INLAND AUGUST 2018 APPLICANTS - JOIN HERE

[cindyestteacher]

Congrats on the marriage! Hope everything went smoothly!

They definitely need to know about any changes to your status, including your marital status, so good on you for being proactive about that! Just a heads up though (you may not like this), because CIC warns about this and from what I've heard about on a few other apps, changing your martial status while your application is being processed could delay your application a bit.

I wrote on my initial application that we planned to marry in May of 2019. I thought that was just confirm that we did what we said we were going to do. Oh Lordy!!!!!

 

[Jayd10]

I wrote on my initial application that we planned to marry in May of 2019. I thought that was just confirm that we did what we said we were going to do. Oh Lordy!!!!!

Then perhaps you'll be just fine

 

[singhharneet]

I am! You’re not alone there

We're waiting too. No update on BGC (we'll let you know when your BG check begins). SA since March 07.

It's been a long wait.

 

[hhcc14]

Guys, if your file was delayed or is still being delayed by Montreal, please email Ahmed.Hussen@parl.gc.ca as well as your MP. Let's also email CBC (torontotips@cbc.ca). Just include some general information about your case (timeline, time of transfer, etc.), although news organizations treat information as confidential anyways.

For other CBC locations:
https://cbchelp.cbc.ca/hc/en-us/art...I-request-news-coverage-or-submit-a-news-tip-

 

[Gloriousgirl]

Hi fellow August applicants,
Just reading through previous comments about people still waiting for their bgc to start and those yet to receive DM. I wanted to say I am thinking of you all and I understand the agony of this wait. If it's any help, given what I have read and my own process, I do believe that they start our bgc way before they are updated. For instance, my bgc started May 17 and on same day, I was asked for a UK police cert. I submitted the PC on May 23 and once I submitted the PC, I received AIP and DM in a matter of days afterwards. I doubt that security clearance and all other bgc could take only a few days, this makes me believe that our bgc started way earlier, perhaps at about the time it updated to "Your application is in progress." The agents may just not update. Going by August trends where most people received AIP/DM and same day or a few days after "we are processing your bgc" I want to think that by the time this update comes on, our bgc has actually been concluded and only waiting for agent to finalize application. When bgc is ordered, appears that results do come in and wait on until an agent reviews them and until those results are reviewed, the agent/officers don't update gcms notes or gckey. @Npops for instance, also in Calgary, received DM same day bgc showed "we are processing" on gckey. I think files with long wait times between bgc and DM, at least for our August group, may just have a busy officer who has not had time to revisit the file. I know CIC has no set procedures for processing stuff and we can only make guesses, but I doubt that at this point, multiple August files would have bgc not somehow started in the background. In my case, my file was transferred from Winnipeg very early, right after SA March 8 to Calgary (March 15) and it took Calgary office until May to even open and begin processing. Once they did in may, everything happened within weeks. It is my guess that time of transfer may partly be responsible for the long wait times for some. Winnipeg office transferred files very early but looks like Montreal held on to files and only transferred later in April and May. I just want those waiting to know that perhaps bgc has in fact been concluded for the most part and only awaiting officer review. When you check your application status on cic voice prompt, it says "the review of your background check has not begun." This makes me think what they actually mean is that no one has started reviewing bgc that may have already being ordered and it's in queue for an officer to review. A few ladies on the watsapp group had schedule A and travel history requests and about 6 days later received AIP/DM from Vancouver. There is no way bgc took 5 days if these files were not already completed and just awaiting review. These are just my thoughts and I hope this comforts in any little way possible, those who are still waiting for updates. I wish you all speedy processing.

 

[luckyrabbit13]

I still haven’t gotten my GCMS notes and it’s been over 31 days. I’ve never done it before, so I wasn’t sure if I made any sort of ordering mistake. I sent an email to enquire, with my tracking number. Got an automated response right away saying “Due to exceptional circumstances, we are currently experiencing difficulty meeting our service standards. Please accept our apologies for the delay, and rest assured that we are taking steps to address the situation.”

That “update” message about “current” delays is dated May 31 2017 so I think I’ll still be waiting a while lol

 

[cindyestteacher]

Hi fellow August applicants,
Just reading through previous comments about people still waiting for their bgc to start and those yet to receive DM. I wanted to say I am thinking of you all and I understand the agony of this wait. If it's any help, given what I have read and my own process, I do believe that they start our bgc way before they are updated. For instance, my bgc started May 17 and on same day, I was asked for a UK police cert. I submitted the PC on May 23 and once I submitted the PC, I received AIP and DM in a matter of days afterwards. I doubt that security clearance and all other bgc could take only a few days, this makes me believe that our bgc started way earlier, perhaps at about the time it updated to "Your application is in progress." The agents may just not update. Going by August trends where most people received AIP/DM and same day or a few days after "we are processing your bgc" I want to think that by the time this update comes on, our bgc has actually been concluded and only waiting for agent to finalize application. When bgc is ordered, appears that results do come in and wait on until an agent reviews them and until those results are reviewed, the agent/officers don't update gcms notes or gckey. @Npops for instance, also in Calgary, received DM same day bgc showed "we are processing" on gckey. I think files with long wait times between bgc and DM, at least for our August group, may just have a busy officer who has not had time to revisit the file. I know CIC has no set procedures for processing stuff and we can only make guesses, but I doubt that at this point, multiple August files would have bgc not somehow started in the background. In my case, my file was transferred from Winnipeg very early, right after SA March 8 to Calgary (March 15) and it took Calgary office until May to even open and begin processing. Once they did in may, everything happened within weeks. It is my guess that time of transfer may partly be responsible for the long wait times for some. Winnipeg office transferred files very early but looks like Montreal held on to files and only transferred later in April and May. I just want those waiting to know that perhaps bgc has in fact been concluded for the most part and only awaiting officer review. When you check your application status on cic voice prompt, it says "the review of your background check has not begun." This makes me think what they actually mean is that no one has started reviewing bgc that may have already being ordered and it's in queue for an officer to review. A few ladies on the watsapp group had schedule A and travel history requests and about 6 days later received AIP/DM from Vancouver. There is no way bgc took 5 days if these files were not already completed and just awaiting review. These are just my thoughts and I hope this comforts in any little way possible, those who are still waiting for updates. I wish you all speedy processing.

