Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[Roadtrip]

My husband's MP got the following response from CIC:

"Thank you for your query about this case. Please note that this is one of a large number of cases transferred from Buffalo at the same time, so we appreciate your patience as we work through this caseload. I have now reviewed the file and note that the medical results are about to expire; however, I have requested an extension of their validity, and expect that new medical exams will not be required. No other requirements are outstanding. Therefore, the applicant can expect to be contacted by the visa office in Los Angeles (which is now responsible for issuing visas for family class cases processed at CPP-O) within the next few weeks regarding final instructions for visa issuance."

I translate this to mean, "We finished reviewing this application in May, and it's just been gathering dust for the past several months!" I just hope the end is near!

 

[MSP2YYZ]

Hello, everyone! New to this thread and really wish I had found it earlier! Anyway...I applied outland (from Chicago), my husband is sponsoring me. It's been 8 months now, received PPR a few weeks ago, overnighted the passports with return expressmail envelope. Been anxiously tracking the package, nothing until TODAY now I see I can track the package, which means (hopefully!) the passports with stamp (or COPR) are coming!

Question - how often is ecas updated? I checked today and all it says is 'Medicals received'. Strange, I think? For those of you with experience are they slow to update it? VO is Seattle.

Thanks!

My answer would be "it is never updated", because mine has said that since February, and they have had my completed file since September of 2011.

Congrats on finishing so quickly, lucky you.

 

[Chicagolady]

wow
so you are almost there...
can you share your full timeline.. like when you filed the application ...when did you got your approval.. its just we waiting ppl will have an idea..when can we expect to have our pprs..
and about ecas.. just forget about it.. sometimes..with some ppl ecas got updated when the person actually landed up in canada.. Visa Officers especially handing US case are rarely up-to-date with ecas..
this is not strange.. this has happened with people in this forum..

OK that's a relief! I was getting worried. OK, here's my timeline:

Dec 14, 2011 - app received
Jan 15 2011 - sponsorship approved
Mar 20, 2012 - file transferred to Seattle (originally sent to Buffalo)
Jun 11, 2012 - Interview Request
Aug 20, 2012 - Interview done (had to travel to SEATTLE from CHICAGO for this!)
Aug 21, 2012 - RPRF Request
Aug 23, 2012 - RPRF Paid
Sept 12, 2012 - RPRF rec'd
Sept 14, 2012 - Medicals rec'd
Sept 17, 2012 - PPR letter rec'd
Sept 18, 2012 - Passports sent overnight
Sept 19, 2012 - Passports received by VO
Sept 28 2012 - Tracking of return envelope available (stating envelope to be delivered Sept 29)

YAY!

 

[MSP2YYZ]

I have had way too much caffeine today, feeling really frustrated and stuck and I want to scream!!!!!!!!!!! Can I get just one person to tell me this will be over one day?
:'(

 

[computergeek]

I have had way too much caffeine today, feeling really frustrated and stuck and I want to scream!!!!!!!!!!! Can I get just one person to tell me this will be over one day?
:'(

It DOES end. It WILL be over one day. Like any traumatic experience, you will learn to forget about it because it is too painful to do otherwise.

 

[MSP2YYZ]

Thank you, I really do feel better now.

 

[Isometry]

OK that's a relief! I was getting worried. OK, here's my timeline:

Dec 14, 2011 - app received
Jan 15 2011 - sponsorship approved
Mar 20, 2012 - file transferred to Seattle (originally sent to Buffalo)
Jun 11, 2012 - Interview Request
Aug 20, 2012 - Interview done (had to travel to SEATTLE from CHICAGO for this!)
Aug 21, 2012 - RPRF Request
Aug 23, 2012 - RPRF Paid
Sept 12, 2012 - RPRF rec'd
Sept 14, 2012 - Medicals rec'd
Sept 17, 2012 - PPR letter rec'd
Sept 18, 2012 - Passports sent overnight
Sept 19, 2012 - Passports received by VO
Sept 28 2012 - Tracking of return envelope available (stating envelope to be delivered Sept 29)

YAY!

Is the applicant a US citizen, and if so, what was the reason for the interview? I'm just curious because interviews are rare for US/Canadian couples.

 

[simb]

It DOES end. It WILL be over one day. Like any traumatic experience, you will learn to forget about it because it is too painful to do otherwise.

and I hope this END will be SOON...VERY SOON

 

[Chicagolady]

Is the applicant a US citizen, and if so, what was the reason for the interview? I'm just curious because interviews are rare for US/Canadian couples.

Yes, I'm a US Citizen. I think the interview was required because once when hubby and I were going through difficult times, he withdrew sponsorship. Then, he saw that he was being silly : and we reapplied. The VO told me in not so many words that was the reason.

 

[Isometry]

Yes, I'm a US Citizen. I think the interview was required because once when hubby and I were going through difficult times, he withdrew sponsorship. Then, he saw that he was being silly : and we reapplied. The VO told me in not so many words that was the reason.

Yeah, long distance can be hard on any relationship. Congratulations, by the way!

 

[homi2285]

The sponsor approval letter said LA, but in fact I know the application was processed in Ottawa. As I've described previously, I've had rather unusual interactions with CIC so I do have some additional insight into the current process. That is also likely why I experienced expedited processing - that is the benefit of having Justice Canada calling Ottawa and LA and encouraging them to move the application forward.

The sponsor approval letter was on 21 June 2012.

To those still waiting, I understand your frustration and indeed I do feel like I've cheated a bit here. In my defence, I've spent 39 months in the hell that is immigration. I am truly grateful that the spousal application has gone far better than I had any right to expect.

I certainly hope to find ways in the future to improve the process because, having experienced it, I've learned how inhumane it is to those living with it.

Oh don't worry about. I 'm glad for any of us to get the PR as soon as we can.
So on the " Justice Canada " note, you contacted Depart of Justice Canada and have them called CIC? could you please explain a little bit more? thank you so much

 

[computergeek]

So on the " Justice Canada " note, you contacted Depart of Justice Canada and have them called CIC? could you please explain a little bit more? thank you so much

Well, not quite. My first application (skilled worker) was rejected and I challenged the rejection. I made the first hurdle ("leave" - only about 20% of cases are successful in obtaining leave from the court to proceed) and we were 3 weeks away from the hearing ("application for judicial review"). While there's never a guarantee for these things, it looked very likely that the application would be granted - the case law was certainly on my side.

Spousal was my second application - somewhere along the way I met someone (shortly before I applied for FSW in fact) and we got married a few years into the process. What Justice Canada did was pushed the spousal application in order to get me to drop the FSW JR application - and I don't think they'd have done that unless they thought they'd lose.

So to answer your question: "all you have to do is successfully apply to sue CIC and then you can get Justice Canada to push your application forward." I truly hope you NEVER find yourself in that position.

 

[moochops]

Hey computergeek, just noticed you got ppr a couple of days ago - many congrats 8)

 

[computergeek]

Hey computergeek, just noticed you got ppr a couple of days ago - many congrats 8)

Merci, moochops. Hope you finish up soon as well.

 

[Chicagolady]

APPROVED!!! Got my COPR and approval letter via Express Mail yesterday!! I am LANDING in two weeks!!!