Email response from CIC - how long?

[CS100]

Hello,

I am currently in the process of being sponsored by my Canadian common-law husband for immigration under the Family Sponsorship Class. We live in Vietnam, but I am American. Our application was received in June, and in August CIC requested by email a Statutory Declaration for Common Law Marriage and two police certificates. On October 11th I emailed the scanned copy of the Statutory Declaration, on October 14th I emailed a request for more time on one of the police certificates, and shortly after I mailed the other police certificate to the CPC office in Ottawa, which was acknowledged as being received through the tracking number. Since then, I haven't received any response from CIC.

It's been over 40 business days since I sent the first email, but the website says responses should generally be within 20 business days. Is it appropriate to email again asking for an update? Would they provide updated information if we called? If I do email, will that be another 20 business day wait? When I check the application status online, it just says that the application and medical records have been received.

We don't want to bother or annoy CIC, but we also don't want to wait if there's something that we've done wrong of if there is something we could be doing right now.

Any advice or insights would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

 

[handsup]

Do not worry, it is an expected silence of CIC for few weeks/months depends upon your VO and processing time. Online status update is also dependent upon your visa officer(s) that how quick or lazy he is to update online statuses.

 

[rhcohen2014]

It's been over 40 business days since I sent the first email, but the website says responses should generally be within 20 business days. Is it appropriate to email again asking for an update? Would they provide updated information if we called? If I do email, will that be another 20 business day wait? When I check the application status online, it just says that the application and medical records have been received.

generally, Ottawa doesn't respond to emails, so it doesn't mean anything is *wrong*. since you did ask for an extension, you may want to send a "case specific inquiry" to make sure they acknowledge your request and they don't close out your file once the due date passes. If you have already ordered the record, then send proof. Generally, you can do this from the CIC website. If the due date passes, and you still have not heard anything, then next step would be to contact the sponsor's Member of Parliament and ask them to inquire on your behalf.

 

[CS100]

Thank you for the advice - this is really helpful. I didn't know about making an online Case Specific Enquiry, and my common-law husband has connections to his MP, whom we can also contact.

Thanks again! The help is very appreciated.