humble01 - a few thoughts based on your posts:
1) The section you extracted from the link in GOGOGO's post is from a lengthy discussion on residency requirements across all application streams in OP-1. You can't extract one section of a paragraph out of context from 4 pages of intricate discussion in sections 5.16 and 5.17 of OP1 and reach conclusions without considering the context of the paragraph the regulations nor the application stream.
2) Unlike foreign skilled worked applications (FSW), you - the principal applicant (PA) - doesn't mail the application to CPC-M in family class sponsorship cases (the focus of this thread). The sponsor mails the application including the sponsor's section and the principal applicant's section. For reference, in FSW, the PA mails the entire application themselves so the PA's location becomes more relevant.
3) Unlike FSW applications which allow the PA to select the visa office they would like to consider their case, the visa office is not your choice for family class applications. CPC-M will determine the country of residency for you during step 1 and will mail the application to the relevant visa office:
"Special procedure for the family class
The application for permanent residence for members of this class no longer gives applicants a
choice as to which office will process their applications. CPC-Mississauga, which receives the
applications, will make this determination pursuant to R11 and will forward the file to the
appropriate visa office. The option of selecting the office where the sponsor wanted the
application to be processed has been deleted from the "application for sponsorship and
undertaking."
Source: final paragraph of Section 5.17 of OP-1
Usually they will select the country of residency, but they can also select the country of nationality depending on the specifics of your case, your residency status and R(11)(1)(a).
4) Visa Offices can - and DO - transfer files to ensure they can assess a case with the knowledge required to maintain the integrity of the visa program. They can either forward the whole case or sections for assessment by the experts. You can't stop them.
From the limited information you've shared, a few additional considerations:
(A) You haven't mentioned your country of residence, but since this is the US outland thread, let me assume you are a US resident. Keep in mind that as a resident of the US there are specific rules to keep the US residency and you'll lose it if you don't abide by the rules (e.g. if you have a student visa but aren't studying you lose your status so you wouldn't be legally admitted for a year currently anymore unless you have OPT approval, if you have a Green Card but don't pay taxes as a US resident you'll lose your PR status, you'll also lose PR status if you aren't in the US sufficient days, etc). So, depending on how long you've been in Canada you may no longer even be a resident of the US.
(B) If you are wondering why the Accra Office is slower than others, reading the Audit of the Accra Office may help you understand the challenges they are facing, for example:
"1.1.2 Environmental Context
The following is an overview of the environmental context within which the mission conducts and manages its operations. The information is provided as part of the background to the audit and is not listed in any particular order. Mission management has identified the following challenges and opportunities related to its operating environment.
The presence of fraud in the operating environment - Application fraud in the permanent and temporary resident programs is widespread and targets all categories with most fraud related to issues of identity, relationship and age. The lack of reliable identity and civil registration processes remains at the root of the challenges in the delivery of visa services in the region.
...
Communications challenges - Mail service in the region is extremely unreliable, courier charges are very expensive and e-mail is not as widespread as in many other parts of the world. In addition, many sponsored clients use a Canadian address for all correspondence, creating processing delays for time-critical categories, such as Family Class priority cases. One alternative that may offer opportunities to improve communication within the region is the prevalence of cell phones. It will, however, require some effort to explore whether information technology products can be implemented to exploit this technology."
Source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/audit/accra.asp
(C) This is the US outland applicant's thread for family class sponsorship. If you aren't a US resident or aren't a family class applicant, let us know so we can point you to better places for the conversation so the right people see your thread and can help you (e.g., there is a separate London thread where they can guide you with the London intricacies, if you have questions on Accra you really want to have canadianwoman see your thread since she's an expert in the Accra Office).
(D) Some advice (and a warning): Don't try to play games with CIC. I realize it may just be miscommunication because you are trying to maintain your privacy and that the facts may be very complicated in your case so the contradictions that seem to be emerging in what you are saying are explainable. HOWEVER, if you are fishing for information and trying to fudge the facts to avoid the Accra Office because you are concerned with the timing element be VERY careful. If you misrepresent the facts to CIC your wait can be much longer that the 24 months ... you can even be permanently excluded from Canada. There are perfectly legal solutions that could make more sense, like inland applications.
