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Spousal sponsorship

mvk88

Star Member
Mar 1, 2023
155
45
I didn't want to start a new thread just for this question but... What does the AIP letter look like exactly? Any recent examples?

We just received a mailed letter confirming the PA's eligibility (we also received the SA email recently). Does not say anywhere in there they are approved in principle but from various replies in these forums, it seems this is what the AIP is - is this correct?
Thanks!
Yes it is
 

Peterpablo312

Newbie
May 24, 2023
8
1
Hello to everyone here!
I have a question regarding an in-land application within the province of Quebec.

Early in February we applied for the spousal sponsorship with the right of permanent residence in- Canada class.
Shortly after we received our AOR like a month later or so, and almost instantly medical requests. After some back and fourths the medicals are completed now. We are at the stage that eligibility, medicals, biometrics are all done with the exception of the background check. We also got requested to submit a CSQ application to the ministry of francisation du Quebec which we got approved around a April and submitted the very same day through the web-form. I have contacted to make sure everything is received and the answer is always yes! However we are stuck at the background check since April. No progress at all. I reached to IRCC yesterday morning and I was told that applications within Quebec can take up to 27 months and I lost it. Went online over the phone and explained to the agent that when I applied that wasn’t even a thing. And that the toughest estimate back then it was 14 months and that starts from the day we get the AOR basically. The agent said that she can only inform me based on what they see currently and that it is possible that things will be sorted and a decision will be made prior to that 27 month waiting period. I am not gonna lie but it puzzles me quite a bit. I’m acting so fast to get everything done on time and seeing other members in here been getting their PR’s done within 6 months and in many cases even less than that makes me very upset especially when it comes down to the province we are currently living into. Does anyone have any idea or a possible clue of what is going on? Are we ( us who applied prior to that change on the processing time tracker who got modified around two weeks ago ) included on the new timeline? I know IRCC is very secretive thus many of you may not even know what’s going on. I just feel like sharing my thoughts and feelings in here hoping to hear something that will shed a light into this weird mystery. I knew that the CSQ is one factor but even them they clearly state on their website that it shouldn’t take more than 25 business days. Where that year and three months extra go to? Gosh… what a roller coaster of emotions and anxiety and stress…. Like the most of us in here.
 

scylla

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Jun 8, 2010
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Hello to everyone here!
I have a question regarding an in-land application within the province of Quebec.

Early in February we applied for the spousal sponsorship with the right of permanent residence in- Canada class.
Shortly after we received our AOR like a month later or so, and almost instantly medical requests. After some back and fourths the medicals are completed now. We are at the stage that eligibility, medicals, biometrics are all done with the exception of the background check. We also got requested to submit a CSQ application to the ministry of francisation du Quebec which we got approved around a April and submitted the very same day through the web-form. I have contacted to make sure everything is received and the answer is always yes! However we are stuck at the background check since April. No progress at all. I reached to IRCC yesterday morning and I was told that applications within Quebec can take up to 27 months and I lost it. Went online over the phone and explained to the agent that when I applied that wasn’t even a thing. And that the toughest estimate back then it was 14 months and that starts from the day we get the AOR basically. The agent said that she can only inform me based on what they see currently and that it is possible that things will be sorted and a decision will be made prior to that 27 month waiting period. I am not gonna lie but it puzzles me quite a bit. I’m acting so fast to get everything done on time and seeing other members in here been getting their PR’s done within 6 months and in many cases even less than that makes me very upset especially when it comes down to the province we are currently living into. Does anyone have any idea or a possible clue of what is going on? Are we ( us who applied prior to that change on the processing time tracker who got modified around two weeks ago ) included on the new timeline? I know IRCC is very secretive thus many of you may not even know what’s going on. I just feel like sharing my thoughts and feelings in here hoping to hear something that will shed a light into this weird mystery. I knew that the CSQ is one factor but even them they clearly state on their website that it shouldn’t take more than 25 business days. Where that year and three months extra go to? Gosh… what a roller coaster of emotions and anxiety and stress…. Like the most of us in here.
Current processing times apply to your application. So whatever shows now is what applies to you. The processing time unfortumately isn't locked in at the time you apply.

I don't know the reasons for the increase in Quebec processing times. I've seen a few posts on this topic here but I don't know if anyone knows the reason. Quebec has it's own process which unfortunately makes things more complicated for those applying from that province.
 

Peterpablo312

Newbie
May 24, 2023
8
1
Thank you your answer !
If I understand you correctly, apart from the CSQ. The federal is treating applications for the province of Quebec separately? Basically the CSQ isn’t the cause of that delay is this what you imply ?
Current processing times apply to your application. So whatever shows now is what applies to you. The processing time unfortumately isn't locked in at the time you apply.

