Questions on minor child not immigrating as well as Medical Exam question

[Rob_TO]

Hi


You know that out of Canada spousal applications for US and Bermuda are now processed in CPP-Ott. ?

If that's the case then are all the US visa offices on here (NY, LA, Detroit, Seattle etc) now closed?

OP here said they were going through NY. If that is not possible anymore, then just one more thing their immigration consultant should be up to speed on!! Since CPP-O is such a new place I guess any stats from there are not very reliable yet.

 

[Buffy2323]

Thank you to everyone for your responses! I went ahead and rescheduled my medicals for January 31 for my son and I. It is going to take my attorney that long to get the application packet put together for me. Now I need is my FBI check and hopefully that won't take more than a few weeks. Thank you so so much to everyone.

Also, when I spoke to my attorney today I asked him about the 18 to 24 months that he quoted me. He said it is because he figured my application would be put on hold two times. Once for the medical. The second time would be for the FBI checks. He said it usually takes two months each time they send you a request so that adds on to the 12 months that is already being quoted plus the 2 months for stage 1. So at least I know now where his numbers were coming from.

 

[Rob_TO]

Thank you to everyone for your responses! I went ahead and rescheduled my medicals for January 31 for my son and I. It is going to take my attorney that long to get the application packet put together for me. Now I need is my FBI check and hopefully that won't take more than a few weeks. Thank you so so much to everyone.

Also, when I spoke to my attorney today I asked him about the 18 to 24 months that he quoted me. He said it is because he figured my application would be put on hold two times. Once for the medical. The second time would be for the FBI checks. He said it usually takes two months each time they send you a request so that adds on to the 12 months that is already being quoted plus the 2 months for stage 1. So at least I know now where his numbers were coming from.

Make sure you don't do the medicals too early, as they are only valid for 12 months. You should try to get them done as close as possible to submitting the app.

Stage 1 processing these days is closer to 1 month or less. And as PMM mentioned, you will go through CPP-Ottawa and NOT NY. Not to mention there should be no delays if you include everything in your original application.

Sorry to say but with the little info you've given, your consultant doesn't seem very up-to-speed on the current process!

 

[IslandAnnie]

One last question: Once my application is approved how long do I have to land in Canada? I want to time it for an easy transition for my son.

When you get your COPR it will have an Expiry Date that will be related to EITHER*:
a) 1 year from when your medicals were done, or
b) Passport expiry date of the applicant or an accompanying Dependent
*Whichever of the above 2 is earlier.
So you must land before this expiry date. Depending on how long your file take to process (which of course has MANY variables) you could have a short period of time or several months. If your medicals are end of January, have a look at your passport expiry dates and it should give you a good idea.

 

[IslandAnnie]

We will be processing through the New York Office. My attorney told me last night that the entire process will take 18-24 months. We are filing for Family Class as a married couple.

Here are my questions:

1. What is the actual processing time out of New York for Family Class? The CIC website says 12 months but my attorney said 18-24, I don't know if he has information I don't have or if I should go by CIC website.

How did you determine you would go through New York? Did your attorney suggest that? If so, I would find it quite troubling, as that changed quite some time ago. (as previous posters stated, all US Outland applications are sent to Mississauga, and then after Sponsor approval they are transferred to Ottawa)

In any case, it's great you have found this forum. I have found the "shared wealth" of knowledge here to be extraordinary! Getting all the documents together does feel overwhelming, and it is a huge relief when you finally get it sent off. Best of luck to your family with the application and keep posting any questions that come up.

 

[Buffy2323]

How did you determine you would go through New York? Did your attorney suggest that? If so, I would find it quite troubling, as that changed quite some time ago. (as previous posters stated, all US Outland applications are sent to Mississauga, and then after Sponsor approval they are transferred to Ottawa)

In any case, it's great you have found this forum. I have found the "shared wealth" of knowledge here to be extraordinary! Getting all the documents together does feel overwhelming, and it is a huge relief when you finally get it sent off. Best of luck to your family with the application and keep posting any questions that come up.

