Thread for Acrra Ghana applicants
- Thread starter palomadiego
- Start date
So take a look at this and see what you think:
On February 14th an announcement was made stating that the IRCC has reduced the backlog of spousal applications from 75,000 to 15,000, and that the government has reached its target of processing 80% of new applications within a 12 month period. While this is a great improvement over previous processing times, we feel it doesn’t fully address concerns of slower visa offices such as the Accra office in Ghana.
We belong to a discussion board where we share timelines, stories, and generally offer each other support as we move through the process. In sharing timelines we see the inconsistencies between our timelines and those from other countries. We also see inconsistencies within our own office’s processing times, and the lack of communication for those of us close to or past the 12 month processing timeframe.
We believe that the target of processing 80% of applications within a 12 month period was only achieved because offices that are able to process applications quickly balance out those where the process often takes longer than 12 months.
We do understand that the process can be complicated by having to interact with governments of other countries, but when we hear that a fellow applicants have been approved, we have mixed feelings even though they applied later than us we are left with mixed feelings. We are both genuinely happy to hear that the wait is over for that couple, but it leaves us wondering why not us, why was someone that applied after us and approved and not us, what is wrong with our application and is it something we can address?
Sometimes just knowing is all we would need to feel confident that the process is working.
And while we do recognize that some of the wait is due to processes beyond the control over the Accra office (e.g. waiting on information from local governments), some processes could be improved within Canadian process to improve times. For an example, applicants that send their passports to the office wait between 2 to 5 weeks to receive their passport back. So they are still stuck not being able to plan ahead as they don’t know when they will be able to fly.
We have noticed too that information in ECAS and GCKey is not updated as it should be. If we try to follow up on our applications, we are directed to these applications, but the information housed there is out of date and doesn’t provide any explanation as to why our applications are not being processed within the 12 month timeframe. We have witnessed applicants who have been asked to submit their passports showing the same information in their accounts as was shown before they received this notification.
Governments all over the world are pushing to be more transparent, to be open and to release more and more useful datasets. But we aren’t even able to get up-to-date information on our own applications. Even if we order our GCMS notes, which is the only way we can assess what is happening with our cases, we have to wait at least a month for the request to be fulfilled.
We know the government is already aware of the stress that this process has on families, and we are sure the government is aware of the danger a lot of our families are in simply because they are married to a Canadian. We acknowledge the improvement in the process so far. We are urging that steps continue to be taken to improve the transparency and fairness of this process and to try to close the gap between processing times of offices in developing countries compared to developed countries, where citizens are safer and freer to be with their spouses during the process.
Hello Folks. Just a lil info. I just received my wife's CSQ yesterday since i live in Quebec. Hoping to get medical request soon
@Milaby hi is there any latest improvement so far? Today happens to be a holiday so AVO isn't working. Hopefully by Friday it will be over for you in Jesus name.
AMEN!!! No PUM yet but my application has been approved and visa issued, how about you?
My husband is the one in touch with the MP, he plans to contact her this week
This is great. There couldn’t have been any other way for it to be composed. Welldone ma’am. Do we still use same subject title?
I think change the subject so that it looks like a different letter otherwise it may be ignored.
How about:
Ongoing Improvements to the Spousal Application Process Needed
I'm so happy for you, there has not been a single update on my account both ecas and GCkey. But I'm hoping to see changes by next week.
Hello is there anyone applying from Nigeria here ? My husband is a PR in Canada . Submitted July 2017, sponsorship approval August 2017 started processing October 2017 my medical was demanded for in dec 20 2017 and i submitted Jan 8 2018. Says medical passed but since then no update . Silence is deafening. I'm in Nigeria
Welcome to the group. Yes, there are some here that are either in Nigeria or sponsoring spouses in Nigeria (my husband and kids are in Nigeria). It is not unusual for you not to have heard anything yet. They are currently working on March, April and May applications. We think June and July are coming in the next month or so.