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Last Updated on January 24, 2019
Thousands of would-be immigrants are still waiting to have their applications processed after last year’s closing of the visa office in Buffalo.
The government stands by the move to close that visa office, saying that the remaining 3,568 applications will be processed by the end of the summer season.
Such claims, however, are of little comfort to those that have been waiting since May of 2012 for a decision. The move from Buffalo to Ottawa for processing was for the files of those who were or are already in Canada at the time of application, such as foreign workers and international students.
Since the change, however, applicants are becoming increasingly upset with longer waiting times – some upwards of two years – and watching others’ applications go through.
Under increasing pressure to do something, the government promised to have all pending applications processed by the end of summer 2013. With that deadline fast approaching many critics are skeptical. Only about 4,982 files have gone through at this point.
A spokesperson for the government says that not only will the files be processed, but that new applications are going through much quicker in Ottawa than they did in Buffalo.
