Thread for Acrra Ghana applicants

[bago4c]

I logged into the system. Here is a cut-and-paste.

Details about your application status
Application step

• Review of eligibility Your application is in progress. We will send you a message when we start reviewing your eligibility
• Review of medical results You do not need a medical exam. We will send you a message if this changes.
• Review of additional documents We do not need additional documents.
• Interview You do not need an interview. We will send you a message if this changes.
• Biometrics We do not need your fingerprints. We will send you a message if this changes.
• Background check We are processing your background check. We will send you a message if we need more information.
• Final decision Your application is in progress. We will send you a message once the final decision has been made.

Observations:

• Don't all applicants from Africa have to go through an interview? Do you think this is a placeholder text that is not adapted to the VO?
• Is normal that they would proceed with the background check *before* the SA ?

Not all African applicants get interview. As a matter of fact, there are fewer applicants who get interviewed than those who don't get interview requests. I, like many others in this thread, didn't get any interview request. You get interview requests only if there are areas in your applications that need clarification or your application is selected randomly during their schedule standard checks.
For your second question, I need more information about your timeline. SA is sponsor approval which you ought to have got even before your file is transferred to Accra. If you provide more info about your timeline maybe I'll be able to answer you more accurately. In any case, in recent times, starting with August applications, Background check seems to be starting very early now. They're no longer following the typical progression, it would seem.

 

[jennysmith]

Not all African applicants get interview.

Wow! That's a surprise (to me)!

For your second question, I need more information about your timeline. SA is sponsor approval which you ought to have got even before your file is transferred to Accra.

PA: West Africa | VO: Ghana
Sponsor is a Canadian citizen living in Canada.
Application sent: March 1,2019 (Sydney, Canada)
Application received: March 4,2019
ECAS access: ?
AOR1: April 4,2019
GCKey a/c linked: May 14,2019
BR: done last year, probably not needed again. I assume I will get confirmation of this eventually.

SA: ……..waiting...………
MR: ……..waiting...………
Other: Online system says they are doing the background check. No other info is provided.​

I have not received any communications since AOR1.

 

[Candidladyval]

IMM 008? You only have to fill it if your situation has changed since you applied, I think.

Ok. Thank you

 

[Candidladyval]

Update - we got PPR today.

Congrats!

 

[bago4c]

Wow! That's a surprise (to me)!



PA: West Africa | VO: Ghana
Sponsor is a Canadian citizen living in Canada.
Application sent: March 1,2019 (Sydney, Canada)
Application received: March 4,2019
ECAS access: ?
AOR1: April 4,2019
GCKey a/c linked: May 14,2019
BR: done last year, probably not needed again. I assume I will get confirmation of this eventually.

SA: ……..waiting...………
MR: ……..waiting...………
Other: Online system says they are doing the background check. No other info is provided.​

I have not received any communications since AOR1.

Your application is still in a very early stage. You'll get biometrics request (again!). I'm not sure why the sponsor has not been approved yet. I suggest you call their 1800 number from inside Canada and request they look into that as soon as possible. Sponsor approval usually comes a few days after AOR 1. So call them. You should also get a transfer of VO notification letter (it sometimes doesn't come). AOR 2 is when your new VO starts processing your application. You'll usually see "in process" on ECAS under Principal Applicant. Medical Request will usually come between 5 - 7 months from the date application was received. Since your background check is already in progress, what to expect after medicals are Interview (if required), Pre-arrival, DM, and PPR. These will usually come about 4 - 7 months after medical is passed. All the best!

If your spouse is of another race, religion, huge age difference, or haven't visited you at least twice since you started your relationship, or, if your relationship started online, you most likely will be invited for an interview, at least going by past trends. Other reasons for interview invitation are insufficient wedding pictures, absence of family members at the wedding, previous marriage not properly dissolved, etc..

 

[Yee_17]

Thanks! Did you submit your passport at VFS in Accra? Do you know their exact location? We’ve tried calling but it’s like the line doesn’t go through.

I did. Picked it up today too. It's at Dzorwulu. Heading towards CanWest. on your left. You can Google IOM Ghana Dzowulu.

 

[DHELs]

I did. Picked it up today too. It's at Dzorwulu. Heading towards CanWest. on your left. You can Google IOM Ghana Dzowulu.

When was the passport ready for pick up at vfs after counterfoil?

 

[Yee_17]

When was the passport ready for pick up at vfs after counterfoil?

Submitted 8th, Counterfoil was issued 13th May I picked up my passport on 16th. But i think it was ready for pick up on 15th.

 

[DHELs]

Submitted 8th, Counterfoil was issued 13th May I picked up my passport on 16th. But i think it was ready for pick up on 15th.

Thanks

 

[Mikkyphp]

Update...received PPR this morning...

Full Timeline
Received - Sep 24
AOR 1 - Dec. 22
Added new born son - Jan 23
Biometrics - Mar 1
DM for Sponsor - Mar 1
SA - Mar 4
Transfer to Accra - Mar 11
AOR2 - Mar 20
MR - Mar 22
Med exam - Apr 1
Med passed - Apr 3
Pre-arrival - May 15

 

[Candidladyval]

Update...received PPR this morning...

Congrats!

 

[jennysmith]

Your application is still in a very early stage. You'll get biometrics request (again!). I'm not sure why the sponsor has not been approved yet. I suggest you call their 1800 number from inside Canada and request they look into that as soon as possible. Sponsor approval usually comes a few days after AOR 1. So call them.

I called this morning. They told me the usual schpiel about not comparing your file to others.
They said they are doing the background check first, then they will do the SA, etc. No idea why the order of events is different than the rest.

 

[J.Kadi]

Submitted 8th, Counterfoil was issued 13th May I picked up my passport on 16th. But i think it was ready for pick up on 15th.

Do you know what’s the best site to buy tickets? We usually buy direct from the airline but I’ve checked and one way right now estimated $1300 if we leave May 31

 

[DHELs]

Submitted 8th, Counterfoil was issued 13th May I picked up my passport on 16th. But i think it was ready for pick up on 15th.

Did you get any notification after submitting the passport?

 

[bago4c]

Do you know what’s the best site to buy tickets? We usually buy direct from the airline but I’ve checked and one way right now estimated $1300 if we leave May 31

Buy from Nigeria here www.travelstart.com.ng (it's cheaper)
Buy from Canada using www.google.ca/flights or www.flighthub.ca