dr_25

Hello, I re-sent my CSQ on Case Specific Enquiry (because they couldn't open the attachment) and they sent my an email back saying my enquiry has been received and "The turnaround time for a response is of 10 business days."

Wow the first time i sent my CSQ they said that they respond to all enquiries within 28 days!

Kingbsy

People believe that because some applicants are saying that applications are remaining in Islamabad, that the strain on LVO has softened. But this is just conjecture until CIC say something about this happening.

Re: Your CSQ, just be aware they still might request that you send it in an email, as I think that when I had submitted through a Case-specific enquiry I wasn't able to include all that I need to. But its great that they came back and said something about it!

SchnookoLoly

LHaywood and Scott_Chegg both updated! Congrats!

It's just based on anecdotal evidence right now, if you go to CanadaVisa and look at the Pakistan/Islamabad thread, a load of the more recent applicants have had their applications stay in Islamabad instead of being forwarded to London, as has been the case for the past 2ish years.

However, CIC's site still lists London as the processing office for Pakistani family sponsorship applications, though that might be legacy as opposed to new, but we'll see if (when?) that updates.

Visa office in London, United Kingdom

Prosecco

Hi,

Update for the spreadsheet:

Our Feb 18 submission was returned in its entirety in mid-March! The Generic Application Form (IMM 0008) we printed had printed numbers for some of the answers, which we thought was how CIC wanted it to appear (for example, where do you intend to live - province 06, city 3812, etc.) Anyway, long story short, we resubmitted with this corrected on March 21 and received notification that the sponsorship had been approved on April 29 and the file forwarded to London for processing of the applicant portion.

SchnookoLoly

Boo, that's annoying that a glitch caused that! Updated on the spreadsheet, glad it's finally under way!

Odd_Bloke

Hello all,

My wife's application to sponsor has been approved, and my application is "In Process" on ECAS, but my wife's application is also now listed as "In Process". I haven't checked for a while, so I don't know how long this has been the case. Is this normal?

Also, for the spreadsheet, I first noticed that I was "In Process" on March 24th.


Dan

SchnookoLoly

I wouldn't read into your wife's going to in process since she's the sponsor... it's yuor part now to watch more closely. Glad you're seeing a bit of movement!

Crayon

Hi guys, got AOR1 on 06/05/2016, can log in and see my application in process, exciting

Does it mean that it was all fine and nothing missing, that they won't return it now? I keep getting worried they would as maybe I missed something lol

my question is, applied in my maiden name as haven’t changed passport till submitted app, now I have new one, When should I send it updated and how? should I do it now, ASAP or wait when it will be after SA?





oh and also when I log in our address is correct but doesn’t say UK or England, hope that is ok?

danbsword

Hi Folks,
My wife is my sponsor from within Canada and I am in the UK. I have never received any communication regarding my application from CIC. IS this normal?
I have been under the assumption that all commmunication was through the sponsor. The upshot of this is that I haven't checked the application myself online, until now...

We received your application for permanent residence on December 7, 2015.
We started processing your application on February 10, 2016.
Medical results have been received.

I feel a bit of an idiot for not having questioned this before, particularly as I have been slowly becoming more worried as to why my application wasn't "In Process" when all around were moving along!


Anyway... if you could please update the spreadsheet.

cheers

Aethelwulf

Many thanks to SchnookoLoly for her helpful replies on my questions from a few weeks back. The forum, wiki, and FAQ are really invaluable for navigating what's a complicated procedure.

Since we'll likely be applying from within Canada at this point (the police report from the FBI we're waiting on will arrive only a week or so before we move to Canada), we're trying to work out whether inland or outland will be better. We're fully aware of the restrictions on travel and long processing times with the inland application but I'm a little nervous about what I could and couldn't do in Canada while waiting as a "visitor."

It seems like I probably wouldn't be able to open a personal bank account but what about getting a joint account with my wife or exchanging my UK driving license for a Canadian driver's license? The driver's license is especially important as my wife doesn't drive (yet). In the long, we'd like to buy somewhere within the next couple of years too so there's mortgages, credit to consider especially.

While waiting for PR, I'd like to do some volunteering (partly as a way to acquire new skills since I'll be changing career once I can work as well as getting involved with the local community in Fredericton). Is this allowed as a visitor or would it be seen as "work". I ask partly because I found this page on the CIC website about restrictions on foreign students volunteering and interning (http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/study/i...-volunteer.asp). Any advice based on forum members' own experiences of what they could/couldn't do while waiting in Canada while their outland application is in progress would be very helpful.

The renewal of the Open Work Permit scheme for inland applications makes it worth considering in my eyes. Presumably with an Open Work Permit, I'd then be able to open a bank account, transfer my license etc. The long processing time does give me pause but so does worrying about restrictions upon what I could do as a "visitor" in Canada.

I hope this makes sense, I'm happy to provide further details if needed. Thank you so much for your answers on this!

adamhighway

Hi, just a quick update - I received AOR of application to sponsor my partner in Sunday, receipt was 15/4/16. Have checked today in ECAS as they say they update it Tuesdays and still not showing - anyone have insight as to how on the ball those updates are?

Thanks!

Siouxie

You can open a bank account as a visitor although it may be easier if your wife introduces you.

If you apply 'Outland' you would be processed and have PR within about 10 months, so able to get a mortgage then. Look into "newcomer to Canada" mortgages - no proof of credit rating required, although having copies of utility bills (paid, no arrears); letter from your UK bank / mortgage holder / landlord stating you are in good standing (no arrears) and Canada bank when you have an account will help. You could also obtain an Equifax report from the UK, although some banks aren't keen to use them. I would strongly suggest using a mortgage broker when you reach that point as they will be able to offer you alternatives to the 'big banks' with less restrictive requirements.

When you arrive at the Port of Entry (POE) i.e. Airport, request a Visitor Record, rather than the generic stamp in your passport. This will enable you to obtain a drivers license.

You can only volunteer if it's doing something that does not take the place of a paid position that a Canadian Citizen or PR could do. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resourc...work/about.asp You can also work 'remotely' for an overseas company, provided that there is no Canadian company involved.

Whilst the OWP scheme has been renewed this year, there are no guarantees that it will be again. I wouldn't bank on being able to renew the work permit!

Hope that helps a little - I'm sure others will be along to offer more advice!

SchnookoLoly

Updated! The Tuesday thing is a myth, they update all the time... if they do update. It's highly unlikely you will be able to log in before SA, though, very few people have been able to. I wouldn't worry about it not updating, though, just sit tight!

To Aethelwulf --

Siouxie pretty much covered it, I don't have much more to add. The only thing I will add is about volunteering. You able able to volunteer n roles that would be filled by volunteers anyway, like volunteering at a soup kitchen, delivering food for Meals on Wheels, being a Big Brother/Big Sister, that sort of thing. Those roles would normally be done by volunteers and not paid work.

So working at a soup kitchen is fine; walking into an office building and 'volunteering' to be their receptionist is NOT fine, as that position would normally be a paid position.

Make sense?

Hope that helps!

Aethelwulf

Thanks for the answers. Very helpful!

I saw that the Open Work Permit scheme was extended until December 2016 - does that mean that any permits issued under the scheme only give authorisation to work until that date?

Siouxie

From the blurb on CIC website it would appear they were originally only valid to December 22nd, but I don't know this for a fact.
Notice – Update on work permits for spouses and common-law partners applying for permanent residence from within Canada
Program delivery update - December 22, 2014

Hopefully someone will come along who has got one and tell us!