NON-ROUTINE APPLICANTS
- Thread starter Cameron2020
- Start date
Although there is no timeline mentioned, under the old rules the processing time for 80% of the applicants was 25 months for the routine and 35 months for non-routine cases (1.5 time the routine cases). Anyways I hope your case can be finalized as soon.
Was it 13 months from the time they received your application or 13 months since you sent them those extra documents?
OK then my case may not be a non-routine since when I contacted them, unlike yours, they never mentioned my case is non-routine.
However, they told my MP: they are currently reviewing the residency requirements. I suppose it means they are checking if I have stayed here for at least 3 years, which I think it is the same thing as the "SECONDARY REVIEW", but this time they do not call it that!
SOME SHORT OBSERVATIONS:
The labels are rather meaningless. Including "routine," "non-routine," "Secondary Review (SR)," and so on.
What really matters is which particular step or request or inquiry or procedure is involved.
If IRCC has questions about the applicant's actual physical presence calculation AFTER the interview, after reviewing passport stamps and such, that will ordinarily entail a review of the applicant's reported travel history compared to the CBSA travel history, and if there are still questions, the applicant will ordinarily be sent either the CIT 0520 (so-called RQ-lite) OR sent the CIT 0171 (full blown RQ). The more significant the questions, the more IRCC is doubtful or suspicious, then the more likely it will be the latter, that is full blown RQ.
THE LONGER DISCUSSION:
Examples: any request to submit additional information or documents; any additional, non-routine inquiries or investigations.
Reminder:
A Call Centre Agent might refer to a particular applicant's case as "non-routine" if the agent notices there was this or that additional step or request or such. But that is merely due to seeing that extra step or request in GCMS and thus DESCRIBING the application as "non-routine" given that extra step or request. While some Call Centre Agents will emphasize an expectation of a longer timeline if there is something which means the application is "non-routine," the reality is that just the fact the application is non-routine illuminates very little about the prospective timeline.
NON-ROUTINE and IRCC REPORTED TIMELINES:
As I have outlined before, what is "non-routine" varies greatly, from a very minor (almost insignificant) non-routine request or step, which ordinarily will NOT delay the timeline much at all, to the more serious non-routine procedures such as full-blown RQ or a referral to a Citizenship Judge for a hearing, which typically will delay the processing timeline by a lot or even a real lot.
Another reminder: the so-called "routine" timeline is at best, at its very very best, a ROUGH ballpark guideline which MIGHT (and only "might," NOT for-sure and not for-sure by a long shot) illuminate approximately how long many routinely processed applications will take.
The additional timeline the "non-routine" application encounters is not because the application can be described as non-routine, but is due to the impact that extra step or request or such has on the application.
For example, a promptly provided proper translation, upon request at or following the interview, should have very little impact on the timeline. IF HOWEVER there are nonetheless lingering questions about the applicant's actual presence calculation, that is something likely to delay processing some . . . how much so will vary greatly, mostly depending on the nature and extent of the questions, and whether they are readily resolved. Moreover, any such step or procedure will often mean the application goes to ANOTHER QUEUE to wait, and the wait for that queue likely varies from one local office to another.
LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF VARIABLES AND VARIABILITY. NATURE OF THE BEAST.
More than a few entirely routine applications have been taking as long and some EVEN LONGER than quite a significant number of non-routine applications. Sure, statistically the non-routine applications take longer, but again the real difference, the big difference, is the particular step or procedure involved. Promptly provided fingerprints often have NO slowing down effect. RQ almost always really slows the process down.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS NOT SO MUCH THE FACT THE APPLICATION IS NON-ROUTINE, BUT RATHER WHAT PRECISELY IS THE NON-ROUTINE STEP OR PROCEDURE.
Comparisons to PR card Secondary Review:
Discussions about so-called "Secondary Review" in PR card renewal applications tend to conflate multiple types of non-routine processing for the PRC. I have addressed this in depth in the PR conference. One major cause of confusion appears to be the correlation between cases raising questions about PR Residency Obligation compliance and SR. There is enough correlation to safely infer that cutting-it-close complying with the RO can be what triggers SR. BUT SR is broader than just calculating RO compliance.
Actually, if the only question is RO compliance, the procedures for conducting the RO determination is separate and distinct from SR. Indeed, there now appears to be a procedure pursuant to which Sydney will request further residency compliance related information to more or less verify RO compliance, and a separate procedure for a local office to conduct more thorough scrutiny of RO compliance (pursuant to which the PR can be called in for an interview and if found not to be in compliance, issued a 44(1) Report for inadmissibility).
