Post December 7, 2016 applicants under new application package past 12 month processing without DM

[majesty]

Hello all,

I was wondering for those of you who applied under the new application package after December 7, 2016 and who have not gotten DM, have you taken any steps to try to expedite the processing of your applications?

I realize that every case is individual and that some cases require more time due to things like security checks and requirement for interviews, etc that will lead to going past the stated 12 month average processing time. However, as it is stated in the IRCC website, I figure that I am more justifiable in making an enquiry/complaint.

Our application will have reached the 12 month mark as of January 25. My plan is to email the VO, which I am not expecting will yield much of a response, only to remind them that we are waiting still and that it has been a year now. We are supposed to be in queue for an interview, but they have not given us a date after 2 months of finding this out (we might have been queue even longer than that, but only found out after an MP enquiry and no indication in our GCMS notes as of October). If emailing the VO does not yield much (at the very least to help get us an interview date if we are still in queue), I will suck it up and call the IRCC call centre on a day I have off as it usually takes the whole day to get through to a human if I'm lucky.

Did anyone try this and gain anything from it?

I am hesitant to go to my MP again as I have done this 2 times in the past and all they do is send an email to IRCC and it is the same info I get from my GCMS notes except with less detail. Also after each of their emails, they state:

As per our current processing times, it may take up to 12 months to finalize the application. However, processing times indicated on our website are approximate, and can vary with each individual case.

If you go past the 12 months in processing, would the MP do anything extra to try to expedite a DM on your application?

BTW, I did order my GCMS notes on December 7 after I found out we were in queue for an interview. However, I don't know when those will arrive as they are late nowadays and we also had to resend our consent form.

I appreciate any comments on what, if anything, I can do to help speed up this process at this stage in the game.

 

[Miraclejj]

Hello all,

I was wondering for those of you who applied under the new application package after December 7, 2016 and who have not gotten DM, have you taken any steps to try to expedite the processing of your applications?

I realize that every case is individual and that some cases require more time due to things like security checks and requirement for interviews, etc that will lead to going past the stated 12 month average processing time. However, as it is stated in the IRCC website, I figure that I am more justifiable in making an enquiry/complaint.

Our application will have reached the 12 month mark as of January 25. My plan is to email the VO, which I am not expecting will yield much of a response, only to remind them that we are waiting still and that it has been a year now. We are supposed to be in queue for an interview, but they have not given us a date after 2 months of finding this out (we might have been queue even longer than that, but only found out after an MP enquiry and no indication in our GCMS notes as of October). If emailing the VO does not yield much (at the very least to help get us an interview date if we are still in queue), I will suck it up and call the IRCC call centre on a day I have off as it usually takes the whole day to get through to a human if I'm lucky.

Did anyone try this and gain anything from it?

I am hesitant to go to my MP again as I have done this 2 times in the past and all they do is send an email to IRCC and it is the same info I get from my GCMS notes except with less detail. Also after each of their emails, they state:

As per our current processing times, it may take up to 12 months to finalize the application. However, processing times indicated on our website are approximate, and can vary with each individual case.

If you go past the 12 months in processing, would the MP do anything extra to try to expedite a DM on your application?

BTW, I did order my GCMS notes on December 7 after I found out we were in queue for an interview. However, I don't know when those will arrive as they are late nowadays and we also had to resend our consent form.

I appreciate any comments on what, if anything, I can do to help speed up this process at this stage in the game.

To be honest, I don't think anything you mentioned above would gain you anything. The 12 months processing time is a target and estimated time, and only for 80% of the cases. The exact time will still depends on individual cases, the work loads of each VO offices and an interview definitely will drag your case longer than those more straight forward case. There is nothing you can do to expedite the process of your case.

 

[FrostiRose]

It has been a full year for me now, no real updates at all since they passed my medical first week in March last year. Tried both the call centre and case specific enquiry last week, still the same crap as always, only now they don't say "you're still within normal processing time" but instead "wait until February or March and if you haven't heard from us by then we'll look in to your case". This is, excuse my language, bullshit.

My wife's aunt went to her MP on my behalf, I talked to the MP's assistant last week who had phoned IRCC and talked to a person who said it was taking a long time because they had to verify my military service with Swedish authoroties ( I did 10 month compulsory service as a military medic in 1996, back then all male over the age of 18 had to do service for in Sweden). So I contacted the Swedish authority responsible for keeping records since 1955 earlier today, they're now sending me the documents that IRCC probably wanted. It took me one whole email to do that... Again, more bullshit from IRCC.

There is nothing else in my background that is out of the ordinary. Lived in Sweden since birth, no crazy travel history, no travels to red flag countries, no involvement in organizations other than student union, engineering branch organizations and homebrew clubs, no criminal history, nothing.

I will now talk to an immigration lawyer to hopefully get some answers to the questions IRCC just replies with "we have everything we need, rest assured we're working as fast as we can to finalize your application.
For all I know, it could take them another year with this pace...

