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What’s the longest Outland processing time you have seen so far ?

AlgCad0218

Star Member
Nov 20, 2018
183
41
Visa Office......
Paris
App. Filed.......
21-02-2018
File Transfer...
05-05-2018
Med's Done....
03-05-2018
I was wondering what’s the longest processing timeframe for an outland application ?

They say 80% of apps are processed within a year but we have no timeframe for the remaining 20 %.

We have completed 15 months of processing and I am hoping for my husband to get his visa towards or 18th month. Is it too optimistic?

Can it go over two years of processing?
 

scylla

VIP Member
Jun 8, 2010
95,840
22,108
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
Yes - it can go over two years. It's rare - but can certainly happen. We've seen a few cases here where it's taken over three years due to very complex background checks.
 

AlgCad0218

Star Member
Nov 20, 2018
183
41
Visa Office......
Paris
App. Filed.......
21-02-2018
File Transfer...
05-05-2018
Med's Done....
03-05-2018
Yes - it can go over two years. It's rare - but can certainly happen. We've seen a few cases here where it's taken over three years due to very complex background checks.
Geez, three years !

I don’t know what’s complex in their opinion. Our file seems straightforward, I can manage (it will be difficult) two years but three would be horrible !
 

Hurlabrick

Champion Member
Sep 4, 2016
2,358
575
Ottawa, ON
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
23-06-2016
AOR Received.
12-07-2016
File Transfer...
23-08-2016
Med's Done....
08-06-2016
Passport Req..
21-12-2016
VISA ISSUED...
24-12-2016
LANDED..........
11-04-2017
I was wondering what’s the longest processing timeframe for an outland application ?

They say 80% of apps are processed within a year but we have no timeframe for the remaining 20 %.

We have completed 15 months of processing and I am hoping for my husband to get his visa towards or 18th month. Is it too optimistic?

Can it go over two years of processing?
Longest I have seen is 578 calendar days.
 

Western Mountain Man

Hero Member
Nov 2, 2018
667
294
Canada
Geez, three years !

I don’t know what’s complex in their opinion. Our file seems straightforward, I can manage (it will be difficult) two years but three would be horrible !
My guess it's probably something to do with security/background checks. Some countries/individuals are scrutinized in more detail for good reasons.
Though two-three years seems excessive. After 12 months you can contact your local MP and see if they can ' shed some light '.
I think most people on this forum can understand the difficulty of being apart from their loved ones.
It's just a ( process ) waiting game........I need a beer!
 
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Hurlabrick

Champion Member
Sep 4, 2016
2,358
575
Ottawa, ON
Visa Office......
London
App. Filed.......
23-06-2016
AOR Received.
12-07-2016
File Transfer...
23-08-2016
Med's Done....
08-06-2016
Passport Req..
21-12-2016
VISA ISSUED...
24-12-2016
LANDED..........
11-04-2017
Correction, 777 calendar days is the longest I have seen.
 

AlgCad0218

Star Member
Nov 20, 2018
183
41
Visa Office......
Paris
App. Filed.......
21-02-2018
File Transfer...
05-05-2018
Med's Done....
03-05-2018
My guess it's probably something to do with security/background checks. Some countries/individuals are scrutinized in more detail for good reasons.
Though two-three years seems excessive. After 12 months you can contact your local MP and see if they can ' shed some light '.
I think most people on this forum can understand the difficulty of being apart from their loved ones.
It's just a ( process ) waiting game........I need a beer!
Yes we’re undergoing a security check. I spoke to my MP but there’s not much to say. I have been told that no issue has been raised and that we should have a reply soon (three months ago). I will contact him again this week for a follow-up but I know there’s not much he can do. I just hope it will take less than two years.

Correction, 777 calendar days is the longest I have seen.
I liked the 578 days better We are at 460 days already !
 

woyaodeshihulu

Hero Member
May 25, 2018
231
54
Yes we’re undergoing a security check. I spoke to my MP but there’s not much to say. I have been told that no issue has been raised and that we should have a reply soon (three months ago). I will contact him again this week for a follow-up but I know there’s not much he can do. I just hope it will take less than two years.



I liked the 578 days better We are at 460 days already !
Hahaha

I noticed that some visa offices start background check at the early stage of the application, the background usually takes long throughout the whole process and even lasts longer, but at least it saves sometime because it happens the same time with the eligibility review. However, some offices only start after eligibility is done (after pre-arrival services), so a whole year is wasted!
 

AlgCad0218

Star Member
Nov 20, 2018
183
41
Visa Office......
Paris
App. Filed.......
21-02-2018
File Transfer...
05-05-2018
Med's Done....
03-05-2018
It’s really odd, they started our background check three months after we received the pre-arrival services letter.
 

starnaenae

Champion Member
Aug 9, 2016
2,792
837
Category........
FAM
Visa Office......
Mexico
App. Filed.......
March 1 2017
Doc's Request.
March 27, 2017, July 10, 2017
AOR Received.
AOR 1:March 17 2017 AOR 2: May 10, 2017
File Transfer...
April 8, 2017
Med's Request
Upfront - PASSED
Med's Done....
December 12 2016
Interview........
NOT REQUIRED
Passport Req..
March 5, 2018
VISA ISSUED...
March 13, 2018
LANDED..........
April 30, 2018
It’s really odd, they started our background check three months after we received the pre-arrival services letter.
This is exactly why i say prearrival isnt indicative of anything.. some ppl stipulate that it means eligibility is passed but i dont know that i buy it
 

Noel1972

Star Member
May 21, 2017
186
70
Yes we’re undergoing a security check. I spoke to my MP but there’s not much to say. I have been told that no issue has been raised and that we should have a reply soon (three months ago). I will contact him again this week for a follow-up but I know there’s not much he can do. I just hope it will take less than two years.



I liked the 578 days better We are at 460 days already !
Where is your spouse and which local Visa office is responsible
 

AlgCad0218

Star Member
Nov 20, 2018
183
41
Visa Office......
Paris
App. Filed.......
21-02-2018
File Transfer...
05-05-2018
Med's Done....
03-05-2018
This is exactly why i say prearrival isnt indicative of anything.. some ppl stipulate that it means eligibility is passed but i dont know that i buy it
From the notes, i understand that they indicated eligibility: passed one day before we received the letter. But between October and January no action occurred in our file. I wonder if we were caught in some kind of quota because it was towards the end of the year.

Where is your spouse and which local Visa office is responsible
My spouse was in France but moved to Algeria (home country) and Paris VO is responsible for our file

Also depends on the availability of interviews in the country.
I have been told numerous times that we won’t be interviewed unless something comes up in the security check.

But it might happen later on and from what I understand employees from Paris VO travel to Algeria to conduct interviews but it’s not every week.
 

theafjioman

Star Member
Aug 5, 2019
142
64
I was wondering what’s the longest processing timeframe for an outland application ?

They say 80% of apps are processed within a year but we have no timeframe for the remaining 20 %.

We have completed 15 months of processing and I am hoping for my husband to get his visa towards or 18th month. Is it too optimistic?

Can it go over two years of processing?
Just came across this thread. How is your progress going? Have you received any more word on your application yet?
 

AlgCad0218

Star Member
Nov 20, 2018
183
41
Visa Office......
Paris
App. Filed.......
21-02-2018
File Transfer...
05-05-2018
Med's Done....
03-05-2018
Just came across this thread. How is your progress going? Have you received any more word on your application yet?
Yes after 16,5 months we were approved in early July and my husband landed a few weeks after.

No interview was requested, we will never know what stalled our application !