In any event, in processing citizenship applications there is no comparable "SR" done in the CPC-Sydney. Once the application has been put "In Process," nearly all routine and non-routine processing are done in the local office. I have not kept track of the names IRCC employs, but some non-routine applications are referred to some kind of hub or centralized processing office which handles certain issues. For example, at times CIC/IRCC has referred most RQ'd applicants to a specific regional center office which processes RQ or Presence-cases for all the local offices in that region (or perhaps for multiple regions).
Otherwise, however, sure, sometimes a citizenship application is subject to additional scrutiny beyond the scope of local office routine processing, which may nonetheless still be done in the local office, or a regional centralized office, or such. And that additional processing, largely involving making additional inquiries and perhaps overt investigations, is probably similar to some of the additional inquires and investigations conducted in a PRC SR process.
Here too, however, what is important is the particular additional scrutiny or investigation conducted. The label is essentially meaningless.
OVERALL REMINDER:
Generally the role of the applicant is not complicated: WAIT and WATCH! Wait and watch for IRCC communications or notices, and respond accordingly.
Most of what an applicant can do to help his or her case, including helping it to proceed more quickly through the process, is making sure all is in order and that IT IS the RIGHT TIME to apply, BEFORE applying, and then making sure, as sure as reasonably possible, the information submitted in the APPLICATION is accurate and complete. Then WAIT and WATCH. And if something more is requested, provide that TIMELY and be as accurate and complete as feasible in the response. Then WAIT and WATCH some more.
The labels are rather meaningless. Including "routine," "non-routine," "Secondary Review (SR)," and so on.
What really matters is which particular step or request or inquiry or procedure is involved.
If IRCC has questions about the applicant's actual physical presence calculation AFTER the interview, after reviewing passport stamps and such, that will ordinarily entail a review of the applicant's reported travel history compared to the CBSA travel history, and if there are still questions, the applicant will ordinarily be sent either the CIT 0520 (so-called RQ-lite) OR sent the CIT 0171 (full blown RQ). The more significant the questions, the more IRCC is doubtful or suspicious, then the more likely it will be the latter, that is full blown RQ.
THE LONGER DISCUSSION:
ANY request or procedure which is NOT routine makes the processing for the application non-routine. BUT THAT DOES NOT MEAN MUCH, NOT MUCH AT ALL!
Examples: any request to submit additional information or documents; any additional, non-routine inquiries or investigations.
Reminder:
So far as I know and can discern, there is NO status designation "routine" or "non-routine." My understanding is that these terms are DESCRIPTIVE, meaning they describe applications which involve some extra step, request, procedure, or inquiries, versus those (the so-called "routine" ones) which do not involve any extra step, request, procedure, or inquiries.
A Call Centre Agent might refer to a particular applicant's case as "non-routine" if the agent notices there was this or that additional step or request or such. But that is merely due to seeing that extra step or request in GCMS and thus DESCRIBING the application as "non-routine" given that extra step or request. While some Call Centre Agents will emphasize an expectation of a longer timeline if there is something which means the application is "non-routine," the reality is that just the fact the application is non-routine illuminates very little about the prospective timeline.
NON-ROUTINE and IRCC REPORTED TIMELINES:
As I have outlined before, what is "non-routine" varies greatly, from a very minor (almost insignificant) non-routine request or step, which ordinarily will NOT delay the timeline much at all, to the more serious non-routine procedures such as full-blown RQ or a referral to a Citizenship Judge for a hearing, which typically will delay the processing timeline by a lot or even a real lot.
Another reminder: the so-called "routine" timeline is at best, at its very very best, a ROUGH ballpark guideline which MIGHT (and only "might," NOT for-sure and not for-sure by a long shot) illuminate approximately how long many routinely processed applications will take.
The additional timeline the "non-routine" application encounters is not because the application can be described as non-routine, but is due to the impact that extra step or request or such has on the application.
For example, a promptly provided proper translation, upon request at or following the interview, should have very little impact on the timeline. IF HOWEVER there are nonetheless lingering questions about the applicant's actual presence calculation, that is something likely to delay processing some . . . how much so will vary greatly, mostly depending on the nature and extent of the questions, and whether they are readily resolved. Moreover, any such step or procedure will often mean the application goes to ANOTHER QUEUE to wait, and the wait for that queue likely varies from one local office to another.
LOTS AND LOTS AND LOTS OF VARIABLES AND VARIABILITY. NATURE OF THE BEAST.
More than a few entirely routine applications have been taking as long and some EVEN LONGER than quite a significant number of non-routine applications. Sure, statistically the non-routine applications take longer, but again the real difference, the big difference, is the particular step or procedure involved. Promptly provided fingerprints often have NO slowing down effect. RQ almost always really slows the process down.
WHAT IS IMPORTANT IS NOT SO MUCH THE FACT THE APPLICATION IS NON-ROUTINE, BUT RATHER WHAT PRECISELY IS THE NON-ROUTINE STEP OR PROCEDURE.