 

[ahmedwaly]

If they still not done with applications before 7 December 2016 you think they will do after faster , I doubt it plus they do what they want no one can tell or push them to do what they not want the Processing promise is like one put target for himself to reduce weight you can’t blame him if he not lose weight or eat hamburger is thier preference.

 

[Hvank]

Following this thread. We are Jan 30th applicant and still nothing. Our last correspondence was in June. I have called irrc and emailed out vo and they state they have all the Information needed but still not processed. I have been in contact with my MP and still have not had any progress. It is so frustrating that no one can let us know what is happening ad friends applied way after us and have already landed as PR.

 

[Pearl1]

Following this thread. We are Jan 30th applicant and still nothing. Our last correspondence was in June. I have called irrc and emailed out vo and they state they have all the Information needed but still not processed. I have been in contact with my MP and still have not had any progress. It is so frustrating that no one can let us know what is happening ad friends applied way after us and have already landed as PR.

Did your friends have a sponsorship application ?

 

[Pearl1]

Early March 2017 applicant, nothing since meds request in June 2017.

 

[FrostiRose]

plus they do what they want

Exactly that is the one of the biggest problems. It seems like they can do exactly whatever they want without being held accountable for their actions. IRCC claims they process cases in the order they come in. Well, they don't really. They have an online system where they claim you can follow how your application progresses. That's fine in theory, but when there is zero updates during a year or longer process, it's pretty useless.
I'm not asking that my application will be singled out for expedited processing. All I want is some answers to the questions I've been asking about what is going on. You can't just expect people to send in applications to a big black whole and fully trust everything is ok and you get a visa a year later. IRCC seems quite proud of their ongoing client service campaign #OnwardAndUpward. I, for one, don't give much for that campaign until they can actually show some proper client service. Sometimes it's as easy as acknowledging that you're not forgotten. I am certain small means could decrease the number of call centre enquiries and CSE webmail questions by a big chunk, freeing resources to more substantial things, like actually processing cases...

 

[ahmedwaly]

Exactly that is the one of the biggest problems. It seems like they can do exactly whatever they want without being held accountable for their actions. IRCC claims they process cases in the order they come in. Well, they don't really. They have an online system where they claim you can follow how your application progresses. That's fine in theory, but when there is zero updates during a year or longer process, it's pretty useless.
I'm not asking that my application will be singled out for expedited processing. All I want is some answers to the questions I've been asking about what is going on. You can't just expect people to send in applications to a big black whole and fully trust everything is ok and you get a visa a year later. IRCC seems quite proud of their ongoing client service campaign #OnwardAndUpward. I, for one, don't give much for that campaign until they can actually show some proper client service. Sometimes it's as easy as acknowledging that you're not forgotten. I am certain small means could decrease the number of call centre enquiries and CSE webmail questions by a big chunk, freeing resources to more substantial things, like actually processing cases...

Exactly we need transparency, up to date online service and fixed timeframe for each step as I never saw Job they have unlimited time to finalize cases , backlog is not reason so why CPC M process millions of applications of all Canadians daily in 3 weeks or maybe they not process and send to VO as it is as long that got fees complete lol

 

[Miraclejj]

Exactly that is the one of the biggest problems. It seems like they can do exactly whatever they want without being held accountable for their actions. IRCC claims they process cases in the order they come in. Well, they don't really. They have an online system where they claim you can follow how your application progresses. That's fine in theory, but when there is zero updates during a year or longer process, it's pretty useless.
I'm not asking that my application will be singled out for expedited processing. All I want is some answers to the questions I've been asking about what is going on. You can't just expect people to send in applications to a big black whole and fully trust everything is ok and you get a visa a year later. IRCC seems quite proud of their ongoing client service campaign #OnwardAndUpward. I, for one, don't give much for that campaign until they can actually show some proper client service. Sometimes it's as easy as acknowledging that you're not forgotten. I am certain small means could decrease the number of call centre enquiries and CSE webmail questions by a big chunk, freeing resources to more substantial things, like actually processing cases...

Although I feel your frustration (I do, cause it may happen to me as well), and agreed that IRCC needs to work towards a more efficient way to process all cases, but it seemed a little unfair by just blaming IRCC. From what I understood, the BGC takes the longest in the whole process, and sometimes it isn't really the issue of IRCC. Usually, when IRCC conducts BGC, they would send the inquiry to the respectful agencies of your country to obtain necessary documents, it may involve multiple layers in the process. And it is understandable that some countries are more responsive than others. If the respectful agencies of your country don't response the inquiry within the reasonable time frame, IRCC would likely to put your cases on hold and move on to the other cases, which means you will see your case been delayed, probably by months.

From my own experiences of dealing bureaucracy, it is no fun about it. The projects I was working on had been delayed months, just because the County and the City didn't agree a small issue in the internal government agreement. And here, we are talking about the bureaucracy, not just between agencies of Canada, but also between countries. Sometimes, it really isn't the problem of IRCC that your case has been delayed.

