Isn't it better to just say, FUCK you! And get it over with? Why hold it or put it on the side? If they're not satisfied with what we've submitted why not send an email and say it? Doesn't it make sense?
I don't believe in an extra year of processing at all even though I truly believe an agent from cic call center might say that.
When it gets transferred to a local office before AIP it is usually that they are not satisfied with something, like whether you are in a genuine relationship or whether you are actually cohabiting. It won't take a year for the local office to take action like requesting more documents or phone interview or call the couple for a real in person interview.
I'm following this forum for a few years now and I've never heard of a story of someone taking a whole year more because the file got transferred to a local office for further assessment. That shouldn't take long, few weeks more maybe but not even a few months more.
Those applications taking really longer time are usually because of security checks which is much harder to do with some countries and which does not depend only on Canadian authorities. Assessing a relationship or cohabitation is much easier and cannot justify months of delay.