Okay, I guess I should explain myself a litte more. Most of the information I have gotten hasn't come from my attorney but from previous internet searches/this board. I first looked into this process about 2 years ago and since then I have't done a ton of research because I was overwhelmed, for 1, and secondlybecausee I couldn't even begin the process until my divorce from my ex became final. That process dragged out for quite awhile.

As for the information on processing through Ottawa, I had NO idea. my attorney emailed me the entire application packet and told me to pencil in the answers the best I could and then mail them back to him (that packet was sent back today). he will take the information I prvided and type he application up for me and input the information I didn't get correct or didn't know. One thing I apparently got wrong was the place we will be processing through. It was me assuming that since Buffalo office closed that I could pick any of the other 4 places in the US. That was my fault for assuming this. My attorney will correct it I'm quite certain but I will email him to make sure he sees my error. So THANK YOU for correcting me on this.

As for an interview, will that take place in Ottawa? That is a long trek if I have to go for one. I sure hope not!!

All of the other information has been wonderful as well and I am looking at all the links posted here today.

What I don't understand is that if they are processing all US applications for spousal PR in Ottawa, won't that make the timeframe alot longer? I would think there wouldbe so many more applicants going into one office.

 

[Buffy2323]

See here. http://www.data.gc.ca/default.asp?lang=En&n=5175A6F0-1&xsl=datacataloguerecord&metaxsl=datacataloguerecord&formid=427337D0-7C36-4FED-8428-C6A63F8C19B3

You can download this excel spreadsheet... and then sort/find the data for New York and Spouse/Partners & Children family class.

THANKS Rob!! But I tried to read the chart and it's like a foreignlanguage to me. LOL Is there any data for the Ottawa office since that is apparently what office I will be going through.

 

[Rob_TO]

THANKS Rob!! But I tried to read the chart and it's like a foreignlanguage to me. LOL Is there any data for the Ottawa office since that is apparently what office I will be going through.

Yes there is.

If you are on the first tab (PR - RP All Cat), go to the top drop-down menu called "All points of service" and choose CPP-Ottawa. Now look at line 35 for your specific category - Spouses, Partners and Children.

You can see for CPP-Ottawa the last 1 year average (Oct 1, 2011 - Sept 30, 2012)... 50% of their cases are completed within max of 7 months (cell I35). They approved 153 people and refused 64, so approval rate was 71%.

BUT as you noticed... with CPP-Ottawa taking on all USA applications, who knows if these times will continue into the future. They may go up or down depending how the CIC handles the new responsibilities there. Hopefully they have hired lots of new staff!

 

[Buffy2323]

Yes there is.

If you are on the first tab (PR - RP All Cat), go to the top drop-down menu called "All points of service" and choose CPP-Ottawa. Now look at line 35 for your specific category - Spouses, Partners and Children.

You can see for CPP-Ottawa the last 1 year average (Oct 1, 2011 - Sept 30, 2012)... 50% of their cases are completed within max of 7 months (cell I35). They approved 153 people and refused 64, so approval rate was 71%.

BUT as you noticed... with CPP-Ottawa taking on all USA applications, who knows if these times will continue into the future. They may go up or down depending how the CIC handles the new responsibilities there. Hopefully they have hired lots of new staff!

AHHA! I didn't do the drop down menus. I'm a little nervous about the disapproval amount. Only a 71% of approval. Ar ethe officers just in a ba mood or are they getting alot of fraudulant applications? I have tons of proof of relationship and there is no doubt we are legitimate (to me anyway) but my fate is in someone else's hands and only 7/10 people are being accepted. That doeesn't make me feel too good!!

 

[Buffy2323]

I'm so sorry to bug veryone but now that I am on a roll the questions are just pouring out of me. This one is important and I need info. quickly.

What forms do I need and where do I download them for the medical exam? I scheduled the appointment in Pittsburgh and all shhe could tell me was that I need to bring the medical forms with me but she doesn't know where to get them. I want to have everything filled out and ready to go on the 31st when I go for the appointment.

