Hi!!
It seems that Buffalo office is processing applications at super-sonic speed. One of my friends applied in April, 2005, got his file number and today got a letter from the consulate to submit the proof of english proficiency.

Is this what is called the initial assesment??
If he submits the proof in time, will he be able to get the medicals soon??

if anybody has any idea about this, please respond.

Pankaj

Seems that at this point, he has just rec'd an Acknowledgement Letter. The request to get the proof of English proficiency involves time - time to write the IELTS and get results and submit those results. If your friend has already done that, then it might not take long.

Responding by the Consulate depends on several factors. One of the main things that I have learnt is that if you have all your paperwork together and have sent everything as per what they asked for, then you should get your PR faster than the average application.

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Then work, as if everything depends on you!!!

Even getting an acknowledgement letter within one month is very quick.
It used to take about 6 to 8 months .

Monk