Student Direct Stream application processing delay (Q3/Q4 2021)

[pedrocoelho]

Hey, everyone!

I'm in a group with many Brazilians like me who have applied for a Canadian study permit under the Student Direct Stream (Brazil has recently been included in the list of SDS-designated countries). My application was sent this week, but there are people who have been waiting for a decision for over 50 - 60 days (8 to 9 weeks). The last couple of people from the group who managed to get their visas under the SDS applied on July 31st and September 1st, and were approved in exactly 10 days.

This really sucks because, as I recall, SDS applications used to take no more than 20 calendar days to be processed by IRCC. I hear this is related to the situation in Afghanistan, but does anyone know what exactly is going on and/or how much longer this delay should go for? I suppose applicants from other countries are experiencing this as well, so how is the processing time for you?

 

[tiandstories]

applied since 13 Aug under SDS and still waiting lol

 

[pedrocoelho]

applied since 13 Aug under SDS and still waiting lol

Where are you from?

 

[lavieinca]

Hi, the SDS is much slower now, you can't expect them to finish it within 20 days. It seems they don't work on SDS recently, because the processing is entirely manual, no AI assistance, so it's much slower than EAPP.

 

[itsmecan]

Hey, everyone!

I'm in a group with many Brazilians like me who have applied for a Canadian study permit under the Student Direct Stream (Brazil has recently been included in the list of SDS-designated countries). My application was sent this week, but there are people who have been waiting for a decision for over 50 - 60 days (8 to 9 weeks). The last couple of people from the group who managed to get their visas under the SDS applied on July 31st and September 1st, and were approved in exactly 10 days.

This really sucks because, as I recall, SDS applications used to take no more than 20 calendar days to be processed by IRCC. I hear this is related to the situation in Afghanistan, but does anyone know what exactly is going on and/or how much longer this delay should go for? I suppose applicants from other countries are experiencing this as well, so how is the processing time for you?

IRCC is right now in a total mess as they took more on their plate than they could eat. All we can do is wait and hope IRCC will end people's suffering and misery soon.

 

[pedrocoelho]

Hi, the SDS is much slower now, you can't expect them to finish it within 20 days. It seems they don't work on SDS recently, because the processing is entirely manual, no AI assistance, so it's much slower than EAPP.

What do you mean by EAPP?

 

[lavieinca]

What do you mean by EAPP?

I mean Non-SDS. It's much faster because the application might be done automatically.

 

[yesWeCanada]

I mean Non-SDS. It's much faster because the application might be done automatically.

I dont think they will give controls to the computer, certainly not visa apps. No way a computer can look through all the files uploaded and determine their validity and make decisions without any errors. I doubt this.

 

[lavieinca]

I dont think they will give controls to the computer, certainly not visa apps. No way a computer can look through all the files uploaded and determine their validity and make decisions without any errors. I doubt this.

One of my classmates filed this application through Non-SDS, and he got a decision on 3rd Oct., which was Sunday... So if not computer, they worked on weekend? His Biometrics was done on 29th Sept.

 

[yesWeCanada]

One of my classmates filed this application through Non-SDS, and he got a decision on 3rd Oct., which was Sunday... So if not computer, they worked on weekend? His Biometrics was done on 29th Sept.

That is a good example but think about it. Can a visa be given without human intervention? I dont think so at all. The email or update on the profile would have happened on Sunday, maybe the email or update queue was backed up due to maintenance and result dispatch was done on Sunday. But result on a Sunday is a rare scenario, interesting.

 

[itsmecan]

I dont think they will give controls to the computer, certainly not visa apps. No way a computer can look through all the files uploaded and determine their validity and make decisions without any errors. I doubt this.

My first SDS application decision was done within 4 days of application(I received rejection after 1.5 months) I came to know the details after I received GCMS notes. The opening comments read. ''Applicant wishes to do undergraduate/postgraduate/graduate certificate/masters'' even the rest of the sentence seemed like it was a template. They waited for 1.5 months to release this information(so much time wasted).

Hence, I wouldn't entirely dismiss the notion of applications being screened by bots.

 

[yesWeCanada]

My first SDS application decision was done within 4 days of application(I received rejection after 1.5 months) I came to know the details after I received GCMS notes. The opening comments read. ''Applicant wishes to do undergraduate/postgraduate/graduate certificate/masters'' even the rest of the sentence seemed like it was a template. They waited for 1.5 months to release this information(so much time wasted).

Hence, I wouldn't entirely dismiss the notion of applications being screened by bots.

I agree that it looks like its bots but its not I feel. Why take that long to send the decision if its bots all along? Also the generic courses mentioned in the GCMS, I think its options they select to reduce their typing time and only mention the reasons in detail when needed only. Think about it. Writing rejection reasons for lakhs of applications, not possible. I think they will select some checkboxes and mention the detailed reasons only when you ask for it in GCMS.

 

[itsmecan]

I agree that it looks like its bots but its not I feel. Why take that long to send the decision if its bots all along? Also the generic courses mentioned in the GCMS, I think its options they select to reduce their typing time and only mention the reasons in detail when needed only. Think about it. Writing rejection reasons for lakhs of applications, not possible. I think they will select some checkboxes and mention the detailed reasons only when you ask for it in GCMS.

Writing comments is a part of the application process. They are expected to summarize why the applicant was refused as this is also used in cases of judicial reviews, etc. I have seen some notes which has so much details personally pertaining to the applicant. if they are just going to copy/paste a section from immigration laws, how can they prove they have fairly evaluated applicants file?

Not saying it is entirely bot but it could be 50/50. Bot screens-->rejects-->human reviews after X no of days and depending on how much he/she has on plate will further review or simply go with what bot suggests and sends final decision. Who knows, its IRCC we are talking about so its always a mystery ;-)

 

[lavieinca]

wasted

My first SDS application decision was done within 4 days of application(I received rejection after 1.5 months) I came to know the details after I received GCMS notes. The opening comments read. ''Applicant wishes to do undergraduate/postgraduate/graduate certificate/masters'' even the rest of the sentence seemed like it was a template. They waited for 1.5 months to release this information(so much time wasted).

Hence, I wouldn't entirely dismiss the notion of applications being screened by bots.

Your case reminds me one guy got his rejection decision after 3 months, actually through the notes his decision was made within 6 days, but he was notified nearly 3 months.

 

[yesWeCanada]

Writing comments is a part of the application process. They are expected to summarize why the applicant was refused as this is also used in cases of judicial reviews, etc. I have seen some notes which has so much details personally pertaining to the applicant. if they are just going to copy/paste a section from immigration laws, how can they prove they have fairly evaluated applicants file?

Not saying it is entirely bot but it could be 50/50. Bot screens-->rejects-->human reviews after X no of days and depending on how much he/she has on plate will further review or simply go with what bot suggests and sends final decision. Who knows, its IRCC we are talking about so its always a mystery ;-)

I agree the bots and humans case though. But writing full reason for a rejection on every app is such a waste of time. Maybe thats where they are spending time