Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[MSP2YYZ]

Has anyone whose file was recently transferred to Seattle received ppr? I emailed Ottawa a month ago looking for information on my file, and they told me it was sent to Seattle, and I should email them instead. I did, and received this response:

Hello,

Please be advised that as your file was only recently received by our
office, we are unable to provide you with specific information at this
time. Kindly wait until the 90 days have passed from the date of
transfer to resubmit your enquiry with your full name, date of birth and
file number. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Immigration Section
Canadian Consulate General, Seattle
1501 4th Avenue, Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98101
Fax: (206) 441-7838
E-mail: Seattle-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.seattle.gc.ca

I am really hoping I will not have to wait another 3 months before they even look at my file.

 

[computergeek]

I am really hoping I will not have to wait another 3 months before they even look at my file.

Request your GCMS notes (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/atip/form-imm5563.asp). Keep doing that every four weeks (since they delay sending you the report for four weeks) and then you can watch the status of your case, including if there are any issues/problems.

 

[MSP2YYZ]

Request your GCMS notes (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/atip/form-imm5563.asp). Keep doing that every four weeks (since they delay sending you the report for four weeks) and then you can watch the status of your case, including if there are any issues/problems.

Doing it today, thanks!

 

[mapleleafs2011]

You need to submit the original police certificate and a translation by an accredited translator:

"The certificate must have been issued no more than three months prior to submitting your application. If the original certificate is not in English or French, then you will need to submit both the certificate and the original copy of the translation prepared by an accredited translator."
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/applications/guides/3999Etoc.asp

Would I be able to use these guys then? http://midwesttranslation.net/seattle_certified_translation.html

Anyone know how much it costs roughly to translate a letter?

 

[Isometry]

Has anyone whose file was recently transferred to Seattle received ppr? I emailed Ottawa a month ago looking for information on my file, and they told me it was sent to Seattle, and I should email them instead. I did, and received this response:

Hello,

Please be advised that as your file was only recently received by our
office, we are unable to provide you with specific information at this
time. Kindly wait until the 90 days have passed from the date of
transfer to resubmit your enquiry with your full name, date of birth and
file number. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Immigration Section
Canadian Consulate General, Seattle
1501 4th Avenue, Suite 600
Seattle, WA 98101
Fax: (206) 441-7838
E-mail: Seattle-im-enquiry @ international.gc.ca
Web site: http://www.seattle.gc.ca

I am really hoping I will not have to wait another 3 months before they even look at my file.

When my file was transferred to Seattle in February, the email telling me about the transfer included this:

Do not request the status of your file within ninety (90) days of the date of this letter.

... but I got my PPR 40 days later. I know that it's likely different now, with Buffalo closing, but just because they tell you not to ask for your status doesn't mean that no-one's looking at it.

 

[MSP2YYZ]

That makes me feel better, but I requested the GCMS to see what is going on with my file-it seems like the whole thing is taking waaaay too long.

 

[parker24]

Request your GCMS notes (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/atip/form-imm5563.asp). Keep doing that every four weeks (since they delay sending you the report for four weeks) and then you can watch the status of your case, including if there are any issues/problems.

Do you have to pay for your GCMS notes by any chance? Hmm.

 

[MSP2YYZ]

Do you have to pay for your GCMS notes by any chance? Hmm.

It was $5 CAD

 

[computergeek]

It was $5 CAD

There is no fee if you are present in Canada. If you are not, you must give permission for someone else to obtain the notes and there is a charge of $5 for that (e.g., if it is the sponsor who requests the file, rather than the applicant.)

 

[MSP2YYZ]

There is no fee if you are present in Canada. If you are not, you must give permission for someone else to obtain the notes and there is a charge of $5 for that (e.g., if it is the sponsor who requests the file, rather than the applicant.)

I am in Canada, and the form said I had to submit my receipt showing I paid the $5 or it would not be processed. Did I just get screwed out of five bucks?

 

[computergeek]

I am in Canada, and the form said I had to submit my receipt showing I paid the $5 or it would not be processed. Did I just get screwed out of five bucks?

There are two types of requests that you can make using that form: "Access to Information" for which there is a $5 fee and "Privacy Act' for which there is no fee. See http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/atip/faq.asp.

I've submitted four Privacy Act requests and have always received the information without paying the fee (including one that was sent on a CD-ROM although it took over two months to get that one.) Usually I'm just asking for the GCMS notes, but in the CD-ROM case I asked for a copy of the entire physical file.

Next time, check the "Privacy Act" box.

 

[Kiri]

So... while I've been here awhile, I still am uncertain on some of the abbreviations.
GCMS notes... what are they? When can you start getting them? Etc..

 

[computergeek]

So... while I've been here awhile, I still am uncertain on some of the abbreviations.
GCMS notes... what are they? When can you start getting them? Etc..

GCMS = Global Case Management System. They are the computer notes that CIC uses for outland application processing - including permanent resident applications as well as other applications (TRVs, TRPs, work permits, study permits, etc.) It is the compliment to the inland computer system (FOSS) and replaced "Computer Assisted Immigration Processing System' (CAIPS).

You can technically ask for them any time, but it's best to have a UCI or file number, since that's how the ATIP ("Access To Information and Privacy") folks find your records.

Note that the new form (May 2012) now includes an e-mail address, so you can fill in the form and e-mail it to them. From my experience, they pull the computer notes immediately (within a day or two of receipt) and then send them to you a month later - so you are always seeing information that is a bit old. However, the notes will tell you if there are problems, where they are (or were) in the process, anything that might be missing, anything that was received, etc.

GCMS notes are MUCH clearer than CAIPS notes (which are hideously complicated to read/understand) in my experience. I've never seen FOSS notes.

 

[Kiri]

GCMS = Global Case Management System. They are the computer notes that CIC uses for outland application processing - including permanent resident applications as well as other applications (TRVs, TRPs, work permits, study permits, etc.) It is the compliment to the inland computer system (FOSS) and replaced "Computer Assisted Immigration Processing System' (CAIPS).

You can technically ask for them any time, but it's best to have a UCI or file number, since that's how the ATIP ("Access To Information and Privacy") folks find your records.

Note that the new form (May 2012) now includes an e-mail address, so you can fill in the form and e-mail it to them. From my experience, they pull the computer notes immediately (within a day or two of receipt) and then send them to you a month later - so you are always seeing information that is a bit old. However, the notes will tell you if there are problems, where they are (or were) in the process, anything that might be missing, anything that was received, etc.

GCMS notes are MUCH clearer than CAIPS notes (which are hideously complicated to read/understand) in my experience. I've never seen FOSS notes.

I think I'll be waiting since I'm only 1 month into the application process. I've not even gotten sponsor approval or AOR yet Though the file number/UCI... would that not be the same as the Client ID on my visitor extension?

 

[parker24]

Well apparently my application is still in transit to LA! WHAAAT?! :-X They sent it June 5th, it takes THIS long to go from Ottawa to LA? WOWZERS!

"Your File is still in transit. Once we have the File, it will be given to the Immigration Officer for review and you will be advised of the next stage of processing.

Sincerely,

Immigration Section / Département d'immigration
550 S. Hope Street, 9th Floor, Los Angeles, CA 90071 • FAX: (213) 625-7154
Email: los-angeles-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca • Website: www.losangeles.gc.ca"