I have been thinking what could be causing the delay for some applicants. Every case is unique. It's not practical to think that if someone has got PPR in certain number of days the same will also be applicable for me. Moreover, different CIC teams or officers may operate in different manner and pace.
I feel at this stage, (i.e. 110-130 days since AoR) at least our submitted documents and eligibility have been reviewed. And if they had found any critical problem in the documents and eligibility, our refusals would have surely come by now. Considering this we are at least safe in terms of the documents that we submitted with the APR and also our eligibility review.
Now let's think what then could be causing the delay.
One important point could be an applicant's travel history and how many countries the applicant has stayed in. For example, I had to submit 2 PCCs because I stayed in two countries. Therefore, verification of two PCCs can take more time. So we might ask ourselves if we have traveled extensively or stayed in multiple countries, which might make security and criminality check a relatively longer process.
Moreover, there might be some issues with the settlement fund. If an applicant hasn't been able to show the required fund for the previous 6 months before submitting the APR that might cause doubts, and CIC may want to take some time before they verify at the bank. If it's authentically your fund you should be able to keep it for a substantial period of time in your account. So if they have doubts, they may want to take some time to see how long the applicant can hold the fund in his/her account.
In such a situation, repeated inquiry to CIC can strengthen their doubts.
If there was a sudden influx of large fund in the applicant's account. CIC may ask for explanation and additional documents.
Apart from such reasons there might be question marks over many other aspects of the application, which often require additional review.
Refusal also takes time. It usually doesn't happen suddenly. Before refusing an applicant CIC usually sends a Procedural Fairness Letter, which asks for explanation on the issue about which they have doubt. Therefore, sometimes the applicant gets an opportunity to defend himself/herself for one last time.
At the end of the day, we can only be optimistic and pray that there is light at the end of the tunnel!
