Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[yooper]

That is a big conclusion to jump to about being helped (faster timeline) or unusual situation (longer timeline.) My total time line from CPC-M receiving it (March 23), Transfer to Buffalo (May 5th), First PPR was June 30th. Somewhere between May 5th and June 30th it was transferred and processed in Los Angeles. Just because you hire or get someone to help you does not guarantee a faster process, and it is clearly stated that it will NOT help your file process any faster.

There are many people here who have been waiting for a long time for their applications that were "typical spousal applications" and have waited for over a year for processing.

One thing you will learn going thru this process is there is nothing "normal" or "typical" about ANY application....a lot depends on the quantity of applications received, some issues arose around the time they switched to the GCMS system, holidays may play a factor as well, we did see a big increase in processing times in Mississauga and Buffalo over the summer, and who the visa officer is who is processing your application....

As much as we all think our applications are typical, there could be the smallest issue like not paying the RPRF up froth that you may not think could hold it up, but that will hold things up for 2-3 months at least...

Sorry, I just get frustrated with assumptions about the time lines, and "typical" being used. EVERY application is different, and therefore as hard as it is, we can not compare our time lines to any one else's going through this process...

Venting frustrations might be the best part of this forum.

 

[jstnmlr]

as far as quarantine....there is none.....just need to make sure you have all your up to date shots,....rabbies and such.....my husband brought his dog across border many times and there are not many restrictions.

Yah the dog is already quite an international traveler. Just wondering if there was insite for the actual landing. Hopefully it's just as easy.

 

[doctorkb]

That is a big conclusion to jump to about being helped (faster timeline) or unusual situation (longer timeline.) My total time line from CPC-M receiving it (March 23), Transfer to Buffalo (May 5th), First PPR was June 30th. Somewhere between May 5th and June 30th it was transferred and processed in Los Angeles. Just because you hire or get someone to help you does not guarantee a faster process, and it is clearly stated that it will NOT help your file process any faster.

There are many people here who have been waiting for a long time for their applications that were "typical spousal applications" and have waited for over a year for processing.

One thing you will learn going thru this process is there is nothing "normal" or "typical" about ANY application....a lot depends on the quantity of applications received, some issues arose around the time they switched to the GCMS system, holidays may play a factor as well, we did see a big increase in processing times in Mississauga and Buffalo over the summer, and who the visa officer is who is processing your application....

As much as we all think our applications are typical, there could be the smallest issue like not paying the RPRF up froth that you may not think could hold it up, but that will hold things up for 2-3 months at least...

Sorry, I just get frustrated with assumptions about the time lines, and "typical" being used. EVERY application is different, and therefore as hard as it is, we can not compare our time lines to any one else's going through this process...

I disagree. There are varying cases of complexity.

A pair of high-school sweethearts that get married at 21 (and are now 23-24), having lived in one location and don't yet have kids make for a much easier case than a couple who are world-travellers and both parties are on their second or third marriages, with kids from all previous and current relationships.

The major inconsistency pertains to when the Buffalo IO happens to get around to opening the file.

There is *no* good reason that our file should have collected dust until August when individuals who submitted their file after us not only had their file looked at, but completed and visa issued.

I would suspect that *if* you have included all the required documentation *and* paid all the required fees, the average is going to be pretty accurate, within a margin of error that is also determinable.

This brings me back to some advice that bears reiteration.

1. Request your GCMS *and FOSS* notes early and often. It's free if you're in Canada, so why not?

2. If either e-Cas or the GCMS notes don't make it clear that medical results have been received, contact the medical branch to find out why. If they have been entered into the medical branch system, they will be on your FOSS notes (assuming you had the meds done in North America) along with a file number. You can have the medical branch forward these results to Buffalo.

 

[AmericaninQuebec]

I don't quite get your point. Should the person with the less complex file then go through more quickly than the other? I would assume so, but if that were the case my own file would already have been processed. This is my first marriage, we're both in our twenties, professionals, etc. On paper our file should have not raised any red flags and gone though processing quickly. In fact, my GCMS notes show that they had no issues with my file (noted that relationship appeared genuine upon their first review of the file and advised for waiver of an interview), yet they then didn't bother to touch my file again until I started pestering them this past week.

Really, I don't think you can say that just because someone's situation seems more or less complex that they're going to get through the process any faster or slower than someone else. Sure there are exceptions, but I think it's kind of a crap shoot at times as to how much time it's going to take.

