I am exactly in the same shoe. Every time I submit application status update request via IRCC Web Form, the response is it's in process. Earlier this week I have requested for notes. It took 17 months to complete my PR application. So, I wonder, they are going through the same route again. This is an example of how inefficient an organization could be.
I think someone else already pointed this out to you.
If it took 17 months for your PR application, then we can only assume that there was additional scrutiny there. (Or this might have been a 'forgotten application' too, which I think happens a LOT but since both your PR AND citizenship applications are getting delayed, I think additional scrutiny scenario is more likely than its 'forgotten application' counterpart).
Yes, there is a chance that they are "inefficient" but let's assume they are not and look at the other side of the coin, shall we?
Your application can take time if the background checks show some kind of a name / DOB match to any of the criminal databases (RCMP, CSIS, probably FBI and Interpol as well). This doesn't mean you are a criminal (and I don't mean to say that either) => This just means that they want to scrutinize your application further to make sure that all the red flags raised are cleared before they proceed further with your application.
As a general consensus, this happens when the person has a common name. This can also happen based on the countries you've visited in the past, country you are from, sometimes jobs held in the past.
Background checks are done to ensure the safety of everyone living in Canada. They just want to be sure that everyone who says who they are on the application are actually who they are. For some people, this happens faster because they do not have a very common name or their name/DOB doesn't bring up any flags in the criminal databases. They might not have long travel histories or they might not have visited certain countries in the past.
I get that you are frustrated and I can definitely sympathize with you but you need to put in effort into understanding why there are long delays in your specific case. Yes, there have been delays for everyone lately but I wouldn't call them inefficient right off the bat. There are some processes that could definitely be improved but they'll get there.
When you receive your GCMS notes - check what is being done on the application (Anything related to security / BG checks will be redacted from IRCC GCMS notes). However, you could, may be, find something in the officer's notes or something on the notes that gives you some small detail on where your application is.
I wish your application is processed soon! All the best!