Comparisons to PR card Secondary Review:
Discussions about so-called "Secondary Review" in PR card renewal applications tend to conflate multiple types of non-routine processing for the PRC. I have addressed this in depth in the PR conference. One major cause of confusion appears to be the correlation between cases raising questions about PR Residency Obligation compliance and SR. There is enough correlation to safely infer that cutting-it-close complying with the RO can be what triggers SR. BUT SR is broader than just calculating RO compliance.
Actually, if the only question is RO compliance, the procedures for conducting the RO determination is separate and distinct from SR. Indeed, there now appears to be a procedure pursuant to which Sydney will request further residency compliance related information to more or less verify RO compliance, and a separate procedure for a local office to conduct more thorough scrutiny of RO compliance (pursuant to which the PR can be called in for an interview and if found not to be in compliance, issued a 44(1) Report for inadmissibility).
In any event, in processing citizenship applications there is no comparable "SR" done in the CPC-Sydney. Once the application has been put "In Process," nearly all routine and non-routine processing are done in the local office. I have not kept track of the names IRCC employs, but some non-routine applications are referred to some kind of hub or centralized processing office which handles certain issues. For example, at times CIC/IRCC has referred most RQ'd applicants to a specific regional center office which processes RQ or Presence-cases for all the local offices in that region (or perhaps for multiple regions).
Otherwise, however, sure, sometimes a citizenship application is subject to additional scrutiny beyond the scope of local office routine processing, which may nonetheless still be done in the local office, or a regional centralized office, or such. And that additional processing, largely involving making additional inquiries and perhaps overt investigations, is probably similar to some of the additional inquires and investigations conducted in a PRC SR process.
Here too, however, what is important is the particular additional scrutiny or investigation conducted. The label is essentially meaningless.
OVERALL REMINDER:
Generally the role of the applicant is not complicated: WAIT and WATCH! Wait and watch for IRCC communications or notices, and respond accordingly.
Most of what an applicant can do to help his or her case, including helping it to proceed more quickly through the process, is making sure all is in order and that IT IS the RIGHT TIME to apply, BEFORE applying, and then making sure, as sure as reasonably possible, the information submitted in the APPLICATION is accurate and complete. Then WAIT and WATCH. And if something more is requested, provide that TIMELY and be as accurate and complete as feasible in the response. Then WAIT and WATCH some more.
Waiting is what we have been doing all along. I responded to CIC promptly but still nothing. It has been more than 6 months since they got what they requested for so i dont know if PROMPTLY really worked. Anyway we will continue waiting. That is all we can do.
butetebetlog
Star Member
- Sep 3, 2011
- 3
- Category........
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- App. Filed.......
- July 6, 2011
- AOR Received.
- Sept. 28, 2011
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Got oath invite 3 days after taking the test. Just want to share my timeline again to people who are still waiting. I believe my case is non-routine? I was asked for A LOT of additional docs earlier this year. Documents like travel records to my home country (which was really difficult to get. I had to ask my family over there to get it for me since it's not possible to have it done at the consulate here), us entry exits, fingerprinting, police clearance from my home country(because I totaled 6 months there during the eligibility period), health records from BC and ON, etc. Not sure if it was an RQ or PPQ-QAE. Some peace of mind for now.
Mississauga office
App received: Nov 29, 2017
IP: Feb 7 2017
Additional docs sent by Xpresspost sometime first few days of April 2018.
Test invite: Nov 9, 2018
Test date: Nov 27, 2018
Decision made: Nov. 28, 2018
Oath invite: Nov. 30, 2018
Oath date: December 13, 2018
Mississauga office
App received: Nov 29, 2017
IP: Feb 7 2017
Additional docs sent by Xpresspost sometime first few days of April 2018.
Test invite: Nov 9, 2018
Test date: Nov 27, 2018
Decision made: Nov. 28, 2018
Oath invite: Nov. 30, 2018
Oath date: December 13, 2018
I do NOT know.
Otherwise: See my previous posts. Including the one you quote. The one where I state:
"The labels are rather meaningless. Including "routine," "non-routine . . . "
So far as I have seen the only difference the DESCRIPTIVE label "non-routine" makes is that IRCC will say that the routine timeline does not apply. Meaning the process could take a day longer, or ten days longer or ten weeks, or many months longer. Which, to be frank, is actually the case for an application that IRCC might describe as "routine," as of any given day the process could take a day longer, or ten days longer or ten weeks, or many months longer.
To my understanding applications do not have "routine" or "non-routine" status.
Many routinely processed applications appear to be going pass the one-year plus months mark. Not a surprise given the huge surge in applications a year plus ago. Not a surprise given the extent to which this forum reveals scores of applicants making frivolous requests for copies of their records or otherwise bleeding IRCC resources to handle unnecessary inquiries.
Good luck and hopefully you will see more positive steps being taken soon.
