Are they even processing paper based applications right now?

[LastRave]

My paper-based PR application is received on 2019.05.20 and medical results passed on 2019.10.02.
However, there is literally no update after that except the invitation of pre-arrival letter.
More than that, based on all my data sources, no one has been approved since March 2020.

Are they actually working on our applications?
Or the process is completely paused due to COVID-19?
If that is the case, why there is no announcement so people can spend time on EE instead of wasting their lives?

Sorry for the aggressive wording. This whole situation is driving me mad.

 

[pistachios2015]

I heard that the Federal would let their employees go back to their office after Christmas, so if you files are paper-based and are at Sydney office, then you would not get any update untill 2021's January.

 

[dpp]

My paper-based PR application is received on 2019.05.20 and medical results passed on 2019.10.02.
However, there is literally no update after that except the invitation of pre-arrival letter.
More than that, based on all my data sources, no one has been approved since March 2020.

Are they actually working on our applications?
Or the process is completely paused due to COVID-19?
If that is the case, why there is no announcement so people can spend time on EE instead of wasting their lives?

Sorry for the aggressive wording. This whole situation is driving me mad.

They are working with highly reduced staff. They have resumed the paper based app processing since last to the best possible extent. However, it looks like only few of the officers are currently working on Paper process and therefore, things are uncertain as of now.

 

[LastRave]

I heard that the Federal would let their employees go back to their office after Christmas, so if you files are paper-based and are at Sydney office, then you would not get any update untill 2021's January.

Thanks for the information!
I am wondering how reliable is your data source for if what you said is true I can start preparing for leaving Canada.

 

[pistachios2015]

Thanks for the information!
I am wondering how reliable is your data source for if what you said is true I can start preparing for leaving Canada.

The source is from a guy at another immigration forum, but I can not garantee its authenticity, do not rely on this information too much, my friend. I don't know any guy that works at Federal office.

 

[LastRave]

I found some additional information and they all suggest the worst result: the Sydney office is not doing their job. @pistachios2015 you might be right.

Here is another thread focus on the Sydney office:
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/threads/ircc-sydney-nova-scotia-pnp-paper-based-connect-here.689906/page-3

Here is a news page about the Sydney office:
https://www.saltwire.com/business/regional-business/majority-of-cape-breton-federal-government-employees-continue-to-work-from-home-for-now-466386/
Note you do not need to subscribe to them for the free part provides sufficient info.
The news suggested that the Sydney office is closed in March 2020 and will stay closed in late June 2020. The reopening date remains unknown.

This is awesome. The Sydney office refuses to work even though the NS government is working on reopening. It must be good to work for Canadian gov for you can keep dogging work hours whenever there is an excuse. Plus you don't have to notify your clients (applicants) for such important information.