Is there a CIC email address where they actually answer questions?

[thaihubbie]

That's my question, full stop. It's too difficult to call from overseas and get a machine and be put on hold etc etc. Is there an email address that works?

 

[namb]

For every country they have their own contact form through which you need to apply. There email id is for general inquiries. For case specific inquiries they have specific URL's

For eg for Bangkok

https://dmp-portal.cic.gc.ca/cicemail/intro-eng.aspx?mission=bangkok

For Singapore

https://dmp-portal.cic.gc.ca/cicemail/intro-eng.aspx?mission=singapore

 

[thaihubbie]

I haven't sent in our application yet. That's the problem I'm trying to decide which case processing center to choose considering that we might move while it still being processed. I want to know what the rules are for that.

 

[namb]

If you move while your case is under process you have to notify CIC in writing (original office where you will actually file). It will be then on CIC to decide whether to shift the case to the home country or not. (I am assuming that the person sponsored is living in the country away from the country for more than a year where he/she is filing the case)

 

[namb]

Correction!!

(I am assuming that the person sponsored is living in the country away from the HOME ** country for more than a year where he/she is filing the case)

 

[thaihubbie]

You are correct in assuming that the person sponsored has been living in a country away from the HOME country for lawfully for more than one year where he is filing the case.
See this is different than another poster advised me on another thread

They don't move files because of change of addresses. The only reasons why they would move your file to another visa office would be:

- If you're not eligible to process your file in that visa office, i.e. if you requested your file to be processed in a country where you don't have legal status/have not been legally admitted for a year at least.
- If the visa office has too many cases to process, it sends your file to a "backup" visa office, to avoid delays. (I think I read this somewhere but I could be wrong)

So is it true that a change of address would not be a justifiable reason to move files? Would the 'potential' interview place be moved?Again, is there a way I can find out the rules about this from the official source?

 

[namb]

see Q-3 here in section-D immigration

http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/germany-allemagne/visas/faq.aspx?lang=eng#d3

 

[thaihubbie]

So basically it says the processing office chosen can decide to transfer the file if there is a change of address. This means if we choose Beijing as our processing office which has a very, very short average processing time and then decide to move back to Thailand, then we run the risk that our file will be transferred to Singapore (processing office for Thai Nationals) which has a very long average processing time. This crucial information would make or break our decision to move back to Thailand....

 

[namb]

CIC itself doesn't recommend to file in the country other than the home country, but in case you are sure that your spouse isn't gonna move from the foreign country you can go ahead and file the application, the suggestion in that case would be to stay in the foreign country (legal status only) where you file the application.

 

[namb]

You can read more here


http://www.canadainternational.gc.ca/germany-allemagne/visas/where-ou.aspx?lang=eng

 

[thaihubbie]

I read both links you gave me and it doesn't say anywhere that there is a problem if the person has been legally/lawfully living in a country that is not there home country, to apply to the processing office of that country. What I'm asking is if the person moves during the process what happens to the application and what happens to the 'potential interview'?

 

[matthewc]

If the app was close to completion, they'd finalise it. If there was still a long way to go, and especially if an interview was required, they transfer it to the visa office responsible for your new address. It's entirely up to the visa office whether to finalise the application where it is, or transfer.

 

[thaihubbie]

Thanks matthewc, do you know 'if' an application was transferred because the processing office chosen by us decided to do so for whatever reason...would the application remain on the same processing time-line or would it go to the end of the line? So for example in our case, if we chose Beijing as our processing office which has a processing time-line of 2-4 months and then they decided to transfer it to Singapore(home country office) would it then be delayed? Could it end up taking up to a 1 year or more the worst possible scenario at the Singapore processing office?