Thread for outland Buffalo applicants!

[jayde]

I've now been living in Canada under a visitor visa for nearly 3 months waiting from my PPR. My app was sent in Late December and received by Buffalo on Feb 2rd. Never though I'd still be waiting. At this point my insurance from my last job has run out and I'm reading that I won't be eligible for OHIP for 3 month after I get my PPR. This is very worrisome. I'm generally a healthy person but anything can happen in 3 or 6 months. I've read that inland applicant don't have the same waiting period. But I don't know if there is anything I can do at this point. Starting to get really down about this. Any advice?

Get visitors travel insurance. It won't help for day-to-day stuff... but if there is an emergency then you will be covered for hospital bills etc. You should call an insurance company to get details though. I am not sure how it works in Ontario, but my husband maintains health insurance in the states, and he has emergency travel insurance also. I believe you may have to maintain health insurance in the states because in some cases, emergency insurance only takes over AFTER your health insurance pays their portion.

It will take some research to findout how they coordinate benefits... as I said, I just don't know how it works in Ontario. Hope that helps a bit

 

[ddobro2]

Just to share, on Thursday after getting the impression the Ottawa office was actually responsive, I had my husband fax the Ottawa medical office from his job to ask them for confirmation of receipt of my medicals (I had every piece of info tied to my file and I asked them to reply by email). I also did the same thing for Buffalo but by email. Buffalo just sent me its signature "due to high volumes" response and I haven't gotten an email from Ottawa (not sure if they were peeved that they couldn't just reply by fax but I don't think emailing it is such a big problem). I'll give it some more time, but it's a tad dissappointing because as previously mentioned I had an impression of the Ottawa office being fast and responsive.

 

[Ganapatiom]

Inland applicants have a much longer waiting period and cannot appeal in case they are denied. What kinds of communications have you gotten from CIC so far?

So far I have received this on Apr21:
Dear Applicant:

This is to advise you that your application for permanent residence has been received at the Regional Programme Centre (RPC) and that a file has been created for you. Your file number appears above. Quote this number when corresponding with our office.

And on July 22nd:

Your application is in process. We are unable to provide a date when the processing of your application will be complete.

Regards,
Canadian Consulate General Buffalo
Immigration Section

 

[ddobro2]

That's interesting - in the AOR I received they did not refer to themselves as the "Regional Programme Centre" (although that's what the Buffalo office in fact is) but just as Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). In any case, stay patient. I know it's hard. There are some others from around January on the spreadsheet also still waiting, so don't feel like you are the only one. As was mentioned on this thread last week, it seems like CIC is processing applications without much rhyme or reason as concerns how long they've been sitting there. That's pretty frustrating but all one can do is wait. Do you want to be added to the spreadsheet?

So far I have received this on Apr21:
Dear Applicant:

This is to advise you that your application for permanent residence has been received at the Regional Programme Centre (RPC) and that a file has been created for you. Your file number appears above. Quote this number when corresponding with our office.

And on July 22nd:

Your application is in process. We are unable to provide a date when the processing of your application will be complete.

Regards,
Canadian Consulate General Buffalo
Immigration Section

 

[Ganapatiom]

That's interesting - in the AOR I received they did not refer to themselves as the "Regional Programme Centre" (although that's what the Buffalo office in fact is) but just as Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). In any case, stay patient. I know it's hard. There are some others from around January on the spreadsheet also still waiting, so don't feel like you are the only one. As was mentioned on this thread last week, it seems like CIC is processing applications without much rhyme or reason as concerns how long they've been sitting there. That's pretty frustrating but all one can do is wait. Do you want to be added to the spreadsheet?

Thanks for the info and well wishes. It does help. I am on the spreadsheet already at 12/24/2010.

BTW, I contacted OHIP about healthcare and they were very helpful. The game me some resources to contact and said I should be able to get "credit" for my time in CA. If you are concerned about healthcare while you are waiting for you OHIP to kick in, I'd recommend giving a OHIP a call. Also, found out I probably should have taken out "visitor insurance" as soon as I got here. Not too expensive considering all the other expenses involved in this process.

 

[FloridaNative]

Hi Buffalo applicants,

Has anyone ever gone into the Buffalo office to ask questions regarding their permanent residency application? My husband and I applied in December and we have not heard from Buffalo since January. We are very concerned why we have had zero correspondence since then.

I am considering driving to Buffalo to inquire. Any information or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

 

[amaranth]

I just logged into e-cas for the first time in ages, and now my address is gone too! Not a peep from the e-cas tracker either, so no clue how long the address has been missing.

7 months collecting dust in Buffalo...

/today's most pointless post. :
(sorry. I'm just bored)

 

[kayan]

I just logged into e-cas for the first time in ages, and now my address is gone too! Not a peep from the e-cas tracker either, so no clue how long the address has been missing.

I just looked and same here, address is gone but the ecas tracker is quiet.

 

[Cindy1]

Hi Buffalo applicants,

Has anyone ever gone into the Buffalo office to ask questions regarding their permanent residency application? My husband and I applied in December and we have not heard from Buffalo since January. We are very concerned why we have had zero correspondence since then.

I am considering driving to Buffalo to inquire. Any information or advice would be appreciated.
Thanks

If they do speak to individuals about case specific inquiries, I'm setting up camp outside their office. ;D

 

[kayan]

If they do speak to individuals about case specific inquiries, I'm setting up camp outside their office. ;D

I think this is exactly why they probably would not be willing to do that.

 

[FloridaNative]

Cindy1 I have a quick question..
How do you know your interview was waived? Have you had a passport request yet?

We ordered CAIPS notes tonight, and hope for some info.

Thanks

 

[ddobro2]

LOL

I think this is exactly why they probably would not be willing to do that.

 

[ddobro2]

:-\ Hang in there, amaranth

I just logged into e-cas for the first time in ages, and now my address is gone too! Not a peep from the e-cas tracker either, so no clue how long the address has been missing.

7 months collecting dust in Buffalo...

/today's most pointless post. :
(sorry. I'm just bored)

 

[amaranth]

:-\ Hang in there, amaranth

Oh I'm hanging. I'm just tired. 8)

 

[ddobro2]

I know. It feels like my life is on hold and in someone else's hands. And I haven't even been waiting that long relatively speaking. I'm sure we all feel that way, huh? :-\

Oh I'm hanging. I'm just tired. 8)