Hey soblue ... I didn't intend to insult you
Sometimes my language can be a little abrupt. I apologize for that. I was angry and should have screened my post before I sent it out.
It really upset me to hear you say I had to wait up to 17 months to be re-united with my wife! If I had been calm, I would have asked to explain how you came to that conclusion and we could have had a discussion.
So … I searched for application sponsoring times on google and came across the website http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/
It does indeed say 17 months ... but this is the wait time for a new application. What we are all going through is a continuation of an existing application. I have a file number ... we all have file numbers … our application is in progress. The people who may have to wait 17 months are new applicants without an existing file.
I believe, this processing time estimate does not apply to us. No VO is going to go through our evidence anymore. There is no initial wait time in Ottawa as they assess the suitability of the sponsor (53 days to assess). We have all proved we are genuine now. The only thing remaining is a final medical check and police clearance and one more check to make sure nothing material has changed in the applicant’s situation. This is why they only ask to re-submit the basic forms after the successful appeal. There is no request for form 5490 detailing our history, how we met, etc.
Reviewing our file before PR should be a very mechanical thing ... and to be honest, I think it would be unfair for our government to put us back on the bottom of the stack. It should be a basic “rubber stamp” process now.
Today, I spoke with my lawyer for about 30 minutes. She told me that reviewing the file after a successful appeal is in a totally different stream from the new application stream. We do not get put at the bottom of the pile with new applicants. We do not fall into the 17 month stream. However, she did say that even though we are in a different pile of files to review, we do end up on some VO’s desk. Because there is a general backlog in the system, our files may also be delayed because the VO has to also process new applications. It also depends on whose desk you land on. I know a case who had a successful appeal after ours and they have already received the letter requesting new medical check, etc. That case probably landed on a VOs desk that had simple cases and could rapidly get to hers.
My lawyer also confirmed that applications for spouses outside Canada get sent back to the Visa Office in that country for re-processing. This was also confirmed by the 3 CIC employees I contacted in Ottawa. I don’t know about the cases Maddants says are processed in Ottawa. That is something I would like to know more about.
I realize that it is incredibly hard to get real answers from anyone in this immigration system. I have tried to trace my file. I contacted the IRB and the CBSA and all I know is the IRB sent it to CBSA and the CBSA sent it Ottawa (I believe). I called the CIC 3 times and no one seems to know where it is. Everyone I talk to at CIC tells me it has nothing to do with them ... they say it will be re-submitted to the visa office in my wife's country.
So … we are getting 2 very different answers here.
You say your MP told you about the wait time, but who did the MP talk to? In your last post you said the MP spoke to the immigration officer dealing with your file? Did you get the letter and submit all the documentation they requested? The medical and police check? The updated forms? Has your ecas been re-activated?
