Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[AW2011]

Nope. The IA is more common for inlanders and outland people applying under the FSW stream, from my (limited) observations on this forum.

In fact, cbennett's IA, incidentally, was the first posted IA letter I've seen in a while (unless people are getting them but just not making specific enough reference to them, which is totally possible). You can see the docs request/IA column in the spreadsheet is pretty sparse. My logic is that if Buffalo cannot even send an AOR to all of us, why would they consistently send an IA?

Moreover, cbennett's IA letter did not just say that their initial assessment was complete, but it also said that 1) the interview had been waived, and 2) they needed another document - a police certificate from France. So Buffalo may not even have a reason to send an IA if they don't need more information from you, which they end up not needing from plenty of us. And those of us who did get letters for more information, I don't recall anyone saying it was in the form of an Initial Assessment - Buffalo just flat-out said they needed the information within x days. As for the interview - plenty of people get absolutely no notification of interview being waived...they find out through GCMS, in fact. So bottom line, there's nothing to tell me about either the purpose of or consistency (or lack thereof) behind the Initial Assessment letter.

Thank you dodobro2! Great answer. That clears up my mind. Enjoy the long weekend everybody.

 

[Maple3]

Could someone please respond ASAP... I am sending my PPR today real soon and I was wondering if I have to send a (cover) letter along with the passport and photos etc? Also when I was addressing the envelope I didnt have a lot of room to write the address in that little space .. any suggestions for that problem .. Do you think it is a good idea to type out the address and tape it on the envelope covering my hand written address?

Thank you for

 

[Trish1982]

OH MY GOD. IT NEVER ENDS.

So hubby & I were all geared up ready to fly out to LA for his visa issuance.
We get to the airport and "Im sorry maam your passport expired 2 weeks ago"

OH MY GOD. So I cant leave Canada. This is total balls.

I am stuck now- in Alberta (We live in the NWT we had to drive 8 hours to get to the airport here)
Hubby is flying now, he will be in LA tonight and at the consulate tomorrow morning at 7am.

We had always planned to do this landing trip together, so we've never researched it much- but now that I CANT go I am
wondering if I HAVE to be there when he lands??? Can anyone answer this? I am a total mess right now.

 

[ddobro2]

You don't have to be, although I can see how you would totally want to be there together given all you've gone through with this process. They may or may not call you to verify that you're the sponsor and that you're married - I think that's what has happened with a few others landing without their sponsors. So keep your phone on, I suppose.

OH MY GOD. IT NEVER ENDS.

So hubby & I were all geared up ready to fly out to LA for his visa issuance.
We get to the airport and "Im sorry maam your passport expired 2 weeks ago"

OH MY GOD. So I cant leave Canada. This is total balls.

I am stuck now- in Alberta (We live in the NWT we had to drive 8 hours to get to the airport here)
Hubby is flying now, he will be in LA tonight and at the consulate tomorrow morning at 7am.

We had always planned to do this landing trip together, so we've never researched it much- but now that I CANT go I am
wondering if I HAVE to be there when he lands??? Can anyone answer this? I am a total mess right now.

 

[AmericaninQuebec]

OH MY GOD. IT NEVER ENDS.

So hubby & I were all geared up ready to fly out to LA for his visa issuance.
We get to the airport and "Im sorry maam your passport expired 2 weeks ago"

OH MY GOD. So I cant leave Canada. This is total balls.

I am stuck now- in Alberta (We live in the NWT we had to drive 8 hours to get to the airport here)
Hubby is flying now, he will be in LA tonight and at the consulate tomorrow morning at 7am.

We had always planned to do this landing trip together, so we've never researched it much- but now that I CANT go I am
wondering if I HAVE to be there when he lands??? Can anyone answer this? I am a total mess right now.

Oh no! After all of that waiting and stress over his application! I can see how remembering to check your own passport would completely slip your mind.

I've heard of other stories of immigrants landing alone without a problem. If they ask him he should just tell the truth, which I'm sure he would, and I couldn't see it being a problem. You'll be there on the other end waiting for him, so it's not like he's really landing alone. Plus, he's already been accepted as a PR and is getting his visa. There are no more evaluations left to do!

Sorry you're stuck in Alberta without him, and I hope the hotel has an awesome hot tub for you to relax in after all of this stress. Before you know it you'll be looking back on this as a funny anecdote of life!

 

[Trish1982]

Thanks for the quick reply's

So, I don't HAVE to be with him when he lands- correct?
If i remember...there was nothing in the PPR letter that stated sponsor had to be present when spouse is landing.
It is just easier to be together right?