I completely agree though that anyone left wondering about their file should request their GCMS notes. I requested mine in October and got them last week. If I hadn't done that then I wouldn't have known that Buffalo was no where nearer finishing my file than they were in July. I've now been in touch with the consulate and had confirmation that my file has not been forgotten, and is in the hands of a visa officer. I wouldn't recommend bothering Buffalo after only a couple of months, but if you've been waiting for more than a few months then I highly recommend getting your GCMS notes and potentially trying to contact them to see if there are any issues with your file that need to be resolved.

I disagree. There are varying cases of complexity.

A pair of high-school sweethearts that get married at 21 (and are now 23-24), having lived in one location and don't yet have kids make for a much easier case than a couple who are world-travellers and both parties are on their second or third marriages, with kids from all previous and current relationships.

The major inconsistency pertains to when the Buffalo IO happens to get around to opening the file.

There is *no* good reason that our file should have collected dust until August when individuals who submitted their file after us not only had their file looked at, but completed and visa issued.

I would suspect that *if* you have included all the required documentation *and* paid all the required fees, the average is going to be pretty accurate, within a margin of error that is also determinable.

This brings me back to some advice that bears reiteration.

1. Request your GCMS *and FOSS* notes early and often. It's free if you're in Canada, so why not?

2. If either e-Cas or the GCMS notes don't make it clear that medical results have been received, contact the medical branch to find out why. If they have been entered into the medical branch system, they will be on your FOSS notes (assuming you had the meds done in North America) along with a file number. You can have the medical branch forward these results to Buffalo.

 

[amaranth]

I don't quite get your point. Should the person with the less complex file then go through more quickly than the other? I would assume so, but if that were the case my own file would already have been processed. This is my first marriage, we're both in our twenties, professionals, etc. On paper our file should have not raised any red flags and gone though processing quickly. In fact, my GCMS notes show that they had no issues with my file (noted that relationship appeared genuine upon their first review of the file and advised for waiver of an interview), yet they then didn't bother to touch my file again until I started pestering them this past week.

Really, I don't think you can say that just because someone's situation seems more or less complex that they're going to get through the process any faster or slower than someone else. Sure there are exceptions, but I think it's kind of a crap shoot at times as to how much time it's going to take.

Agreed. If it boiled down to complexity, logically my file should have flown through... First marriage for both of us, no kids, no criminal history, etc. As of the date of application submission, we had over 6 years together and 9 months married. No obvious snags. Yet my file sat in Buffalo from Jan 26 to March 31 before I even received the AOR, and after that it wasn't touched again till the end of September. Then came the RPRF debacle. Clearly there's no rhyme or reason as to how Buffalo handles things, and the computer change didn't help at all (confirmed by the officer I talked to while landing... I swear I'll post about that eventually!)

(and to all the MPs who swear up and down "no no no, it's ALWAYS first come, first served! ALWAYS!"... There isn't much I can say here, because it would get censored anyway

 

[AmericaninQuebec]

Agreed. If it boiled down to complexity, logically my file should have flown through... First marriage for both of us, no kids, no criminal history, etc. As of the date of application submission, we had over 6 years together and 9 months married. No obvious snags. Yet my file sat in Buffalo from Jan 26 to March 31 before I even received the AOR, and after that it wasn't touched again till the end of September. Then came the RPRF debacle. Clearly there's no rhyme or reason as to how Buffalo handles things, and the computer change didn't help at all (confirmed by the officer I talked to while landing... I swear I'll post about that eventually!)

(and to all the MPs who swear up and down "no no no, it's ALWAYS first come, first served! ALWAYS!"... There isn't much I can say here, because it would get censored anyway

Computer change? I don't recall hearing about that one. I absolutely LOVE when government organizations decide to change their computer systems. Nothing ever seems to work right after that. When did this supposedly happen?

Also, I have a pretty good idea what you'd say to those MPs, and I'm right there with you.

 

[Maple3]

That's really interesting about the relationship evidence...LA sent all our photos back, I was kind of shocked that they did. I sent all my pics to Walmart to print off so I didn't have to send originals figuring that they wouldn't send them back...

I scanned my pictures on regular printer paper, so I didn't need mine back. I figured if I sent the originals I'd never get them back!

 

[yooper]

...
1. Request your GCMS *and FOSS* notes early and often. It's free if you're in Canada, so why not?

Haven't done this. Just trusting the Great Buffalo to be beneficent. If I do this, what action can then be taken? (I just started 'processing' on 2 Nov, so I have patience now for a few more days!)

 

[AmericaninQuebec]

Haven't done this. Just trusting the Great Buffalo to be beneficent. If I do this, what action can then be taken? (I just started 'processing' on 2 Nov, so I have patience now for a few more days!)

