ARCHIVED – Operational Bulletin 425 - May 29, 2012
This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.
Restructuring of the North American Processing Network and Closure of the Visa Office at the Canadian Consulate General in Buffalo – Permanent Residence Program
This Operational Bulletin has expired.
Summary
The purpose of this Operational Bulletin is to provide information regarding the restructuring of the North American processing network, including the closure of the Buffalo visa office and transfer of permanent resident services throughout the network.
Background
Effective immediately, the North American processing network has been restructured to modernize and streamline processing of permanent resident applications abroad. As part of the restructure, the visa section of the Canadian Consulate General in Buffalo has been closed to the public and the permanent resident workload at all United States (U.S.) visa offices has been re-aligned.
Instructions
Permanent Resident Processing
New Applications
New Federal Skilled Worker, Quebec Skilled Worker, Provincial Nominee Program, and the Federal Investor program applications should continue to be submitted to the Centralized Intake Office, Sydney (CIO-S).
Beginning May 29, 2012 Federal Self-employed Class and Quebec Business Class applications will also be submitted to the Centralized Intake Office, Sydney (CIO-S).
Family Class applications should continue to be submitted to the Case Processing Centre, Mississauga (CPC-M).
Applications in-Process
Applications currently in process in Buffalo will be transferred to the Case Processing Pilot Office – Ottawa (CPP-O) for processing. All original supporting documents accompanying applications in Buffalo will also be transferred. Those who have already sent documents to the Canadian Consulate General in Buffalo, New York do not need to re-send them.
External Client Enquiries
During this transition period, applicants and their representatives should refrain from contacting visa offices. Applicants will be contacted by the new processing mission in due course.
Returning Permanent Residents
Returning permanent residents without a valid Permanent Resident card currently located in the U.S. are encouraged to submit the Applications for a Travel Document (Permanent Resident Abroad) to any of the following visa offices in the U.S.: Los Angeles, Seattle, Detroit, New York, or Washington, D.C.
All Applications for a Travel Document (Permanent Resident Abroad) in-process at visa offices other than Buffalo will be completed in those offices.
All Applications for a Travel Document (Permanent Resident Abroad) in-process in Buffalo will be transferred to one of the visa offices identified above. Applicants will be contacted by the new processing mission in due course.
Web Sites
Expiry of Directives
These directives will remain in force until further notice. Further instructions will be communicated as required.
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