Starnaenae is correct. If your partner was in Canada for a year (consecutively for over 6 months), likely they want the fingerprints. Our situation was kind of unusual. I think because they started our background check (apparently it was the criminality check) in Mississauga, it screwed things up. I thought they would ask for it with our schedule A or at least soon after they opened our file at the VO, however after 2 months, nothing was requested. It was not until I ordered GCMS notes (this was one of the things I wanted to see if they were going to request it) that I saw that it said RCMP fingerprints were requested and the due date was April 1, 2017.
You could wait a little bit longer as they just opened your file in Mexico, however, if you don't hear anything from them, it can't hurt to send it to them along with an email. When they did send the email request, they just asked us to email it to the VO and not upload it through the GCKey account nor IRCC webform. Your partner can get her fingerprints taken and then go through one of those accredited companies. The process might take about a week or so from the time your fingerprints reach the company (they send the prints to the RCMP and the RCMP sends the report back to your address). They give you 120 days to send the report to the VO. Some people say that they don't look at the report until that date. I don't know for sure. If that is the case, the sooner you submit it, the better.
Interesting to hear about your process! I knew some of it, based on what you had mentioned in other conversations but it's very helpful to share stories.. conclusion: there is no normal trajectory haha.