I requested mine in October (my file went into processing in July), and just got them last week. They showed me that nothing had been done on my file since July. It helped in that I was able to write to Buffalo and say, "hey I have proof you haven't touched my file since July, is it because there's a problem or did you simply forget about me/lose my file?" Not much I can really do much beyond that, except taking it to my sponsor's local MP and showing them that Buffalo is being incompetent and asking them to complain on my behalf (which I'm holding off on since Buffalo has been communicating with me recently).

I know some others on here discovered through their GCMS notes that their file had been transferred to another visa office, their address was incorrect, Buffalo had requested documents but they'd never gotten notice, etc. Basically it's a way to double check that everything is in order on your file and that it's actually being processed. If you requested yours today you'd see what they did the day they put it into process. On mine they determined that day that they thought my relationship was genuine/interview waived, that they needed an RCMP name check, etc. At this point it would be more for your own tracking purposes, because it's way too soon in the process to start bugging them.

ETA: Never, ever have blind faith in Buffalo! I think it's ddbro2 who has the signature line, "Trust by verify."

 

[ddobro2]

True, MICC is a gov't agency and thus prone to incompetence. But the likelihood of MICC letting it fall through the cracks and then CPCM opening my letter and processing the RCMP payment yet totally ignoring the CSQ I asked them to forward to the VO is a bit suspicious.

And yeah, I know a lot of people here have had bad experiences with Canada Post, but I know CPCM sends things via government courier (not sure about MICC). In any case, myself, I haven't had too bad experiences with CP and the fact that CP services are everywhere - in the Pharmaprixs, in CP offices on the main street I walk - makes it a little too temptingly convenient (plus I don't know where the nearest Fedex, DHL, etc office is).

I was gonna comiserate with you about your passport still not getting back but I didn't have time to before you posted the update - so congrats on finally having that COPR in hand, and good for you for requesting a refund for the service they didn't perform. I wonder if sending to Fort Erie would have made a difference or exactly what the problem on their end was.....

Ok, so I read what you had to say about "certified true"ing the copy and I ended up not doing this. And I'll explain why: if you look at the document checklist, you'll see on the 2nd and last page that they have a box for "Certified copies," and that box reads:

"You must send certified copies of any legal name change document and of any document that is not in English or French.

The following people can certify your photocopies:

Chiropractor, Commissioner of Oaths, Dentist, Funeral director, Justice of the peace or judge, lawyer, Manager of a financial institution, Medical doctor, Member of a provincial legislature, Member of parliament, Minister or religion, Municipal clerk, Notary, Official of a federal or provincial government department, Official of an embassy, consulate, or high commission, officially accredited to Canada and authorized to certify documents issued by the official's government, Pharmacist, Police officer, Postmaster, Primary, secondary, or university teacher, Professional accountant, Professional engineer, Social Worker, Veterinarian [basically your next door neighbors, lol]

This person must compare the original document to the photocopy and must print the following on the photocopy: 'I certify that this is a true copy of the original document', the name of the original document, and the date of certification. The person who certifies your photocopies cannot be a family member."

It sounds to me as if they require this for documents that are not in either English or French and the CSQ, after all, is in French. So I did send the photocopy non-certified via CanadaPost on Thursday and also sent GCMS notes request #3. I'll be sending the fax and email versions tomorrow. When and if I get an email back from them saying I should have actually certified it, well then I can simply fax that and I haven't really wasted any time (they were off on Thursday, probably no one bothered to come in on Friday, and the letter they sent me did, after all, not specify HOW I should forward the CSQ, and included the Buffalo address and fax numbers in the letterhead, so I think CIC is smart enough to know that if they don't tell people which specific method to return documents, they are open to receiving it via fax).

I haven't written off contacting the MP but have just put it on the back-burner for the moment. I kind of see it as a last resort but at the same time, I'll be more than happy to try to contact my MP if I don't have anything before the next set of GCMS notes comes back a month from now.

I didn't have to deal with this, but I can say that the incompetence is likely just as prevalent at MICC as it is in Buffalo. Without being the sender, there's no certainty that the item-not-received wasn't just the effect of item-not-sent.

Now, add CanadaPost to the mix and you have a TRULY incompetent process. Our passport was supposed to be delivered today -- CanadaPost had scanned it as "delivered" about 2 hours ago. The mailbox is still empty. I called CP to inquire -- they said "oh, they sometimes scan it and deliver it later". I told them how uncool this was, especially given the recent story about mail hoarding -- if the scan says delivered, I'd better darn well be able to walk to the mailbox and find it in there.

We'll see if it's in our box later today.

As for "certified true" -- you may be able to take this to any professional (i.e. someone who is licensed for their job, like doctor, pharmacist, engineer, lawyer, banker) for authentication. This is what used to have to be done for a passport application in Canada. A notary is the ultimate, but often charges a little more.