I don't know the reasons for the increase in Quebec processing times. I've seen a few posts on this topic here but I don't know if anyone knows the reason. Quebec has it's own process which unfortunately makes things more complicated for those applying from that province.
 

scylla

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Jun 8, 2010
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Toronto
Category........
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28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
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05-10-2010
LANDED..........
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Thank you your answer !
If I understand you correctly, apart from the CSQ. The federal is treating applications for the province of Quebec separately? Basically the CSQ isn’t the cause of that delay is this what you imply ?
No, that's not what I was implying. I don't think the federal government is the problem. I think the province of Quebec is most likely the problem. They are the ones who layer in additional requirements on top of the federal program - they are the only province that does this for spousal sponsorship. I don't know the answer for certain on why processing times have increased. But logically the problem is Quebec itself. The federal government generally has the same process for applications regardless of the province. So my assumption is that this is Quebec making things more complicated as usual. Basically if there is a need for the federal government to treat Quebec applications separately, it's because Quebec has made this a requirement.
 
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Peterpablo312

Newbie
May 24, 2023
8
1
Once again thank you for your very quick and thoughtful response.
Im just like if we already received our CSQ then I don’t see anything else causing such delays. It doesn’t look like Quebec is involved on anything else apart from this. Am I wrong ?
No, that's not what I was implying. I don't think the federal government is the problem. I think the province of Quebec is most likely the problem. They are the ones who layer in additional requirements on top of the federal program - they are the only province that does this for spousal sponsorship. I don't know the answer for certain on why processing times have increased. But logically the problem is Quebec itself. The federal government generally has the same process for applications regardless of the province. So my assumption is that this is Quebec making things more complicated as usual. Basically if there is a need for the federal government to treat Quebec applications separately, it's because Quebec has made this a requirement.
 

scylla

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Once again thank you for your very quick and thoughtful response.
Im just like if we already received our CSQ then I don’t see anything else causing such delays. It doesn’t look like Quebec is involved on anything else apart from this. Am I wrong ?
They may be involved on the back end and may have placed additional processing requirements on their applications which are being fulfilled at the federal level. Again, I don't know for sure. This is just my guess based on past history. Logically Quebec is the one that would be driving Quebec applications to be treated differently.

Economic immigration programs through Quebec have historically also been train wrecks. The federal and other provincial programs are certainly not perfect. But the Quebec programs have resulted in much worse experiences for appliants historically. Additionally, I believe Quebec is still largely functioning based on paper and can't interact well with IRCC who made the move to digital when the pandemic hit. I'm not sure if that's still the case or if Quebec has fixed this now. But it's possible that could have pushed processing times up if information exchange between the two cannot be done easily. Again, just guesses.
 

Peterpablo312

Newbie
May 24, 2023
8
1
Once again, huge thanks for the time and thought process and input.
Do you think those possible new requirements will be affecting us applicants of Quebec? In short do you think they may come to us and say hey aside from what you’ve done with the CSQ here is another set of things we need you to do ?
And what if the PCC’s expire ? They may ask us to apply for new ones ? I had to travel to Ottawa to get one from an embassy just because they were not working online at all. It costs a lot of money and time. I know it’s all assumptions and food for thoughts in here I’m just trying to get some logic behind all this which apparently even yourself can’t find neither do i. Hahaha I really really appreciate you !!
They may be involved on the back end and may have placed additional processing requirements on their applications which are being fulfilled at the federal level. Again, I don't know for sure. This is just my guess based on past history. Logically Quebec is the one that would be driving Quebec applications to be treated differently.

Economic immigration programs through Quebec have historically also been train wrecks. The federal and other provincial programs are certainly not perfect. But the Quebec programs have resulted in much worse experiences for appliants historically. Additionally, I believe Quebec is still largely functioning based on paper and can't interact well with IRCC who made the move to digital when the pandemic hit. I'm not sure if that's still the case or if Quebec has fixed this now. But it's possible that could have pushed processing times up if information exchange between the two cannot be done easily. Again, just guesses.
 

scylla

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Once again, huge thanks for the time and thought process and input.
Do you think those possible new requirements will be affecting us applicants of Quebec? In short do you think they may come to us and say hey aside from what you’ve done with the CSQ here is another set of things we need you to do ?
And what if the PCC’s expire ? They may ask us to apply for new ones ? I had to travel to Ottawa to get one from an embassy just because they were not working online at all. It costs a lot of money and time. I know it’s all assumptions and food for thoughts in here I’m just trying to get some logic behind all this which apparently even yourself can’t find neither do i. Hahaha I really really appreciate you !!
The new / longer processing times apply to all applications still in progress so my assumption would be that any new / additional processes do to.