THANK YOU for this. I had actually wondered the same thing..maybe they just haven't updated but have SURELY started the process by now. Mine said that they started processing the application on Feb 21st and I got my SA on April 4. Thank you, again, for your comments..that does help somewhat .

 

[jojo2969]

THANK YOU for this. I had actually wondered the same thing..maybe they just haven't updated but have SURELY started the process by now. Mine said that they started processing the application on Feb 21st and I got my SA on April 4. Thank you, again, for your comments..that does help somewhat .

To give you an idea, this is my timeline:

PR Timeline - inland spouse sponsorship:

Delivered 1st time: June 4, 2018

Returned for a missing signature: July 27, 2018

Delivered 2nd time: August 1, 2018

Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR): August 28, 2018

Medical Request: October 30, 2018

Medical exam done: November 7, 2018

Medical passed: November 15, 2018

Started working on Application (ECAS): February 21, 2019

DM Sponsor / Sponsor Approval letter (SA): March 11, 2019 from Montreal Hub Office

Background check (BGC) started: May 16, 2019

Approval in Principle (AIP): May 17, 2019 from Hamilton ON Office (letter dated April 26, 2019 but received on May 17, 2019)

It’s really all over the place, most people got DM right after AIP and/or landing interview directly etc... I think it really depends who is handling your file and how much work they have.

Picture the line at the airport when entering the country.... some officers are nice and quick, others are slow and grumpy... I don’t think it is any different in office lol.

But if they are watching this forum, please know that I think you are doing an amazing job and look forward to have my application finalized )

 

[cindyestteacher]

To give you an idea, this is my timeline:

PR Timeline - inland spouse sponsorship:

Delivered 1st time: June 4, 2018

Returned for a missing signature: July 27, 2018

Delivered 2nd time: August 1, 2018

Acknowledgment of Receipt (AOR): August 28, 2018

Medical Request: October 30, 2018

Medical exam done: November 7, 2018

Medical passed: November 15, 2018

Started working on Application (ECAS): February 21, 2019

DM Sponsor / Sponsor Approval letter (SA): March 11, 2019 from Montreal Hub Office

Background check (BGC) started: May 16, 2019

Approval in Principle (AIP): May 17, 2019 from Hamilton ON Office (letter dated April 26, 2019 but received on May 17, 2019)

It’s really all over the place, most people got DM right after AIP and/or landing interview directly etc... I think it really depends who is handling your file and how much work they have.

Picture the line at the airport when entering the country.... some officers are nice and quick, others are slow and grumpy... I don’t think it is any different in office lol.

But if they are watching this forum, please know that I think you are doing an amazing job and look forward to have my application finalized )

I can't imagine the workload they have. When I call (and it's not often) but when I do, I always try to tell the agent that I appreciate their time. Good luck to us all!

 

[Immigration_guru]

I still haven’t gotten my GCMS notes and it’s been over 31 days. I’ve never done it before, so I wasn’t sure if I made any sort of ordering mistake. I sent an email to enquire, with my tracking number. Got an automated response right away saying “Due to exceptional circumstances, we are currently experiencing difficulty meeting our service standards. Please accept our apologies for the delay, and rest assured that we are taking steps to address the situation.”

That “update” message about “current” delays is dated May 31 2017 so I think I’ll still be waiting a while lol

You will hear back from IRCC. It is generally taking 30-35 days to get the notes.

 

[jojo2969]

I can't imagine the workload they have. When I call (and it's not often) but when I do, I always try to tell the agent that I appreciate their time. Good luck to us all!

I just called again to follow up and the agent said that my application looks very good and just waiting for final decision which should be soon, “however, the agent can wait until August 1 (12 month) to send the final decision” in her own words lol

 

[missjang]

I was able to speak to an agent and this agent was asking when was the last time I called CIC call center lol (which was last week) and he seemed to interrogate me, asking what did I ask last time and stuff never been asked things like that, guess I was unlucky with an agent

 

[luckyrabbit13]

I was able to speak to an agent and this agent was asking when was the last time I called CIC call center lol (which was last week) and he seemed to interrogate me, asking what did I ask last time and stuff never been asked things like that, guess I was unlucky with an agent

Maybe they are trying to evaluate why people call so frequently to improve the process and give out better (or at least standardized) info and reduce the demand a little? Although I assumed they logged calls and kept track of when agents opened each file, so perhaps not...

 

[cduanra]

I was able to speak to an agent and this agent was asking when was the last time I called CIC call center lol (which was last week) and he seemed to interrogate me, asking what did I ask last time and stuff never been asked things like that, guess I was unlucky with an agent

Actually everything is registered on your file when there's an activity, a consultation or communications between offices or with the applicant. I noticed that when I received my GCMS notes.

 

[jojo2969]

Actually everything is registered on your file when there's an activity, a consultation or communications between offices or with the applicant. I noticed that when I received my GCMS notes.

I hope it doesn’t register every time I check ECAS or GCKEY because they would have likely least 10 entries on each per day lol