@legalfalcon is there a way to let IRCC know I am ready to travel? I’m an American citizen in the states. Everything passed, security not initiated-since October. My meds are expiring in 18 days. AOR March 26th 2020
Technically you are exempt from travel restrictions if you are in the US. There is no way to expedite the processing of your application even if everything is passed. There are many applicants who are in the same boat where their security has not been initiated and this is because of office closures. Security is done by CBSA and CSIS and takes an average of 110 days after it is initiated, if you are not in comprehensive screening.
To read on security, how it is done and the security screening manual, see
https://bit.ly/3iE3syj
If your meds are about to expire, they will be sent for reassessment and the health branch will decide whether to extend or ask for remed. This will be done automatically and if remed are required, you will be informed.
Currently only CEC applications are being processed in full swing, all other are experiencing delays.
As per IRCC's annual 2019 annual report it takes 8-9 months for an application to process. And this was pre-COVID
You can send webform or request your GCMS notes to know the details, since your eligibility has started.
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/annual-report-parliament-immigration-2019.html
How long did it take to process an Express Entry application?
Table 35 displays the time, in months, that IRCC took to process 80% of applications under each program. In 2019, IRCC did not meet the processing standard of finalizing 80% of all applications sourced via Express Entry within six months. The processing time for Express Entry, overall, was eight months. As an alternative measure of processing times, 60% of applications finalized in the 12-month period ending on December 31, 2019, were completed within the six-month service standard.
Table 35: Processing Times for Express Entry applications finalized by year and immigration category, in months
Program | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
---|
Canadian Experience Class | 4 | 5 | 7 |
Federal Skilled Worker | 4 | 6 | 9 |
Provincial/Territorial Nominee | 6 | 6 | 9 |
Federal Skilled Trades | 6 | 7 | 12 |
All Programs | 5 | 5 | 8 |
Source: CIC_EDW (MBR) as of January 3, 2020
Data is operational and as such should be considered preliminary and subject to change.
- Processing times refer to the time in which 80% of applications were finalized by IRCC. The processing time is measured from the day a complete application is received until the time a final decision is made by an immigration officer.