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Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

Lasiar

Hero Member
Mar 1, 2012
224
3
124
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo/Detroit
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
09-09-2011
Doc's Request.
02-22-2012
AOR Received.
12-09-2011
File Transfer...
11-15-2011
Med's Request
medical extension 07-06-12 request sent by VO
Med's Done....
13-06-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
16-05-2012
VISA ISSUED...
COPR 16-08-12
muffy1 said:
Lasiar- I noticed that as well! We must be special ;) I've been trying to get an update, as well, as I have not heard anything since Dec. 28th. We have an MP's office looking into it....it's been over a week since MP's office said they would look into it. Have not heard anything. I'm trying to be patient but it's so hard :) I just keep telling myself that someone else out there in this "PR process" needs their PPR/COPR/to be done with process more than I do and my turn will come :)

When I saw GOGOGO, bbiery, callisons, receiving PPR I thought I might be close lol. Oh well.

Our time will come, too, don't you worry. I'm just praying sooner than later. Keep me updated on your status and I'll do the same :) All the best!
Thanks Muffy1 I will keep u informed. I'm not sure I want to be "special" in this case.. LOL!! But ya we gotta hang in there dont we. Just want that request to come so badly.. as I know you do as well. Will let you know as soon as I hear something. take care.
 

GOGOGO

Hero Member
Jan 12, 2012
540
13
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo->New York
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
27-09-2011
Doc's Request.
23-02-2012
AOR Received.
04-01-2012 (Email from Buffalo)
File Transfer...
02-02-2012 (Buffalo->New York: notified by email from Buffalo)
Med's Done....
18-01-2012
Passport Req..
11-04-2012; 23Apr: PP copy delivered at NY
VISA ISSUED...
01-05-2012 (as per COPR); 4May: Decision Made on eCAS; 8May: COPR rcvd (Canada address)
LANDED..........
10-05-2012; 12May: Status in eCAS disappeared; 13Jul: PR Card rcv'd
Hi Habsfan, here is the CIC processing time page... http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp. They are talking about 82 days for stage 1 processing (sponsorship approval) and they are now working on applications received on February 1, 2012. So you may expect another month or 2 for yours to have sponsorship approved, before your application is passed to Buffalo VO for further processing. And don't count on them sending acknowledgements, as it's quite common people not getting any. :)

For your information, you can take a look at the Buffalo spreadsheet (link in my signature) to get a feel for processing time from other forum member's timeline. Please share your dates if you would like to be added to the spreadsheet.

Good luck with your application!

Habsfan said:
I was mostly enquiring about the letter confirming that they received your application and are processing it.. if my memory is good, I think they were saying it normally takes around 5 weeks to get this letter..
 

cgagnon

Hero Member
Nov 10, 2011
820
15
Montreal,QC
Category........
Visa Office......
LA(Buffalo)
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
02-03-2012
AOR Received.
None
File Transfer...
31-05-2012
Med's Done....
13-12-2011
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
10/10/2012
GOGOGO said:
Hi Habsfan, here is the CIC processing time page... http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp. They are talking about 82 days for stage 1 processing (sponsorship approval) and they are now working on applications received on February 1, 2012. So you may expect another month or 2 for yours to have sponsorship approved, before your application is passed to Buffalo VO for further processing. And don't count on them sending acknowledgements, as it's quite common people not getting any. :)

For your information, you can take a look at the Buffalo spreadsheet (link in my signature) to get a feel for processing time from other forum member's timeline. Please share your dates if you would like to be added to the spreadsheet.

Good luck with your application!

CIC updated the time to 89 days still working on application received on February 1st.
 

GOGOGO

Hero Member
Jan 12, 2012
540
13
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo->New York
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
27-09-2011
Doc's Request.
23-02-2012
AOR Received.
04-01-2012 (Email from Buffalo)
File Transfer...
02-02-2012 (Buffalo->New York: notified by email from Buffalo)
Med's Done....
18-01-2012
Passport Req..
11-04-2012; 23Apr: PP copy delivered at NY
VISA ISSUED...
01-05-2012 (as per COPR); 4May: Decision Made on eCAS; 8May: COPR rcvd (Canada address)
LANDED..........
10-05-2012; 12May: Status in eCAS disappeared; 13Jul: PR Card rcv'd
So they changed the number within the past 2 hours and forgot about changing the last updated date (still May2) on the same page. ;D
Wonder if they do updates manually or if they have any buggy program to do the job.
Anyway, it's only an approximate figure for reference.

cgagnon said:
CIC updated the time to 89 days still working on application received on February 1st.
 

Amoss

Hero Member
Feb 28, 2012
328
2
Category........
Visa Office......
LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-01-2012
AOR Received.
10-03-2012
File Transfer...
to Buffalo 20-03-2012 -- to LA 08-05-02012
Med's Done....
20-12-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
08-08-2012
18 months?! I guess they say 11 months for 80% of the cases and 18 months for 100% of the cases?? OR... and I don't want to say it... 18 months is what the next quarterly update will put Buffalo at as the new processing time ??? :( :( :( :( :'(

Well, the update should be any day now...

