I think I have an answer to this one. I have applied GCMS notes for myself quite a few times when I applied my PR application under the Quebec Skilled worker class. This time I am sponsoring my wife so I am repeating the same process yet again. Ok so back to the main point, Our files have to pass 4 different categories, namely the medical, security, criminality and eligibility. I am sure most of the people are already aware about it. Medicals are checked first since the medical reports are being sent at the same time as the application. Then comes the eligibility, where they check the genuineness of a marriage. Once they are fully convinced, they pass the eligibility category as well after which our online status goes In Process. So basically, the applications have passed only the medical and eligibility. The files are now undergoing the security/criminality checks and the time duration for that depends on case to case for example, number of countries visited, any crimes committed blaah blaah..and these checks are done in a group. Several applications have been assigned in an group so all those applications follow each other at the same time. Some time they give these files to an agency who does the background checks. So once, we pass the security/criminality, application files will be forwarded to the final decision making officers and we'll get a status update as decision made (on e-cas) once they approve the files.
Hope this make sense...
Cheers.