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>>>>>>February 2019 AoR<<<< Join here

legalfalcon

VIP Member
Sep 21, 2015
19,030
9,888
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4112
App. Filed.......
03-09-2015
Doc's Request.
01-10-2015
AOR Received.
03-09-2015
Med's Done....
17-08-2015
Passport Req..
05-04-2016
VISA ISSUED...
12-04-2016
LANDED..........
05-05-2016
Starting a new thread for all those who intend or have received their AoR in February 2019, or intend filing their application in February 2019.

Sharing some useful info here:

Visa Office


There has been an obsession of finding which visa office the application is at. Many threads on this forum start with explaining how to find your visa office. Let's get to the crux of it. Finding the visa office was very relevant pre- express entry. Even after the introduction of express entry in 2015, the same practice was followed which usually was for the paper based application, but that is no longer the case. Earlier all application followed the following trajectory:

Central Intake Office - Case Processing Centre - Local Visa Office

However, this has radically changed and for all express entry, all application follow the following:

1. Central Intake Office -
The R10 (completeness check) is done at the Central Intake Office for all classes (FSW / PNP / CEC). Now even the criminality and medicals are done at CIO.

2. Case Processing Centre - There are 4 case processing offices of IRCC, which are as follows:

Sydney, Nova Scotia - deals with the following:
  • provincial Nominee Program (PNP) – Non-Express Entry applications
  • Centralized Intake Office – Immigrant Investor Program (IIP)
  • Centralized Intake Office – Quebec Skilled Workers (QSW)
  • Centralized Intake Office – Start Up Business Class
  • Centralized Intake Office – Self Employed (SE)
  • Centralized Intake Office – Quebec Business Class (QBC)
  • Centralized Intake Office – Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program
Now has started doing eligibility for EE applications in limited numbers.

Vegreville, Alberta
Deals with Specialized permanent resident application. Those following in the category of Medical needs, work permits, work permits for spouses, study permits, co-op permits. EE applications which have a downgraded category.

This is the place where you EE application will land if any of the members in the application have a medical condition. This is where determinations of refusal, monitoring etc are made.

Now has started doing eligibility for EE applications in limited numbers.

Mississauga, Ontario
Only deals with family class PR applications.
No EE applications are dealt here so far.

Ottawa, Ontario
This is the most important processing office for all EE, and it is also the Local Visa Office for in-land applicants and those applying from USA.

This is based on the most recent information. IRCC has officers across Canada and some temporary offices that are used to process application based on workload distribution.

Local Visa Office - This is the office where you will be asked to submit your passport after your application has been approved. Usually the consulate in your home country.

These days all application after starting at CIO (where R10 is met), either start the processing of eligibility at CIO itself, or move to CPC (wither Ottawa, Sydney, or Vegreville), or are straight sent to the LVO. The trend has been to complete most of the processing between CIO and CPC. Since the applications are electronically stored, there is no movement of physical files.

SUGGESTION - There is no point sending emails to ask which VO your application is at, as that process is moot since the eligibility can even start at CIO. So save yourself some time and efforts and also save the human resources of IRCC and stop sending emails. Even if you know which VO your application is at, it means nothing. Most applications which are processed within weeks and get PPR, are processed at CIO, and this is a much faster way.

A few applications will see eligibility passed, and then go to not started when the application is sent to the LVO. This is because the final review is done at the LVO, and the local agent may decide to conduct additional review, or identification before the eligibility is finally set to PASSED.



Tracking your application

Unfortunately the only thing that you see is your MyCIC account. There has been a growing trend of speculation where change of status on MyCIC has been attributed to eligibility being passed, etc. The whole NA, IP IP2 is speculation and has no bearing on determining which stage your application is at. While any change of status is a good sign, but merely relying on NA and IP is not the correct way.

Most applicants will find it irrelevant, as their applications will be processed and approved within the first 3-4 months. It is those who wait for more than 4 months, where things go crazy as they keep relying on NA, IP etc, and see no movement or progress. Many other are stuck on so called IP2, and the PPR never seems to come.

So put these speculative theories to rest. As per the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act, regulations and the ministeral instructions every application goes through the following stages:

R10 (Completeness check)
Medicals
Criminality
A11.2 Eligibility (The most important stage)
Security


To read more on each stage click here. While most applicants will not need to go this deep, but for those who have concerns about the application or it is taking too long should see which stage they are at. Also, the only way to determine the stage is by GCMS notes. To read more on GCMS notes, see the thread here.