OR, and I will easily say it, ;) the agents love to exaggerate and gives the most awful predicaments over the phone. My opinion is that they have never had to apply for a visa in their lives so they have no idea about what it feels like to be on the other end.
 

moochops

Hero Member
Aug 13, 2011
224
6
123
Alberta
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
09-06-2011
Doc's Request.
06-01-2012
AOR Received.
24-08-2011
File Transfer...
09-08-2011
Med's Request
new request 19-12-2012
Med's Done....
24-10-2010 / 16-01-2013
Interview........
waived
18 months :eek: my visitor visa extension runs out in August and it'll be a cold day in hell that they extend it for the third time :-X

I'm keeping an eye on Prophet3 and York Region lol they are close to me on the spreadsheet. Maybe they will find our files propping up the leg of the canteen dining table :p
 

Kiri

Hero Member
Jan 31, 2012
453
13
123
Hamilton, Ontario
Category........
Visa Office......
Ottawa
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
18-05-2012 App. Return....: 30-8-2012 App. Refiled....: 02-01-2013
Doc's Request.
24-01-2013
AOR Received.
23-01-2013 Mississauga 10-05-2013 Ottawa
File Transfer...
19-02-2013
Med's Request
23-07-2013 (New XRay)
Med's Done....
11-05-2012
Interview........
Waived
Passport Req..
Decision Made 03-09-2013 without PPR
VISA ISSUED...
27-09-2013
LANDED..........
04-12-2013
Does this mean that if I'm living in Canada on a visitor extension it can take 18 months... or since I'm living here on visitor visa it's 11 still? Ya'll have me freaked out now. Sending off my application on the 14th.

I also have a question... if I have to go to the states for less than one day (drive down to NY to meet someone for work stuff in the morning and drive right back the afternoon).. will I lose my visitor extension if I do get one? Will I risk not getting back in? Cause I'm gonna need to this summer (I'm sending off for PR not this coming Monday but next so I'll have the info once they inform me they have it before I go.) Will it restart my 6 months to go down and back and I have to reapply for extension? Or since it's less than 24hours will it still apply?

If I DO lose the extension and I'm in process I'm sure they will approve if I reapply if they dont' grant me that long of one at the border. But what are the odds they will reject me coming back same day if I have the proof of medical exam, and that my PR app is in and in process and all fees paid?

This is all based on them approving it. Still waiting. I'm here on implied right now as I was supposed to leave April 30th.
 

Amoss

Hero Member
Feb 28, 2012
328
2
Category........
Visa Office......
LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-01-2012
AOR Received.
10-03-2012
File Transfer...
to Buffalo 20-03-2012 -- to LA 08-05-02012
Med's Done....
20-12-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
08-08-2012
moochops said:
18 months :eek: my visitor visa extension runs out in August and it'll be a cold day in hell that they extend it for the third time :-X

I'm keeping an eye on Prophet3 and York Region lol they are close to me on the spreadsheet. Maybe they will find our files propping up the leg of the canteen dining table :p
How long did your stage one take? like how long ago did it get transferred to Buffalo?
 

moochops

Hero Member
Aug 13, 2011
224
6
123
Alberta
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
09-06-2011
Doc's Request.
06-01-2012
AOR Received.
24-08-2011
File Transfer...
09-08-2011
Med's Request
new request 19-12-2012
Med's Done....
24-10-2010 / 16-01-2013
Interview........
waived
Stage 1 was right on target for their processing timescales (6 weeks I think) it was transferred to Buffalo on (9th August 2011 ) and went in process on 6th Jan.

So I know it's still within the guidlines - and yes I really should shut up and stop moaning but AAARGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH.

That felt better :)
 

Amoss

Hero Member
Feb 28, 2012
328
2
Category........
Visa Office......
LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-01-2012
AOR Received.
10-03-2012
File Transfer...
to Buffalo 20-03-2012 -- to LA 08-05-02012
Med's Done....
20-12-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
08-08-2012
moochops said:
Stage 1 was right on target for their processing timescales (6 weeks I think) it was transferred to Buffalo on (9th August 2011 ) and went in process on 6th Jan.

So I know it's still within the guidlines - and yes I really should shut up and stop moaning but AAARGGGGGGGHHHHHHHH.

