Hey!
I've seen many of your posts, and all of them have been very thoughtful and sincere. I really appreciate your intentions to calm our ire down (I agree that few folks are getting a bit too acrimonious with their complaints), but I respectfully disagree with some of the things you've said here. I'll try my best to address my objection, however flimsy it might be. Long post incoming:
"Also, if your application has been in process for less than 6 months, why are you stressing so much?"
--> The reason behind many of our criticism towards IRCC isn't just about their speed of efficiency, but it's more about
the lack of transparency and equity on their processing behalf. This is the point that myself and a user
@Rahulkhurana22 talked about, albeit briefly, in this very thread.
Indeed you are very right. Express Entry processing generally takes 6 months, but lately we've seen a plethora of applicants from this year who got their PR approved within the span of just 3 months or even less - including YOU I might add - while there are many of us with earlier submission dates who are taking 5-6 months or even more. I think it is perfectly reasonable to question the fairness of the procedure when there is such blatant inconsistency when it comes to immigration. Why are some people, who submitted their files and have all the records and should have the equal right to be assessed at the same pace as others, are getting the short/long end of the stick for no reason? Many people worked hard to get this far, and the inequity is making the whole PR process feel like a really lousy lottery. If you get VOs who get your file done quick, great! If not, tough.
I know it sounds dramatic, but getting a Permanent Residence is a serious matter for anybody's lives as this would change where and how will they live their lives in Canada forever. Plus, you have to take into account of the fact that some people might not have 6 months to wait, due to emergency travels due to family issues or something, some constitutional laws from their home country (if you're from Korea, Taiwan, Turkey, or elsewhere and you're a dude, then there's an age limit as to how long you can stay overseas before getting dragged into compulsory military service), and other extenuating circumstances. It doesn't really help that the online account system really doesn't tell you much about the stages of the application until AFTER you get your CoPR, which is lord knows when.
The thing is that we can deal with the long wait if we know why; and that's the frustrating part.
We are not given the reason behind why some applicants are getting unfair treatment. We don't know if our profile is complex, or we are missing something, or if some information is made obfuscated, or what. We don't get updates. So we sit here, waiting when our stuff is going to get done, not knowing why some are getting theirs so quickly while we have to wait without an actual timeframe, while the aforementioned circumstances making us anxious because getting that PR might be the only leverage/advantage we have to overcome our impending obstacles.
How do we know if our application really is in progress, or if the agent/office has relegated it to the backlog of other neglected applications after being opened? You say it's
"just a matter of time and priorities," but we all have different level or urgency to our applications, so the matter of time might be a serious issue to some. Also, it almost comes across to me that you are implying that people who got their application processed earlier than others (including you) have higher priority than others while the rest of us aren't... Whose and what standards on which do we determine such arbitrary order? Of course, I'm not saying IRCC has to care for all of our individual plights and situations, because that would just be acting like an entitled person, but this is why the lack of transparency and fairness really rubbing us the wrong way.
"Also, what is up with "let's do something, let's start a petition". Honestly this sounds really funny."
--> With all due respect, what's the alternative then? Just sit and suck our thumbs? Any one of us has the right to voice our discontent with the inefficiency of an arguably broken system.
Blind apathy and acquiescence will not yield change or improvement. If we are just to "suck it up and deal with it," then we'll just stick with the status quo. At least by doing this, especially with the new Immigration Minister in office, we can raise awareness. You can disagree with the agenda of such protests or petition by any means, but I don't see how this is a funny issue when so many people are deprived of having a fair shot at PR when we all paid the same fee, submitted the same documents, and complied with all the requirements thus far.
Also, I checked that Change.org website. The petition is calm and rational, with no vitriols and insults hurled at the government or anything. As long as they are being civil and reasonable with their protests, I'd say what's not to exist? The petition itself also talks about the "transparency" aspect - the REAL part of the problem that is overlooked - of IRCC along with the issue of responsiveness.
"And please do not compare yourself with Afghan refugees. They are not as lucky as you even if you think otherwise. Be compassionate and most of all, patient."
--> This I have nothing to object to because
you're absolutely right. Though I don't see most people in this thread (at least from what I saw) are not directly juxtaposing themselves to Afghan refugees or making any disdainful comments about them and their plight, I agree that we should understand that our situations, while frustrating, should not be projected to people who literally had to abandon their homes because of persecution and war. Thank you for this reminder not to be toxic.
That's all I've got to say. I do see where you're coming from, I really do. I think some people's complaints are getting a bit too vituperative, while some people just spam such low-effort comments like "anyone have updates" that does very little to produce healthy discussion and only further agitate the irritated applicants. That being said, I still believe the reason behind such vehement clamor from many of us is not as simple as "you guys are just whiny and impatient." As far as I can tell, the bungling of IRCC has been a bane for many immigrants predating COVID for sure. There are myriads of issues going on with the IRCC, and I genuinely think our criticisms are warranted.
I and the many users here will try to make sure our discussions remain constructive and insightful rather than just being nasty or childish. Congratu;ations for your PR approval and thanks for always lending us your thoughts! Cheers.