ECAS (Electronic Client Application Status) -

This was the most important tool pre EE to track an application and provided much more in-depth status than what MyCIC does. However, after the IRCC moved to the Global Case Management System (AKA GCMS) applications are no longer linked to ECAS.

So there is no point going there and checking.

Letter of Explanation -
As the name suggests, the LoE is exact what it sounds like. It is not an idea for the documents and you do not have to explain each document you are submitting in your application.

The simple rules to follow for LoE -

  • Should be 1-2 pages in length. If you cannot explain it in 1-2 pages, it is probably not worth it.
  • Only use LoE to explain an issue. Eg. you could not obtain a reference letter on letterhead, could not meet PoF 6 months avg balance, seeking exemption or extension from PCC, or to explain something in your application which is not clear.
  • IRCC Agents do read LoE, but if its too long and not to the point, it loses its importance.
  • You DO NOT need an index for your documents. There are placeholders for the documents just put each document there and when it is stored on the IRCC system it is names and stored in an organized way.


SOME USEFUL LINKS:

**Guide to Landing and Setteling** - https://goo.gl/8vQzcd
**Proof of Funds** - https://goo.gl/mPejMN
**Medicals** - https://goo.gl/Xpmj5e
**Age and EE** - https://goo.gl/u8bqAU
**Stages of EE Application ** - https://goo.gl/AmdtgR
**GCMS Notes** - https://goo.gl/Jhk1Un
**Keep GCMS Notes Safe** - https://goo.gl/97J7AT
**Add Spouse to app** - https://goo.gl/ZgRP6C
**PNP and its obligations** - https://goo.gl/XUva1e

All the best!!


THESE ARE MY VIEWS AND YOU DO NOT HAVE TO SUBSCRIBE TO THESE. IF YOU HAVE CONTRARY VIEWS, JUST IGNORE IT AND DO WHAT YOUR CONSULTANT ASKED YOU, OR WHAT YOU DEEM FIT.
 

legalfalcon

VIP Member
Sep 21, 2015
19,030
9,888
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4112
App. Filed.......
03-09-2015
Doc's Request.
01-10-2015
AOR Received.
03-09-2015
Med's Done....
17-08-2015
Passport Req..
05-04-2016
VISA ISSUED...
12-04-2016
LANDED..........
05-05-2016
Hi there.

EE submission: Jan 8
ITA: Jan 9
Currently waiting for medicals which is scheduled for next week. Plan to submit same day or next
All the best!!

Will start group and let you know. Lets see how many more people join in here.
 
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legalfalcon

VIP Member
Sep 21, 2015
19,030
9,888
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4112
App. Filed.......
03-09-2015
Doc's Request.
01-10-2015
AOR Received.
03-09-2015
Med's Done....
17-08-2015
Passport Req..
05-04-2016
VISA ISSUED...
12-04-2016
LANDED..........
05-05-2016
Bumping the group up.
 

Marie85

Full Member
Aug 30, 2018
26
12
Japan
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa/Manila
NOC Code......
4031
App. Filed.......
23-04-2019
AOR Received.
23-04-2019
Med's Done....
12-04-2019
VISA ISSUED...
29/09/2019
Submitting on my application on February 12th :D
I hope everyone here (including me) is successful!!!
 
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legalfalcon

VIP Member
Sep 21, 2015
19,030
9,888
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4112
App. Filed.......
03-09-2015
Doc's Request.
01-10-2015
AOR Received.
03-09-2015
Med's Done....
17-08-2015
Passport Req..
05-04-2016
VISA ISSUED...
12-04-2016
LANDED..........
05-05-2016

nitarora

Full Member
Jan 3, 2019
43
28
Hi, I received ITA on 30th Jan and will be submitting my application this month and have below queries (basic though):

1) there is one question: "Has xxx received a nomination certificate from a province or territory?" I have however received NOI from Ontario (PNP) which i havent accepted that is before I received ITA. So should I answer the question as "Yes" or "No"?

2) Under "Application Details" section, we need to mention the area where we intent to reside in Ontario. I hope I can mention any area, or is this also judged in any manner?

3) Under "Immigration History" section for my spouse, they are asking for a UCI number, which they mentioned is a 8 or a 10 digit number. But the UCI number which I can see on my profile starts with CAN0000xxxxxxxx, where xxx are the 8 digits. So which is the correct UCI? I know this is not mandatory, but still.

4) Regarding Reference Letter from my current organization, the HR declined but my manager agreed to provide me a letter on blank paper. Do I need to get it notarized? If yes, what is the process and requirements to get it done?