As for the MP -- don't write them off. Our MP followed through when I provided them with the documents that had been sent. Our GCMS notes show receipt of snail mail documents AND the correspondence from the MP's office (including the documents we provided)... but not any of the e-mail correspondence WE had to communicate the same.

 

[ddobro2]

Hey jamaican. Lol, too late! Come on, do you really expect me to shell out big money to send something across the border that they should have already gotten? In any case, I thought it would be a bit pointless to get it there in 2 business days or something, because I think it will still not be fully staffed this week anyway due to vacations around Thanksgiving/Black Friday/Cyber Monday. So I payed a buck (or is that a loonie? ) 30 and sent it via CP. They'll be getting at least a fax from me too.....

@ ddobro2. Just saw your CSQ dilemma. Just make sure you don't send it to Buffalo by Canada Post!

 

[ddobro2]

Finally, congrats doctorkb!!

Passport received!

COPR received!

All documents are (surprisingly!) in order, with correct entries on everything!

Our cover letter detailing height & eye colour was returned, along with one photo in the envelope we sent them in. The other photo has been attached to the COPR.

Visa valid through October 2012. It appears that they extended the medicals for an entire year (they expired in early Oct 2011, per GCMS notes).

Our relationship evidence photos were not returned (no worries -- they were duplicates... I'm just mentioning this to document for future applicants).

Also: CanadaPost took 5 days to get the XpressPost 2-Day envelope back to us. I called CanadaPost and they are sending a cheque to refund the cost of the envelope.

 

[ddobro2]

That's great they actually responded but the "in queue for review by an IO" line is so overused, and frankly, empty. I wish they would stop hiding behind empty rhetoric (hmn, I guess that makes them like politicians then...). It's redic that they are still "waiting on your meds" after all this time (I *believe* that this is the first assessment they work on for someone's file). I would do what doctorkb suggested and start bugging Ottawa Regional Medical Centre. Hang in there!

Got a real email response from someone at Buffalo yesterday!!! They did misspell my last name, which is disconcerting, but the immigration officer claims my file is in queue for review by an immigration officer, that they're apparently still waiting on my meds but that a follow up to Immigration Medical Services was sent by Buffalo last week.

It came from a proper email address and not the one they list on the website (or that I wrote to). Fingers crossed they're being honest and not just blowing me off. I figure I'll wait a week or so and then try contacting again to make sure my meds were received and see if they'll give me another update.

Anyway, just wanted to share because I'm happy to feel like a live person has actually looked at my stuff recently. Hope everyone is having a good Thanksgiving weekend.

 

[AmericaninQuebec]

That's great they actually responded but the "in queue for review by an IO" line is so overused, and frankly, empty. I wish they would stop hiding behind empty rhetoric (hmn, I guess that makes them like politicians then...). It's redic that they are still "waiting on your meds" after all this time (I *believe* that this is the first assessment they work on for someone's file). I would do what doctorkb suggested and start bugging Ottawa Regional Medical Centre. Hang in there!

Is that the same as Immigration Medical Services?

Yeah, I am going to give it a week and write back to ask if they've received the info they were waiting on. I wrote over the weekend thanking for the update and mentioned that I'd had my medical done in Montreal, etc. The officer wrote back this morning claiming to have forwarded my most recent email on to the IO handling my file ($10 says it's actually her, but doesn't want to admit to it). I figure I can't harass them every day, but now that I have an officer's direct email address I'll check in with her every week or so to see where I'm at in the process. Fingers crossed this encourages them to finish everything up in a timely manner.

 

[ddobro2]

Indeed.

outliers have nothing to do with false reporting. Outlier is a statistical term regarding an observation (or piece of data) that is, numerically speaking, distant from the rest of the data. So if most PPR timelines are around 6-7 months, and somebody on the spreadsheet was processed in 16 months, that 16 number would be an outlier.

Actually, mathematically-speaking, I didn't choose what to include and what not to include, I used the formulas and they encompass all the data, "typical" and not so typical. The 3 different averages I used - mean, or sum of all values divided by number of values; median (which value is in the middle if you list them smallest to largest), and mode (which value is the most prevalent) include ALL the values for processing time in their calculations. But being various measure of central tendancy and not of spread, yes, they're not going to represent the extreme values. The mean, however, will be more "influenced" by outliers than the median and mode (it will skew towards them if they are large enough), which is why I included all three. They're not that different though. Like I say, focusing on the average is misleading because there is a large spread in the data.

Oh, and I'm a female

When ddobro calculated an average PPR processing times he didn't include any outliers...he based the average on the "typical" results.