You should not have to obtain a new PCC.
 

armoured

VIP Member
Feb 1, 2015
17,325
8,921
Once again, huge thanks for the time and thought process and input.
Do you think those possible new requirements will be affecting us applicants of Quebec? In short do you think they may come to us and say hey aside from what you’ve done with the CSQ here is another set of things we need you to do ?
And what if the PCC’s expire ? They may ask us to apply for new ones ? I had to travel to Ottawa to get one from an embassy just because they were not working online at all. It costs a lot of money and time. I know it’s all assumptions and food for thoughts in here I’m just trying to get some logic behind all this which apparently even yourself can’t find neither do i. Hahaha I really really appreciate you !!
I'm not aware of any new requirements. This is firmly in Quebec govt's court. Note, this is now being seen just because Ircc started reporting the numbers separately.

See here: https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2023/07/08/immigration-des-delais-de-parrainage-deux-fois-plus-long-au-quebec-que-le-reste-du-canada

Bottom line- Quebec's targets for spousal and family immigration are far below the number of applications.

Not clear the mechanism but Quebec must be limiting the completions to keep numbers lower. The feds have no interest in keeping the numbers down.

What they each are playing at is diverting the blame from themselves but as quietly as possible (politics). But it's clearly a Quebec thing.
 
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Peterpablo312

Newbie
May 24, 2023
8
1
Makes a lot of sense to me! But since Quebec for myself did it’s party with the CSQ do you think I’ll be affected by those processing delays still?
just wondering…
I'm not aware of any new requirements. This is firmly in Quebec govt's court. Note, this is now being seen just because Ircc started reporting the numbers separately.

See here: https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2023/07/08/immigration-des-delais-de-parrainage-deux-fois-plus-long-au-quebec-que-le-reste-du-canada

Bottom line- Quebec's targets for spousal and family immigration are far below the number of applications.

Not clear the mechanism but Quebec must be limiting the completions to keep numbers lower. The feds have no interest in keeping the numbers down.

What they each are playing at is diverting the blame from themselves but as quietly as possible (politics). Bit it's clearly a Quebec thing.
 

scylla

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Makes a lot of sense to me! But since Quebec for myself did it’s party with the CSQ do you think I’ll be affected by those processing delays still?
just wondering…
No one here is going to be able to answer that question. Best to assume you will be and be happily surprised if that doesn't end up being the case.
 
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SN12345

Newbie
Jul 3, 2023
7
3
Makes a lot of sense to me! But since Quebec for myself did it’s party with the CSQ do you think I’ll be affected by those processing delays still?
just wondering…
I have been stuck with everything including background check complete since may. Applied in march 2022 and recieved CSQ IN JULY 2022. Yet the final decision is nowhere to be seen and noone can tell how long jt may take now that quebec has increased the processing time.
 

scylla

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AOR Received.
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28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
I'm not aware of any new requirements. This is firmly in Quebec govt's court. Note, this is now being seen just because Ircc started reporting the numbers separately.

See here: https://www.journaldemontreal.com/2023/07/08/immigration-des-delais-de-parrainage-deux-fois-plus-long-au-quebec-que-le-reste-du-canada

Bottom line- Quebec's targets for spousal and family immigration are far below the number of applications.

Not clear the mechanism but Quebec must be limiting the completions to keep numbers lower. The feds have no interest in keeping the numbers down.

What they each are playing at is diverting the blame from themselves but as quietly as possible (politics). Bit it's clearly a Quebec thing.
I wasn't aware of this. Thanks for sharing. So as I assumed, 100% being driven by Quebec.
 
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scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
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Toronto
Category........
Visa Office......
Buffalo
Job Offer........
Pre-Assessed..
App. Filed.......
28-05-2010
AOR Received.
19-08-2010
File Transfer...
28-06-2010
Passport Req..
01-10-2010
VISA ISSUED...
05-10-2010
LANDED..........
05-10-2010
Makes a lot of sense to me! But since Quebec for myself did it’s party with the CSQ do you think I’ll be affected by those processing delays still?
just wondering…
So I'm going to revise my answer having read the article again. I would say that you should definitely expect the longer processing times to apply to your application. The Quebec government has effectively put in an application cap for spousal sponsorship and it's safe to assume that applications will be put through that cap on a FIFO basis (i.e. first in, first out). So I think you need to buckle down for a long wait. If you're unhappy about this and want to try to do something about it, speak with your elected provincial representative about why Quebec has implemented such a policy. No other province in Canada has caps for spousal sponsorship.
 
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