Canada Visa

My timeline:

12/12 - Passports requested
12/15 - Documents delivered to NY VAC by UPS
12/20 - email update from VFS global (Documents dispatched to IRCC)
12/21 - (08:20 AM) email update from VFS global (Documents under process at IRCC)
12/21 - (12:20 PM) email update from VFS global (Approved. Sent back to NY VAC)

CIC website shows document status as "Valid" and "Counterfoil"

Surprisingly quick! Considering the timelines poster by others on this thread!. Should see whether there would be a delay@VAC to send me back those passports!

I submitted my passport to the new York vac which was delivered on on the 13 November. First I submitted only the passport,return envelope and the passport request letter because I didn't understand the process. I resub9 the Tt visa services consent form and the transmission fee through FedEx.I have since not received any update on my status. I sent a message to the consulate, they claimed they don't have my passport. I have chatted the vac and sent several emails but nobody tells me anything.I m so confused and don't know what to do.

During my entire application process, I did not receive any tracking ID at all (even if I sent them my email and phone number). However, I got my visa and am waiting my passport to be delivered on 20th.
11/20 got passport request
11/27 passport delivered to LA VAC
12/10 no updates, not even a phone call or email. Sent email, chatted with reps online and call them, none of it helped. I realized that I sent a personal check instead of a money order.
12/12 money order of 19.90 dollars delivered to LA VAC
12/14 CIC updated my application as "valid" and "counterfoil"
12/18 my return envelope starts to show activity and will deliver to me on 20th.
If you did not get and tracking ID, don't just wait, think about what you did wrong in the process (consent forms, payment, return envelope etc.). Then send them what they need immediately, they will still process it.
Hope this helps

Hi
I forgot to write my email on the information sheet (i think), but have other details there including phone number. Has anyone had an experience with this? Will they call or leave a voicemail or something with the tracking number? If not, will something change on the Canada Visa website?

December 6- passport recieved by VAC newyork
December 13- Visa application, tracking ID No. xxxxxxxxx has been dispatched to the IRCC Office, on 2018-12-14 12:25:23 AM GMT Standard Time for processing.Please note this is an auto generated e.mail. Please do NOT reply to this email.
December 15- Visa application, tracking ID No. xxxxxxxx – Your processed decision envelope has been collected from the Canada Visa Application Centre in Canada Visa Application Centre, New York, on 2018-12-15 08:40:47 PM GMT Standard Time. Please note this is an auto generated e.mail. Please do NOT reply to this email.
December 18- got an update from UPS ssaying my passport will be here on the 19th

November applications are all messed up since they moved their office. But december applications are moving quickly and fine.

Application received by VAC on November 23. Received an email that application has been dispatched to IRCC on December 5. No updates since then. Went to VFS chat to get updates. I am pasting the conversation below:

