ECAS Updates - CPC Ottawa - In Process

[AJ3000]

Hi all,

I am sponsoring my common-law american wife for PR, outland through Ottawa-CPC.

Good news! After no updates forever, the ECAS finally updated to "We started processing your application on February 23, 2015." Woot!

ECAS now reads:

We received your application for permanent residence on June 16, 2014.

We started processing your application on February 23, 2015.

Medical results have been received.

Questions:

1) 15 months for Ottawa CPC - this refers to the June date, correct? So we are half-way. It's not from Feb 23rd (hope not).
2) In Process/We started processing your application on February 23, 2015: Does this mean that they are moving onto security checks, etc and that they have received all the documents they need? The reason we ask is my partner was requested to supply a police clearance from a poor African nation she had volunteered in for 6.5 months many years ago. This proved impossible to secure. We asked for waiver. Would this indicate they waived the request? Or could the CIC officer now just be looking at this waiver request?
3) Spousal Visa - Sponsorship, Outland, from the USA I am seeing timelines after the "In Process" update ranging from a a few weeks to months? What's the standard? I can't find the June Outland spreadsheet so a link to that would be great.

Thank for all your help, let me know if I missed any information you may need.

 

[KarlR]

Well,I always heard that when it changes to "in process" it usually means your application is pretty much done...although I think it can still take a few weeks to get your COPR..

Not entirely sure,check the ottawa spreadsheet to get a better idea.

Goodluck!

 

[canuck_in_uk]

1) 15 months for Ottawa CPC - this refers to the June date, correct? So we are half-way. It's not from Feb 23rd (hope not).
2) In Process/We started processing your application on February 23, 2015: Does this mean that they are moving onto security checks, etc and that they have received all the documents they need? The reason we ask is my partner was requested to supply a police clearance from a poor African nation she had volunteered in for 6.5 months many years ago. This proved impossible to secure. We asked for waiver. Would this indicate they waived the request? Or could the CIC officer now just be looking at this waiver request?
3) Spousal Visa - Sponsorship, Outland, from the USA I am seeing timelines after the "In Process" update ranging from a a few weeks to months? What's the standard? I can't find the June Outland spreadsheet so a link to that would be great.

Hi

1. The processing time started when Ottawa received your app from Mississauga after sponsor approval. The processing times are NOT averages; they are how long it took to process 80% of apps. I believe the Ottawa average is around 7 months.

2. In Process doesn't really mean much in terms of what is actually happening with your app. Your app has most likely been in process for awhile but the VO never bothered to update ECAS. No one here can say what has actually been done on the app at this point.

3. There is no standard for In Process because it comes down to when the individual VO decides to update the system. Some VOs update it early and it shows for months, while some VOs update it quite late and a few days later it's DM. A few don't even bother to update it, such as my partner's, and the applicant goes straight from Application Received to Decision Made without ever seeing In Process.


If you really want to know what's going on, you should order GCMS notes. They take about 30 days to arrive and will give you detailed information about what has been done on your app and when.

 

[AJ3000]

Thanks, asking for the GCMC notes tomorrow.

@ KarlR, I found the spreadsheet and you're right, it seems to come quick. A few days in some cases. Seems impossible to imagine it could happen that quickly now after waiting patiently (well not so patiently, already emailed and had the MP inquire on our behalf), but as Canuck_in_uk said, it seems to be up to the whim of the VO.

The 80% stat sure is a strange way to display the information, though it does make sense on some level.

Thanks! Good luck with your own journeys.

 

[rhcohen2014]

generally, how it worked for ottawa last year was that "in process" pretty much meant your application is approved and your visa is being created. "Decision Made" generally meant the COPR was mailed out. Since Ottawa seems to be off track processing wise, it is unknown if IP and DM will mean the same thing. Before, in process would happen after any passport or RPRF request was received by the office, and DM would happen within 1-2 weeks of that, with the COPR received in the mail within another 2 weeks. Again, it's hard to say if ottawa will stay within this timeline, or if it will change based on the lack of processing lately. There seem to be some people stuck in IP for 1-2 months because of the slowdown at ottawa.

If the ECAS status changed to IP, the applicant is visa exempt, it is unlikely their passport would change (ie: name, validity date), and they submitted the RPRF upfront, there is a good chance that they will not hear from CIC at all and will just see their status change to DM and receive the COPR in the mail within 2 weeks-ish.

Based on what I'm seeing on the Ottawa spreadsheet, if Ottawa stays "true" to last year's processing, it is likely we will start to see an increase in processing mid-late march. again, it's hard to say for sure, because with CIC, it's really just a mystery!

 

[KarlR]

Thanks, asking for the GCMC notes tomorrow.

@ KarlR, I found the spreadsheet and you're right, it seems to come quick. A few days in some cases. Seems impossible to imagine it could happen that quickly now after waiting patiently (well not so patiently, already emailed and had the MP inquire on our behalf), but as Canuck_in_uk said, it seems to be up to the whim of the VO.

The 80% stat sure is a strange way to display the information, though it does make sense on some level.

Thanks! Good luck with your own journeys.

No problem,hope your COPR isn't too much longer!
If you don't mind,could you let us know here or on the Ottawa thread when you do get decision made?a lot of us have been waiting since xmas to see any movement from Ottawa..plus my application was recieved the week after yours!so hopefully their starting to approve applications again!

Thanks!

 

[jamsham12]

generally, how it worked for ottawa last year was that "in process" pretty much meant your application is approved and your visa is being created. "Decision Made" generally meant the COPR was mailed out. Since Ottawa seems to be off track processing wise, it is unknown if IP and DM will mean the same thing. Before, in process would happen after any passport or RPRF request was received by the office, and DM would happen within 1-2 weeks of that, with the COPR received in the mail within another 2 weeks. Again, it's hard to say if ottawa will stay within this timeline, or if it will change based on the lack of processing lately. There seem to be some people stuck in IP for 1-2 months because of the slowdown at ottawa.

If the ECAS status changed to IP, the applicant is visa exempt, it is unlikely their passport would change (ie: name, validity date), and they submitted the RPRF upfront, there is a good chance that they will not hear from CIC at all and will just see their status change to DM and receive the COPR in the mail within 2 weeks-ish.

Based on what I'm seeing on the Ottawa spreadsheet, if Ottawa stays "true" to last year's processing, it is likely we will start to see an increase in processing mid-late march. again, it's hard to say for sure, because with CIC, it's really just a mystery!

what is the time frame right now for Ottawa? are they currently working on august applicants or are they still working through the july applicants?

 

[rhcohen2014]

what is the time frame right now for Ottawa? are they currently working on august applicants or are they still working through the july applicants?

there has been very little movement in ottawa since before the holidays, so it seems approvals for june/july applicants are still trickling in. i think there might also be an august applicant who received dm as well.

 

[jamsham12]

there has been very little movement in ottawa since before the holidays, so it seems approvals for june/july applicants are still trickling in. i think there might also be an august applicant who received dm as well.

hopefully it picks up. thanks for the info rcohen