So fam, I received an interesting email today... remember back when I inquired with my MP the first time, and the info I received back was pretty much what I already knew along with my MPs facts of not being able to inquire again within 6 months and it delaying my file? Well at that time I had contacted Minister Kenney's office to ask about said facts and they said they would do an inquiry, this is the email I received...
Dear XXXXX:
This is in reply to your email dated April 23, 2012, addressed to the Minister of Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism, concerning the status of your husband's application for permanent residence.
Please be assured that Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) reviews all applications objectively and consistently to ensure fair and equitable treatment of all applicants. We assess each application on its own merit against the program requirements.
We realize that those who have submitted their applications look forward to a decision being rendered within a reasonable waiting period after applying. We make every effort to deal with the applications we receive in the most efficient and effective way. However, the many steps involved in processing an application, coupled with the volume of applications, sometimes make it difficult to conclude cases in as timely a manner as we would like.
Family reunification is a priority of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC). Accordingly, every effort is made to complete the processing of partner and spousal applications as quickly as possible. However, it is a 2-step process. The sponsor must be assessed against the requirements of sponsorship and the foreign national being sponsored must be assessed against the statutory requirements of being in good health and of good character. In addition, the visa officer must be satisfied that the applicant is admissible to Canada, and, in the case of spouses and partners, that the relationship is genuine and not entered into for immigration purposes only.
Maintaining the integrity of our immigration program is a priority of the Government of Canada. As mentioned above, individuals who want to live permanently in Canada must meet certain requirements which include medical, criminality and security clearances. These requirements exist to protect the interests and safety of Canadians. The onus rests on the applicant to prove that he or she has met the requirements for entry to Canada or that admission would not be contrary to legislative requirements.
CIC conducts background checks by working together with partner agencies such as the Royal Canadian Mounted Police, the Canadian Security Intelligence Service, the Canada Border Services Agency, medical authorities and agencies of foreign governments. Background screening processes are non-discriminatory and universal in their application. Any delays or requirements that our partner agencies may require in providing input are something over which we have no control. In addition, background and medical examination results are usually valid for a 12-month period. Should background or medical clearances expire during the application process, the applicant is required to update their results.
The need for further analysis of some cases by immigration and/or visa officials can also result in further delays. In addition, incomplete applications, failure to provide additional information, complexity of a case, difficulty in communicating with an applicant(s) or accompanying or non-accompanying dependant(s), postal or courier service delays, previous dealings with Canadian immigration officials, inadmissibility issues (criminality, medical condition) can contribute to processing delays. Multiple residences and/or employment, education, business dealings, or military service in different geographical areas, can also significantly delay the background clearance process. In this situation, clearances or verifications of documents must be obtained from different issuing authorities in many jurisdictions. Because of the variables involved, it is often impossible to predict the amount of time it will take to complete an application.
Our records confirm that your sponsorship undertaking was approved and your husband's application was received at the Canadian High Commission in Kingston in October 2011. I can also confirm that visa officers are in receipt of your husband's medical examination results. Please be assured that visa officials will contact your husband should additional information, documentation or a personal interview be required.
Current statistics based on historical processing data indicate that officers in Kingston are finalizing 80% of applications in this category in approximately 16 months from the date of receipt of the completed application. Therefore, it appears that this application is proceeding normally with no unexpected or unwarranted delays.
Further information on processing times can be found at: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp#asia.
I hope that this information is of assistance.
D. Kit
Ministerial Enquiries Division
This electronic address is not available for reply.
At the time, I just followed their instructions, not realizing it would be a seperate inquiry (took long enough lol). The part I find interesting, and maybe someone could clarify (CHarlie?) is that it says Kingston received hubby's app in October 2011, but that is the time I sent it to Mississauga... ??? Maybe that is when they were made aware of the application to therefore assign a file number?? Anyways, just thought I would share as I was surprised to see this in my email folder this morning....