 

[IslandAnnie]

I'm so sorry to bug veryone but now that I am on a roll the questions are just pouring out of me. This one is important and I need info. quickly.

What forms do I need and where do I download them for the medical exam? I scheduled the appointment in Pittsburgh and all shhe could tell me was that I need to bring the medical forms with me but she doesn't know where to get them. I want to have everything filled out and ready to go on the 31st when I go for the appointment.

You no longer need to take Appendix C with you to the Dr. They have been eliminated as per the recent changes to the Immigration Medical Examination Process (you can find the official document here - http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/bulletins/2012/ob471.asp). I have seen many posts where the staff at Drs offices still aren't aware of this. You will need to take passport size photos with you to the appointment. The Dr. office should tell you how many. (The Dr in Phoenix that did my husband's medicals in mid November required 4 photos)

 

[Rob_TO]

AHHA! I didn't do the drop down menus. I'm a little nervous about the disapproval amount. Only a 71% of approval. Ar ethe officers just in a ba mood or are they getting alot of fraudulant applications? I have tons of proof of relationship and there is no doubt we are legitimate (to me anyway) but my fate is in someone else's hands and only 7/10 people are being accepted. That doeesn't make me feel too good!!

I wouldn't be nervous, as you can't really be sure what those stats represent. From what i understand having all USA applicants go through CPP-Ottawa is relatively new. So those stats and approval rating may be based on certain special cases or ones done from completely different countries that also went through CPP-Ottawa... who knows. I would look at the approval ratings for all the other US former visa offices (New York, Seattle, LA etc) to see what a "typical" USA citizen approval rating is... which is around 95%.

 

[Buffy2323]

Annie- thanks for the info. The office did tell me i need appendix C form. I will print that page and take them. The only other info. I was told to bring was cash, 5 passport size photos and the actual passports. I am lucky in that a good friend of mine is a photographer and i did the pics myself digitally and emailed to him and he printed them for me. My wife sent me her immigration photos and they are identical in sizeand coloration. My friend is printing the immigration photos for me again but doing them to passport size. Why do they need so many photos?? And why the different sizes?

Rob, thanks for the stats on all US applicants. 95% sounds MUCH better to me. I am so paranoid about the fact that i was married to a man and had kids with him and now i am married to a woman. Believe me I wouldn't put myself through this process if i didn't want to be with her. I have a good life with a good job here in the USA and i really will hate quitting my job but the things we do for love. Lol

For those of you already done with the process what did you do about your car? I currently have a lease that is up in september. I am trying to figure out what to do. Should i buy a new car and attempt to take it over to Canada or should i buy a beater to get me through from September until i move and then sell that and buy a new car in Canada? I am really torn on that one.

 

[IslandAnnie]

Annie- thanks for the info. The office did tell me i need appendix C form. I will print that page and take them. The only other info. I was told to bring was cash, 5 passport size photos and the actual passports. I am lucky in that a good friend of mine is a photographer and i did the pics myself digitally and emailed to him and he printed them for me. My wife sent me her immigration photos and they are identical in size and coloration. My friend is printing the immigration photos for me again but doing them to passport size. Why do they need so many photos?? And why the different sizes?

We did our "immigration size" photos ourselves as well. Why so many and different sizes?? ...good question LOL Canada's immigration photos are different than Canadian passport photos, which are both different than US passport size...none of that makes any sense to me. My husband said they used one photo for the IMM1017 (receipt that they gave to us to attach to the application), one for the forms for blood work, one on the form for x-rays and one for their records. (They confirm your identity at each of those labs.)

 

[Rob_TO]

5 passport size photos and the actual passports....Why do they need so many photos?? And why the different sizes?

Hmm i remember ALL of our pictures (i think 9 in total), including for the medical exam, were the PR/immigration style photos as in Appendix B of the country guides. There were no "passport size" photos whatsoever.

Perhaps the photos for medical don't really matter... or we didn't use the right ones but nobody mentioned it.