I have a ticket on hold from here (in Grande Prairie, Alberta) to Vancouver just in case they decide to be difficult but it's a lot of money ($1025)! I would prefer to have it refunded if I don't have to be there for the landing, and the airline needs notice of a cancellation. If I fly to Vancouver Friday- it will be 15 hours of flying. I go from here to Calgary, Calgary to Edmonton, Edmonton to Vancouver (where i meet hubby he will be landing in Van) then we would fly together back here taking the same reverse route.

Do you think I should cancel the flight and just greet my man here in Grande Prairie??

 

[ddobro2]

Yes

Do you think I should cancel the flight and just greet my man here in Grande Prairie??

 

[Trish1982]

thank you. Will take your word for it and Cancel!


Now I will have time (and money! LOL) to plan something great for when he gets here to the Hotel on Friday night


I will post his experience at LA consulate getting his visa in person and also his landing experience as i happens!


feeling MUCH better now, thank you so much.

 

[AmericaninQuebec]

Yes

Agreed.

 

[doctorkb]

Could someone please respond ASAP... I am sending my PPR today real soon and I was wondering if I have to send a (cover) letter along with the passport and photos etc? Also when I was addressing the envelope I didnt have a lot of room to write the address in that little space .. any suggestions for that problem .. Do you think it is a good idea to type out the address and tape it on the envelope covering my hand written address?

Cover letter: DO ensure you have included a note that has the file number, client ID, etc. Also ensure that you have included the requested height and eye colour.

Keep in mind -- the more information you can give them towards linking it to your file, (theoretically) the less likely it is to get lost or in the "gotta work harder" pile.

Addressing: ensure that you have the address EXACTLY as written in the PPR letter. Important: "RFV" apparently means "Ready For Visa" and will get your envelope in a different pile that is obviously passports.

Do send the passport via Xpresspost (if you're in Canada) or Priority Mail (if in US). Both these have a pre-defined form for the address. If you don't trust your writing, you can buy these services online and print the address label from usps.com or canadapost.ca.

 

[AmericaninQuebec]

Random question, since I still haven't received my PPR yet. Do they ask for a prepaid envelope to return your passport to you in? If so, what do you do if you're in Canada already? I've been told repeatedly by the local post office that you can't send a prepaid envelope that will be used by someone sending the item from the U.S. Is there a way around this?

I'm asking now, because I know I'd be asking the question anyway once I have my PPR in hand. Better to know in advance though than be begging for a response while I'm running around trying to get my photos and stuff done.

Thanks!

Cover letter: DO ensure you have included a note that has the file number, client ID, etc. Also ensure that you have included the requested height and eye colour.

Keep in mind -- the more information you can give them towards linking it to your file, (theoretically) the less likely it is to get lost or in the "gotta work harder" pile.

Addressing: ensure that you have the address EXACTLY as written in the PPR letter. Important: "RFV" apparently means "Ready For Visa" and will get your envelope in a different pile that is obviously passports.

Do send the passport via Xpresspost (if you're in Canada) or Priority Mail (if in US). Both these have a pre-defined form for the address. If you don't trust your writing, you can buy these services online and print the address label from usps.com or canadapost.ca.

 

[mmshock]

Trish - I got my Visa from Buffalo and landed by myself. My husband was at work in a wine cellar and had no cell service so I couldn't have called him even if I needed to. It wasn't at all an issue, they didn't even ask where he was.

NO stress. Its all nearly over!

 

[doctorkb]

Random question, since I still haven't received my PPR yet. Do they ask for a prepaid envelope to return your passport to you in? If so, what do you do if you're in Canada already? I've been told repeatedly by the local post office that you can't send a prepaid envelope that will be used by someone sending the item from the U.S. Is there a way around this?

If you want it faster than uninsured snail mail, yes, you need to include your own prepaid envelope.

You are instructed by the PPR message to include a "CanadaPost XpressPost - National" envelope that is at least 20cm X 30 cm (i.e. not the small one) if you choose this option and it is going to a Canadian address. They will put it into CanadaPost's system in Ontario, so it's not *technically* coming from the US.

If you were worried about this, you could include a prepaid USPS Priority Mail International envelope. You can buy the postage online and print out the label, affix it to an envelope and include that.

 

[Bargeld]

I'm under the impression that the passport is courier'd both ways between Fort Erie and Buffalo VO if the person is inside Canada sending their PPR. (hence why they'd send it to Fort Erie and not Buffalo)

 

[jstnmlr]

I put in a change of address about 3 weeks ago (twice, just to be sure). Has anyone done a change of address and heard anything back? eCAS still has my old address and it's a place I can get mail so it's not the end of the world or anything... And I have a info request in for my case notes so I guess I'll find out eventually. Just wanted to see if anyone has experience with this.