That felt better :)
No worries. I am a complainer too sometimes! ;) I was just curious because I want to know more about Buffalo's time lines and communication style. What kinds of stuff have you heard from them so far and how long did it take to hear that stuff?? That is, if you are so inclined to answer ;D
 

moochops

Hero Member
Aug 13, 2011
224
6
123
Alberta
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
09-06-2011
Doc's Request.
06-01-2012
AOR Received.
24-08-2011
File Transfer...
09-08-2011
Med's Request
new request 19-12-2012
Med's Done....
24-10-2010 / 16-01-2013
Interview........
waived
Amoss said:
No worries. I am a complainer too sometimes! ;) I was just curious because I want to know more about Buffalo's time lines and communication style. What kinds of stuff have you heard from them so far and how long did it take to hear that stuff?? That is, if you are so inclined to answer ;D
I heard that the sponsor had been approved and the file transferred to Buffalo in August. (That was by email). Then I had to email them to force an AOR (which they said they had emailed although it seems they had my email address wrong ::)).

The next thing I heard was a request for further info (updated police checks) and rprf which they sent by mail in January. I sent this back as soon as I got them which was end of Feb.

I've sent a couple of begging emails but get the standard "go away and we'll contact you when ready" emails.

This is how sad I am - they had my email address wrong - so I even created a hotmail account for the address that they had wron in the system (luckily it was available) just in case someone didn't change it on the file. The emails that they have sent me have always been in reply to mine - so I'm covering all bases lol
 

Amoss

Hero Member
Feb 28, 2012
328
2
Category........
Visa Office......
LA
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
10-01-2012
AOR Received.
10-03-2012
File Transfer...
to Buffalo 20-03-2012 -- to LA 08-05-02012
Med's Done....
20-12-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
08-08-2012
moochops said:
I heard that the sponsor had been approved and the file transferred to Buffalo in August. (That was by email). Then I had to email them to force an AOR (which they said they had emailed although it seems they had my email address wrong ::)).

The next thing I heard was a request for further info (updated police checks) and rprf which they sent by mail in January. I sent this back as soon as I got them which was end of Feb.

I've sent a couple of begging emails but get the standard "go away and we'll contact you when ready" emails.

This is how sad I am - they had my email address wrong - so I even created a hotmail account for the address that they had wron in the system (luckily it was available) just in case someone didn't change it on the file. The emails that they have sent me have always been in reply to mine - so I'm covering all bases lol
Oh no! That's terrible... ??? yeah, I have considered e-mailing them too because it's been about a month and a half since they got our file but I keep thinking I will get something sometime.

BTW, how many police checks did you have? and were the ones they requested to have updated from countries you don't even live in anymore? I ask because my husband has lived in 5 countries since he was 18 and it was a super pain in the butt to get them, and well, yeah.

oh Buffalo :mad: :(
 

Lasiar

Hero Member
Mar 1, 2012
224
3
124
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo/Detroit
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
09-09-2011
Doc's Request.
02-22-2012
AOR Received.
12-09-2011
File Transfer...
11-15-2011
Med's Request
medical extension 07-06-12 request sent by VO
Med's Done....
13-06-2011
Interview........
waived
Passport Req..
16-05-2012
VISA ISSUED...
COPR 16-08-12
Amoss said:
18 months?! I guess they say 11 months for 80% of the cases and 18 months for 100% of the cases?? OR... and I don't want to say it... 18 months is what the next quarterly update will put Buffalo at as the new processing time ??? :( :( :( :( :'(

Well, the update should be any day now...

OR, and I will easily say it, ;) the agents love to exaggerate and gives the most awful predicaments over the phone. My opinion is that they have never had to apply for a visa in their lives so they have no idea about what it feels like to be on the other end.
Yes I tend to agree with that. exaggerating bit.. at least I hope so and your right they don't know what it feels like to be on this end of it. if they did, they surely wouldnt treat people's feelings like they are nothing. thank you.
 

Habsfan

Full Member
May 17, 2011
29
0
GOGOGO said:
Hi Habsfan, here is the CIC processing time page... http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp. They are talking about 82 days for stage 1 processing (sponsorship approval) and they are now working on applications received on February 1, 2012. So you may expect another month or 2 for yours to have sponsorship approved, before your application is passed to Buffalo VO for further processing. And don't count on them sending acknowledgements, as it's quite common people not getting any. :)

For your information, you can take a look at the Buffalo spreadsheet (link in my signature) to get a feel for processing time from other forum member's timeline. Please share your dates if you would like to be added to the spreadsheet.

Good luck with your application!
Oooh ok nice! Thanks so much GOGOGO! ;)
We won't worry too much about not hearing back from them for a little while longer then hehe
 

PurpleLilly

Full Member
Apr 17, 2012
35
2
Lilac6 said:
They also kept contacting us by snail mail, apart from one email which was PPR. They replied to all our email inquiries though, sometime within 48 hours, sometimes a lot later. PPR email to us had a different sender name (BFALOIMPA-AP@international.gc.ca), not the usual Buffalo address (buffalo-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca)
Hi, I see you are landed already, so its safe to say that this BFALOIMPA-AP@international.gc.ca email address is legit? I just recieved an email from that address and I'm worried if it is some sort of scam. Also because the note that was sent to me looks like its a page scanned from a book. It had like a ring binder on the sides or something. Please advise. Thanks