thanks