Hey this is sadly normal. By normal, I mean the norm these days, and I definitely not agree with rudeness. (check further in my post) I've had the same response when I called. I have complained to the MIFI numerous times telling them about the service, the divergent response from the staff. Even if you don't know who the agent is, you can file a complaint either online or by phone. I did and got a response saying that the agent was not trained to respond as she did. Give as much information, time of call, what was said, file info. Look, I called the complaint line and even the guy answering me was rude. Idk but I've been living out of Quebec for a while and I notice when I spent more time in Quebec last year and had to deal with various departments that people are rude, at least more than where I live around the world.
Now for the processing times just want to explain this. First the processing start, I was told as well they are not supposed to tell us. But one day someone told me and I got to know when it started. I called back and mentioned the processing start date and the lady was annoyed saying that I shouldn't know. She was even more annoyed to see my CSQ was approved saying I don<t understand how because we are processing up to November 18. Anyway, personally I didn't care, I would call every other week, just when I would see someone with the same timeline as me as an update.
About the date on the website, it has confused so many so I'll just clarify. Before June, the date on the website was for the processing start date of the file. On average, the date was changing ever 10 days with a 10-12 days jump. This just meant all applications with that received date have started processing. Maybe it was the date when the file had been verified by other departments and the lead agent at MIFI was working on it. But we didn't know how long it would take to process. After March 17, they stop updating the website. Applications were being processed but none were finalized until agents went back to the office which was in May I think. Now when they changed the update format on the website, they would update every Monday and indicate the furthest date of which applications are being finalized. As you can see, this also depends on when they receive the info back from other departments. Because of COVID, they can't predict how long it will take. So some applications that were received after you might get approved before because the process is no longer linear once other departments are involved. The agents processing the file may have an impact too. On the other hand, if you compare the date when the file was registered in their system or AOR, it is pretty consistent with the received date.
In summary, the date you see on the website means that all applications received by then are being finalized so a final decision has been made. If approved, they are preparing the CSQ to be printed and mailed to you. Why in one month we just reached 19 days? Because there are still applications that were received from November 20 onwards that we not finalized as of Monday this week. So the date is not an indication that ALL applications received after have not been received. But at the same time, it's not because someone with the same timeline or even a later received date, received their CSQ that it means you will receive at the same time. As I said above, it is not entirely dependent on the MIFI. The delays are frustrating but receiving our CSQ doesn't mean that we will receive our PR faster. The only time the MIFI for PR timeline is when all has been completed and IRCC says we are waiting for the CSQ. There was a case like this in the thread a few months ago.
Apparently, last year, MIFI received about three times the volume of CSQ requests they used to get which has started a backlog. To be honest, to me the CSQ delay matters a bit less than the PR. Of course, the delays mean the applicants wait longer for certain services in Quebec, but personally, the PR timeline matters more. When I see the previous timelines, people living in Quebec got their PR within 7 months. Now, I've only seen April applicants getting DM. We can't ignore the fact that the pandemic and a possible second lockdown will slow things. But what you can do in the meantime is call when you see other people have the same timeline and received an update. Don't get upset with the agent if they tell you to check the date on the website because that is what the MIFI said. Sometimes you get someone who is really kind and helpful but from experience it doesn't happen always. I would say catch the name of the agent and if they are rude, don't reply back but write online and they will deal with it internally. By rude I mean hanging up the phone (happen to me twice and it was not an argument, just the lady was getting irritated when I asked information. that was not about sponsorship but she was really rude and they listened to the call and email me back to apologize) or making rude, sarcastic remarks. If they just tell you to check on the website because your file is still processing, there is no need to argue with them. I'll make another post with some tools you can use that may help some.
Now for the processing times just want to explain this. First the processing start, I was told as well they are not supposed to tell us. But one day someone told me and I got to know when it started. I called back and mentioned the processing start date and the lady was annoyed saying that I shouldn't know. She was even more annoyed to see my CSQ was approved saying I don<t understand how because we are processing up to November 18. Anyway, personally I didn't care, I would call every other week, just when I would see someone with the same timeline as me as an update.
About the date on the website, it has confused so many so I'll just clarify. Before June, the date on the website was for the processing start date of the file. On average, the date was changing ever 10 days with a 10-12 days jump. This just meant all applications with that received date have started processing. Maybe it was the date when the file had been verified by other departments and the lead agent at MIFI was working on it. But we didn't know how long it would take to process. After March 17, they stop updating the website. Applications were being processed but none were finalized until agents went back to the office which was in May I think. Now when they changed the update format on the website, they would update every Monday and indicate the furthest date of which applications are being finalized. As you can see, this also depends on when they receive the info back from other departments. Because of COVID, they can't predict how long it will take. So some applications that were received after you might get approved before because the process is no longer linear once other departments are involved. The agents processing the file may have an impact too. On the other hand, if you compare the date when the file was registered in their system or AOR, it is pretty consistent with the received date.
In summary, the date you see on the website means that all applications received by then are being finalized so a final decision has been made. If approved, they are preparing the CSQ to be printed and mailed to you. Why in one month we just reached 19 days? Because there are still applications that were received from November 20 onwards that we not finalized as of Monday this week. So the date is not an indication that ALL applications received after have not been received. But at the same time, it's not because someone with the same timeline or even a later received date, received their CSQ that it means you will receive at the same time. As I said above, it is not entirely dependent on the MIFI. The delays are frustrating but receiving our CSQ doesn't mean that we will receive our PR faster. The only time the MIFI for PR timeline is when all has been completed and IRCC says we are waiting for the CSQ. There was a case like this in the thread a few months ago.
Apparently, last year, MIFI received about three times the volume of CSQ requests they used to get which has started a backlog. To be honest, to me the CSQ delay matters a bit less than the PR. Of course, the delays mean the applicants wait longer for certain services in Quebec, but personally, the PR timeline matters more. When I see the previous timelines, people living in Quebec got their PR within 7 months. Now, I've only seen April applicants getting DM. We can't ignore the fact that the pandemic and a possible second lockdown will slow things. But what you can do in the meantime is call when you see other people have the same timeline and received an update. Don't get upset with the agent if they tell you to check the date on the website because that is what the MIFI said. Sometimes you get someone who is really kind and helpful but from experience it doesn't happen always. I would say catch the name of the agent and if they are rude, don't reply back but write online and they will deal with it internally. By rude I mean hanging up the phone (happen to me twice and it was not an argument, just the lady was getting irritated when I asked information. that was not about sponsorship but she was really rude and they listened to the call and email me back to apologize) or making rude, sarcastic remarks. If they just tell you to check on the website because your file is still processing, there is no need to argue with them. I'll make another post with some tools you can use that may help some.