I concur in many of the observations by
cyt0plas but do not suggest relinquishing PR status just because one is not satisfied with processing time lines. And indeed, it is clear that the government has failed to provide timely service for many and often.
Some secondary review is probably due to random quality control checks. But the majority of those bogged down tend to be PRs with extensive absences or other circumstances in which the government perceives issues. The fact that the PR affected does not recognize what issue there is in his or her particular case does not mean there is no reason for the additional scrutiny. Odds are there is a reason. Those who understand this tend to better respond and figure out how to navigate the system.
To be clear: a better understanding of the system, and how it works, tends to help one better navigate the system. Notwithstanding the pervasive denigrating of IRCC as if it fails to function at all, and despite its being an enormous bureaucracy with a client base disproportionately huge given Canada's population, it does work most of the time for the vast majority of its clients. When it doesn't work, and yes there are too many instances when it does not work well, most PRs will find some approaches work better than others in their effort to get things on track.
Contrary to some of the noise, the latter is actually the more important role discussions here have.
teko said:
We are not discussing here what is the immigration system and how it works.
To the contrary, many of the posts in this topic specifically ask questions about what is happening, why it is happening, and what recourse is there. That is a large part of what this forum, and this topic in particular, is about: navigating the way forward given this or that
bump in the road.
And indeed, my post was in large part triggered by multiple recent queries about what to do when the PR card is expired, the replacement card application is bogged down in secondary review, and one has a pressing need to travel abroad. And, in particular, what happens if one requests urgent processing in this situation.
Sure, many here complain. Some venting is good. But more than a few only complain, and do so persistently, a constant background hum. Some, in particular, are intentionally offensive and overtly disruptive. "Robots" repeatedly posting the same old tirades for example. That is, there is a lot of noise. That's typical of online forum discussions.
As for how to deal with the expired card, stuck in secondary review, and faced with a pressing need to travel dilemma, as I previously posted:
In any event: Those PRs with a PR card replacement application in secondary review can nonetheless travel abroad without restriction (none imposed by Canada), and so long as they can prove admissibility (including compliance with the PR RO),
they will able to obtain a PR TD for their return flight to Canada.
Yes, they can request urgent processing. Such requests may indeed result in accelerating the time line. Generally, though, it appears the odds of this are not good, so most PRs in this situation really need to figure out whether they have the requisite proof of compliance with the PR Residency Obligation, and can otherwise be prepared to obtain a PR TD for the return flight to Canada, or the better choice for them to make is to not travel until they obtain a new PR card.
But the choice is the PR's. That is, Canada does not restrict a PR's capacity to travel abroad.
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In any event, no I am not employed in and never have worked in any capacity related to immigration anywhere.
I let my PR card expire while my application for citizenship was still in process. I became a Canadian citizen two years ago.
But I have studied and closely followed certain aspects of preserving PR status and becoming a citizen for many years, and I continue to do so. I try to offer what I hope is some positive information of aid to legitimate PRs trying to navigate their way through a difficult patch on the immigrant's path.
For what it's worth.
