This is a mere hunch and nothing official. Based on how the CIC is processing the applications, and upon careful review of my personal GCMS notes, this is what I can conclude:
1. GCMS notes make an agent pick up your file and if there is a something pending, they will usually update it. So GCMS notes do make your file move, but not always. Ordering the GCMS notes is an applicant's legal right. You can order as many GCMS notes as you would like. But, please don't abuse the process. I would suggest that if you have crossed the 5-month mark, and there has not been much movement, you should definitely order the GCMS notes. It will give you a picture of what has happened and if there are any concerns, that you can rectify. Next set should be ordered as soon as your cross the 6-month mark and see if there has been any movement. At this time it is advisable to call CIC and send an email or a CSE to figure out what is happening with your file.
2. Seeing the recent trends, there have been virtually no PPR issued in this week or the last. This could be due to various reasons. CIC might be trying to clear the old files, change in the policy, or a system glitch. This is all speculation. Usually, the PNP applicants are being processed without delay. If their files can be processed, so can others, but it is a priority issue. To understand why this happens, welcome to the obscure world of federalism. The immigration is within the authority of the federal government, but the provinces had their unique needs, so they pick up applicants from the pool. Since the PNP is a province approved file, CIC puts them on priority not to piss off the provinces and create a political issue in the parliament or the provinces enacting laws within their purview at the state legislative levels.
What to do is your application is still under process and you are almost at the 6-month mark? IGNORE THIS. NO LONGER VALID, THIS WAS WRITTEN A MONTH AGO.
6 months has now become a myth with CIC stating that 6 months is the average time it took to clear 80% of the files, which I highly doubt at this stage. So stay calm and be positive. Order the GCMS notes, if you see something off or new, let everyone know, check the interpreting the GCMS notes thread, BGC in progress and still waiting thread, and six months and not finalized thread. I personally believe that if you follow this you should have a clear picture of what stage is your file at. Rest it depends on the CIC, and their backlog. But most of the delays are due to the CIC and not the applicants. So don't get paranoid that there is something wrong with your file. If you see the thread of applicants who had passed 6 months, they got approved, some had to wait for 7-8 months, but finally they got the PPR.
Ministerial Instructions Talk about processing delays, politics cannot be ignored. With the new government in power, they will have a new set of priorities, which we are all aware of, family unification, spouse visas etc. If the new Immigration Minster has given new Ministerial Instructions, then the whole EE process will be affected and the delays will be across the EE, which I am anticipating. I am searching for new ministerial instructions, if you have any links, please share. Here is an old article I came across. <http://www.jefflilaw.com/blog/2012/06/18/immigration-lawyer-wins-battle-against-cic-over-processing-delay-and-application-wipe-out/>
Stay calm and be positive. It is frustrating to wait and sometimes feels that it will never happen, this is when you need to find a reason to inspire yourself and believe in yourself.
Hope this helps. If there is anything that I can help anyone of you, please do not hesitate to let me know, or send me a PM if there is something that you would not like to share here.
God Speed!