1) The section you extracted from the link in GOGOGO's post is from a lengthy discussion on residency requirements across all application streams in OP-1. You can't extract one section of a paragraph out of context from 4 pages of intricate discussion in sections 5.16 and 5.17 of OP1 and reach conclusions without considering the context of the paragraph the regulations nor the application stream.
2) Unlike foreign skilled worked applications (FSW), you - the principal applicant (PA) - doesn't mail the application to CPC-M in family class sponsorship cases (the focus of this thread). The sponsor mails the application including the sponsor's section and the principal applicant's section. For reference, in FSW, the PA mails the entire application themselves so the PA's location becomes more relevant.
3) Unlike FSW applications which allow the PA to select the visa office they would like to consider their case, the visa office is not your choice for family class applications. CPC-M will determine the country of residency for you during step 1 and will mail the application to the relevant visa office:
"Special procedure for the family class
The application for permanent residence for members of this class no longer gives applicants a
choice as to which office will process their applications. CPC-Mississauga, which receives the
applications, will make this determination pursuant to R11 and will forward the file to the
appropriate visa office. The option of selecting the office where the sponsor wanted the
application to be processed has been deleted from the "application for sponsorship and
undertaking."
Source: final paragraph of Section 5.17 of OP-1
Usually they will select the country of residency, but they can also select the country of nationality depending on the specifics of your case, your residency status and R(11)(1)(a).
4) Visa Offices can - and DO - transfer files to ensure they can assess a case with the knowledge required to maintain the integrity of the visa program. They can either forward the whole case or sections for assessment by the experts. You can't stop them.
From the limited information you've shared, a few additional considerations:
(A) You haven't mentioned your country of residence, but since this is the US outland thread, let me assume you are a US resident. Keep in mind that as a resident of the US there are specific rules to keep the US residency and you'll lose it if you don't abide by the rules (e.g. if you have a student visa but aren't studying you lose your status so you wouldn't be legally admitted for a year currently anymore unless you have OPT approval, if you have a Green Card but don't pay taxes as a US resident you'll lose your PR status, you'll also lose PR status if you aren't in the US sufficient days, etc). So, depending on how long you've been in Canada you may no longer even be a resident of the US.
(B) If you are wondering why the Accra Office is slower than others, reading the Audit of the Accra Office may help you understand the challenges they are facing, for example:
"1.1.2 Environmental Context
The following is an overview of the environmental context within which the mission conducts and manages its operations. The information is provided as part of the background to the audit and is not listed in any particular order. Mission management has identified the following challenges and opportunities related to its operating environment.
The presence of fraud in the operating environment - Application fraud in the permanent and temporary resident programs is widespread and targets all categories with most fraud related to issues of identity, relationship and age. The lack of reliable identity and civil registration processes remains at the root of the challenges in the delivery of visa services in the region.
...
Communications challenges - Mail service in the region is extremely unreliable, courier charges are very expensive and e-mail is not as widespread as in many other parts of the world. In addition, many sponsored clients use a Canadian address for all correspondence, creating processing delays for time-critical categories, such as Family Class priority cases. One alternative that may offer opportunities to improve communication within the region is the prevalence of cell phones. It will, however, require some effort to explore whether information technology products can be implemented to exploit this technology."
Source: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/audit/accra.asp
(C) This is the US outland applicant's thread for family class sponsorship. If you aren't a US resident or aren't a family class applicant, let us know so we can point you to better places for the conversation so the right people see your thread and can help you (e.g., there is a separate London thread where they can guide you with the London intricacies, if you have questions on Accra you really want to have canadianwoman see your thread since she's an expert in the Accra Office).
(D) Some advice (and a warning): Don't try to play games with CIC. I realize it may just be miscommunication because you are trying to maintain your privacy and that the facts may be very complicated in your case so the contradictions that seem to be emerging in what you are saying are explainable. HOWEVER, if you are fishing for information and trying to fudge the facts to avoid the Accra Office because you are concerned with the timing element be VERY careful. If you misrepresent the facts to CIC your wait can be much longer that the 24 months ... you can even be permanently excluded from Canada. There are perfectly legal solutions that could make more sense, like inland applications.