Dear ABCD , Welcome to the Live chat support.
Dear ABCD ,Now you are chatting with Jose A and your chat interaction ID is : ####
ABCD: Hi Jose
ABCD: Could help me with the latest update regarding where my passport is
Jose: Hello Thank you for contacting the Canada Visa Application Center. How may i help you.
ABCD: I got an email on December 5 that it has been dispatched to the IRCC
Jose: one second
ABCD: But I have not heard anything since
ABCD: Do you need additional information?
ABCD: Jose?
Jose: one seconds
ABCD: Okay, I am waiting
Jose: do you have your tracking number
ABCD: Yes
Jose: and your date of birth
ABCD: ####
ABCD: ####
Jose: perfect
Jose: ok.
Jose: one second
ABCD: Of course
Jose: ok.
ABCD: Appreciate the help
Jose: sure
ABCD: Thanks.
Jose: one second
ABCD Sure, I am waiting
Jose: ok.
ABCD: Do you have the update?
Jose: Visa application, tracking ID No. **** **** **** has been dispatched to the IRCC Office, on 2018/12/05 for processing.
Jose: It is the same update that you have
Jose: is still in process
ABCD: Yes, that was two weeks ago.
ABCD: It cannot be still in process.
ABCD: IRCC processes it within days
ABCD: Are you sure it has been dispatched.
ABCD: I have heard that VFS says it has been dispatched when it hasn't been dispatched.
ABCD: I think my passport might still be with the VFS
Jose: one second
ABCD: Please look into this, I will really appreciate the help
Jose: ONE SECOND
ABCD: Thanks
Jose: you're welcome
ABCD: I will be here waiting
Jose: You just need to wait for the next update
ABCD: I have already waited two weeks
ABCD: I have heard from a lot of people that the passport is stuck at the VFS for months
ABCD: IRCC sends the passport back in three days when it reaches them
Jose: Yes but your passport is in the IRCC
Jose: in process
Jose: Is not in the center
ABCD: How long should I wait?
ABCD: Should I contact the IRCC?
ABCD Can I have your full name please?
ABCD: So that I can tell them who I spoke with at the VFS
Jose: I mean the processing time just depends in the consulate
Jose: you need to contact them
ABCD: I understand what you are saying. But I have heard from people that they went to New York and found their passport was still at the VFS
Jose: My name is Jose
ABCD: If you could verify that you have received my payment, please
ABCD: It would help if you kindly give me your last name too
Jose: I just can provide you the information from the website
Jose: the website says that your passport is in the IRCC
ABCD: Jose, I hope it is okay I am going to save this chat, along with the chat interaction ID and your name Jose A
ABCD: I looked up the website too
ABCD: I can easily look it up and see the same information
ABCD: I need to contact someone at the New York VAC
ABCD: Are you not at the VAC?
Jose: im not in the VAC
ABCD: Can you guide me how to contact the VAC?
Jose: by e.mail
Jose: is [email protected]
ABCD: I wrote them an email a month ago and they have not replied
ABCD: Please give me an honest reply.
Jose: you can try in [email protected]
ABCD: Jose, can you give me a phone number of someone who is actually in the NY VAC?
ABCD: I would really appreciate it
Jose: they don't have any direct phone number
ABCD This is extremely sad. I am going to raise this with IRCC.
ABCD: You are not providing a useful service by just repeating what is on the website.
ABCD: Many people are genuinely anxious about their passports. Your firm is wasting the time of many people.
Jose: one second
ABCD: The least you can do is be honest with the people you speak with
ABCD: If you cannot provide any valuable information, please let them know upfront instead of wasting their time
Jose: Im sorry but that is all the information that i have
ABCD: Thank you

Hi,

I've been following this forum after submitting my application. Stating my timeline below:

Nov 25: Submitted application online
Nov 26: 'Ghost' email from IRCC that said application has been updated, but nothing has changed when you log in
Nov 28: Approved, request for passport
Nov 29: Passport dispatched with UPS 2-day service with a return envelope
Dec 03: Delivered at LA VAC (UPS 2-day service doesn't include weekends, so I knew this was going to happen)
Dec 10: 1st notification from VFS saying that passport is being sent to IRCC for processing with the tracking ID. The tracking id worked for me right from the beginning, although it wasn't very useful as it had the same information as the email
Dec 11: Another notification saying something similar, that application is under process
Dec 13: Processed decision envelope has been dispatched from IRCC
Dec 14: 2 notifications within 2-3 minutes from each other - first one says the same as Dec 13 but the language is slightly different, 2nd one says that my envelope has been collected from the LA VAC (I assume this meant the courier had picked it up, but the return envelope tracking id had not been activated). Also got a notification from the IRCC website saying my application had been updated. When I logged in, I saw the visa details as mentioned by other people
Dec 17: Passport delivered at home, although scheduled delivery was on 18th. The tracker was activated late on 13th night and I could track it through the weekend.

I called the helpline once and talked to the chat service once in the week of Dec 3, but they cannot help in any way.

Sent mine and my wife's passport by USPS Express delivery. Tracking is not updating after arriving at intermediate stop. Dons know what to do as it should have been delivered earlier today and packet has two passports. Went to local post office but they cant help...

Hi Guys,

Just want to share my experience. My passport was delivered on 11/13 and received an update saying it was dispatched to the IRCC office on 11/28. No update since then. I wait until last week and finally decided to go there in person. Guess what, my passport is still in the VAC. So, if you haven't heard anything for a while, strongly suggest you go there in person because it is probably the only way to get your passport back, either with a visa or without a visa.

So I went to VFS NYC today. I had received an email from VFS saying my passport has been dispatched to the IRCC for processing on 6th December 2018.

Guess what, my passport never left VFS NYC, they said my $19.90 demand draft was missing (they misplaced it somewhere) because I am 100% I had put it in the envelope before sending. Anyway, I withdrew my application on the spot and got my passport back.

So for everyone who has no updates, or tracking says dispatched to IRCC for processing, it hasn't been dispatched. It will cost you **** load of money to go to the VFS if you live far away from NYC, but that is your only shot. I met people who had submitted application more than a months ago and their package was still at VFS.

Good luck!