5) We received ITA and immediately after that, we got to know that my spouse is 4 weeks pregnant. Now our medical test is scheduled for next week and I understand that while performing X-RAY, doctors can put a shield. I want to understand if there will be any implication on our application? If the medical report says that she is pregnant, will the application be put on-hold? How they deal with such scenarios?

Any expert advice please?

Thanks
 

legalfalcon

VIP Member
Sep 21, 2015
19,030
9,888
Montréal, Quebec, Canada
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa
NOC Code......
4112
App. Filed.......
03-09-2015
Doc's Request.
01-10-2015
AOR Received.
03-09-2015
Med's Done....
17-08-2015
Passport Req..
05-04-2016
VISA ISSUED...
12-04-2016
LANDED..........
05-05-2016
Hi, I received ITA on 30th Jan and will be submitting my application this month and have below queries (basic though):

1) there is one question: "Has xxx received a nomination certificate from a province or territory?" I have however received NOI from Ontario (PNP) which i havent accepted that is before I received ITA. So should I answer the question as "Yes" or "No"?

2) Under "Application Details" section, we need to mention the area where we intent to reside in Ontario. I hope I can mention any area, or is this also judged in any manner?

3) Under "Immigration History" section for my spouse, they are asking for a UCI number, which they mentioned is a 8 or a 10 digit number. But the UCI number which I can see on my profile starts with CAN0000xxxxxxxx, where xxx are the 8 digits. So which is the correct UCI? I know this is not mandatory, but still.

4) Regarding Reference Letter from my current organization, the HR declined but my manager agreed to provide me a letter on blank paper. Do I need to get it notarized? If yes, what is the process and requirements to get it done?

5) We received ITA and immediately after that, we got to know that my spouse is 4 weeks pregnant. Now our medical test is scheduled for next week and I understand that while performing X-RAY, doctors can put a shield. I want to understand if there will be any implication on our application? If the medical report says that she is pregnant, will the application be put on-hold? How they deal with such scenarios?

Any expert advice please?

Thanks
1. NoI is not nomination, so answer NO
2. Yes, you can enter any city. It does not matter.
3. UCI – “Unique Client Identifier” is a numeric reference which is unique to a client. It is assigned by Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) an applicant whose case is being processed. Each client is given a different UCI. The UCI number remains the same, even when you file multiple applications with IRCC. If you have previously applied for a tourist visa, you have already been issued a UCI number. Similarly, if you applied for a student visa, you were assigned a UCI, and when you subsequently apply for a Permanent Residency, the UCI will remain the same. UCI consists of digits only, usually there are eight digits which may or may not be separated by a hyphen, eg: 1234-5678 or 12345678.

What you see starting with CAN is a temp UCI. If you have never applied to IRCC before, you do not have a UCI, so leave it blank and one will be assigned after you submit the application.

4. Yes, get it otarized

5. No, consult your panel physician for more details and see https://www.getgcms.com/blog/medicals-preparation-expect-diagnosed-ailment-comprehensive-post/
 
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srirams91

Star Member
Sep 29, 2018
134
50
Guys, I have a doubt. I received an ITA on Jan 10. I'm unable to produce one the documents at this point. I'm sure with more time, I will be able to. With a CRS score of 452, if I decline my present ITA, what's the possibility of getting another ITA? And when is the next draw expected? Please help!
 

Marie85

Full Member
Aug 30, 2018
26
12
Japan
Category........
FSW
Visa Office......
Ottawa/Manila
NOC Code......
4031
App. Filed.......
23-04-2019
AOR Received.
23-04-2019
Med's Done....
12-04-2019
VISA ISSUED...
29/09/2019
All the best!!
Thank you! I'm really nervous!
I had a question though, I'm hoping you can assist me. a large amount of the necessary funds are coming from a repayment of a personal loan that I made to a friend in 2016. He repayed the loan last winter, I have written up a debt forgiveness letter for my friend and he has signed, and I will get a notary to sign it as well. Is this enough to prove that the funds are mine?
 

Mr_Chang

Star Member
Dec 14, 2018
184
123
Guys, I have a doubt. I received an ITA on Jan 10. I'm unable to produce one the documents at this point. I'm sure with more time, I will be able to. With a CRS score of 452, if I decline my present ITA, what's the possibility of getting another ITA? And when is the next draw expected? Please help!
The next draw should be on Wednesday February 13th between 12pm to 3pm UTC. (There's a very small chance that the draw would be on February 6th around the same time) and you would probably easily go through with a score of 452. All the best.

We have our application deadline in the next few days. We will be submitting it by today or tomorrow after re-verifying all documents.
All the best to everyone on this group. Hope we all make it.
 
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