 

[inlandPRfeb17]

February 2017 inland applicant here. nothing after Medical passed in June 2017...The wait is frustrating.
on CIC automated call center, it says they are working on Oct 2016 applications and average processing time is now 14 months.. so i really hope we hear something in another 1-2 months by the latest..

 

[Miraclejj]

February 2017 inland applicant here. nothing after Medical passed in June 2017...The wait is frustrating.
on CIC automated call center, it says they are working on Oct 2016 applications and average processing time is now 14 months.. so i really hope we hear something in another 1-2 months by the latest..

I believe that we should consider lucky that our cases have been already in process. I bet that with the current refugee situation, the process time will probably be much worsen, when all the refugees are eligible to sponsor their spouses and families in the next few years. Please don't get me wrong, I have nothing to against any refugees, it is the fact that most likely those cases from current large amount of refugee cases will eventually backlog and overwhelm the system much worse.

 

[Hvank]

Did your friends have a sponsorship application ?

They did the exact same application sponsoring their husband from the same country as my husband. Something is not right because clearly there is no order. I wouldn't be as upset if I knew everyone has had to deal with the same process but clearly that is not the case. Guess I'll just keep waiting..

 

[Miraclejj]

They did the exact same application sponsoring their husband from the same country as my husband. Something is not right because clearly there is no order. I wouldn't be as upset if I knew everyone has had to deal with the same process but clearly that is not the case. Guess I'll just keep waiting..

Again, although I really feel your frustration, but I don't think that IRCC will intentionally single your case out and upholding it for unnecessary longer. There must be something triggered the probably more thoroughly review or simply the respectful agencies of your country didn't response the inquiry of your case. For example, It is more like the US consulate to name check the H1B applicants. From the same country, some will pass in days, some will be held for months. While we all agree that IRCC needs to develop a more efficient or intelligent way to handle all cases, but I do believe there definitely has a procedure for them to follow, and sometimes, there isn't really the IRCC delayed your case.

 

[majesty]

It has been a full year for me now, no real updates at all since they passed my medical first week in March last year. Tried both the call centre and case specific enquiry last week, still the same crap as always, only now they don't say "you're still within normal processing time" but instead "wait until February or March and if you haven't heard from us by then we'll look in to your case". This is, excuse my language, bullshit.

My wife's aunt went to her MP on my behalf, I talked to the MP's assistant last week who had phoned IRCC and talked to a person who said it was taking a long time because they had to verify my military service with Swedish authoroties ( I did 10 month compulsory service as a military medic in 1996, back then all male over the age of 18 had to do service for in Sweden). So I contacted the Swedish authority responsible for keeping records since 1955 earlier today, they're now sending me the documents that IRCC probably wanted. It took me one whole email to do that... Again, more bullshit from IRCC.

There is nothing else in my background that is out of the ordinary. Lived in Sweden since birth, no crazy travel history, no travels to red flag countries, no involvement in organizations other than student union, engineering branch organizations and homebrew clubs, no criminal history, nothing.

I will now talk to an immigration lawyer to hopefully get some answers to the questions IRCC just replies with "we have everything we need, rest assured we're working as fast as we can to finalize your application.
For all I know, it could take them another year with this pace...

So sorry to hear that your app is still "in progress". I share your frustration. I hope by getting those military records to the IRCC, they can wrap up your app soon, if this was the hold up. At least you could do something about it yourself, although why didn't they ask for these things up front if you are able to obtain these records yourself?

I know how you feel when you say it could take them another year. Anytime I have heard anything from our VO is when I did my own investigating and communicated with them otherwise we probably would be in the same place we were 5 months ago.

I have spent way to much time and energy ranting about other people who only took 6 or 8 months to process at our VO and I don't think they were that much more complicated than us. We spent 4 - 6 months doing up our app and paid an immigration consultant about $500 to look over our app before submitting. We didn't just throw this thing together last minute, so I doubt we missed much with our app. The big thing was our age difference, but why didn't they put us in queue for an interview long ago as they summarized our relationship, but said nothing about having any concerns including our age difference. We have been together 5 plus years and yes we did take a long time to apply, but again, no mention of this in the notes. Only at 10 months did they decide they should put us in queue for an interview .... most people at our VO were done being processed then ... our relationship didn't change at that point, so why didn't they flag us to begin with?

I asked these questions in this thread to get an idea of what others who have waited this long and still not finished being processed have done. I thank everyone here for their input, but until you have reached this stage in the processing, you can never really know how frustrating it can be and how you are desperate to do anything and everything, no matter how fruitless it may seem logically ... so those who are saying that we just need to wait patiently, please try to accept and understand the pain that people like me and FrostiRose and many others here are feeling and why we continue to contact IRCC and do other seemingly fruitless things, but it helps us psychologically as we can't just sit around doing nothing anymore!