Good day everyone!
I’m new here, can someone give any reaction on the status I received woth my PR application from our MP office?
Will highly appreciate any feedback.
Good morning Ryan,
You are more than welcome for the response – and thank you for your kind words.
The MP desk at Immigration provided the following update:
· The application was received at the Centralized Intake Office, Sydney, NS, on December 28, 2018.
· The initial assessment to ensure your constituent's application is complete, has been finalized.
· The Etobicoke IRCC office is currently reviewing the application and documents submitted to determine if the applicant and their family members (if applicable) meet the eligibility requirements under the class for which they have applied.
o the eligibility requirements assessment was finalized.
· The medical examination results are on file and valid until:
o November 23, 2019 for my wife
o December 2, 2019 for Applicant
o Please note the medical results for my son were referred for further review and assessment on September 10, 2019.
· The criminality verifications have not been initiated for Wife but are in process for Applicant.
· The security verifications have not been initiated.
· Because the application is non-routine, there is no specific processing time to finalize it. Rest assured that all efforts are being made to ensure efficient processing of the application.
It would seem that your file has been deemed “non-routine” by Immigration: What this means is that the standard/average processing times no longer apply. These posted processing times on the CIC website apply to about 80% of the files that Immigration receives: Your file is now in the other 20%. As things stand now, the file will take as long as Immigration feels it should take.
A few things can be taken from the MP desk update: The eligibility criteria has been finalized. The medical exam results for everyone are on file; however, it would seem that Radcliffe’s have been sent for further review (which is probably why the file has now been declared “non-routine”). They have started criminal checks on you, but your wife’s are not started. They have also not started security background checks for either of you – and these are sometimes the checks that can take the longest.
As a suggestion, it would be prudent to send another update request in about two to two and a half months’ time: This would allow Immigration time to work on the file and to update the notes in the computer system. Anything requested before that might yield a similar response to the one above.
If you have any questions or comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to be in touch.
I’m new here, can someone give any reaction on the status I received woth my PR application from our MP office?
Will highly appreciate any feedback.
Good morning Ryan,
You are more than welcome for the response – and thank you for your kind words.
The MP desk at Immigration provided the following update:
· The application was received at the Centralized Intake Office, Sydney, NS, on December 28, 2018.
· The initial assessment to ensure your constituent's application is complete, has been finalized.
· The Etobicoke IRCC office is currently reviewing the application and documents submitted to determine if the applicant and their family members (if applicable) meet the eligibility requirements under the class for which they have applied.
o the eligibility requirements assessment was finalized.
· The medical examination results are on file and valid until:
o November 23, 2019 for my wife
o December 2, 2019 for Applicant
o Please note the medical results for my son were referred for further review and assessment on September 10, 2019.
· The criminality verifications have not been initiated for Wife but are in process for Applicant.
· The security verifications have not been initiated.
· Because the application is non-routine, there is no specific processing time to finalize it. Rest assured that all efforts are being made to ensure efficient processing of the application.
It would seem that your file has been deemed “non-routine” by Immigration: What this means is that the standard/average processing times no longer apply. These posted processing times on the CIC website apply to about 80% of the files that Immigration receives: Your file is now in the other 20%. As things stand now, the file will take as long as Immigration feels it should take.
A few things can be taken from the MP desk update: The eligibility criteria has been finalized. The medical exam results for everyone are on file; however, it would seem that Radcliffe’s have been sent for further review (which is probably why the file has now been declared “non-routine”). They have started criminal checks on you, but your wife’s are not started. They have also not started security background checks for either of you – and these are sometimes the checks that can take the longest.
As a suggestion, it would be prudent to send another update request in about two to two and a half months’ time: This would allow Immigration time to work on the file and to update the notes in the computer system. Anything requested before that might yield a similar response to the one above.
If you have any questions or comments or concerns, please do not hesitate to be in touch.
Hello , I will appreciate your kind assistance.
I send my application on 17th December 2017,
did the test 27 October 2018
Asked for supplemetary document february 2018
Sent documents February 2018
and yet no decision . the last update was on july 2019 saying they need more time (as per the call agent).
My question; Can I as applicant request for hearing so that a decision is taken?
Thanks
I send my application on 17th December 2017,
did the test 27 October 2018
Asked for supplemetary document february 2018
Sent documents February 2018
and yet no decision . the last update was on july 2019 saying they need more time (as per the call agent).
My question; Can I as applicant request for hearing so that a decision is taken?
Thanks
Hello , I will appreciate your kind assistance.
I send my application on 17th December 2017,
did the test 27 October 2018
Asked for supplemetary document february 2018
Sent documents February 2018
and yet no decision . the last update was on july 2019 saying they need more time (as per the call agent).
My question; Can I as applicant request for hearing so that a decision is taken?
Thanks
Hello , I will appreciate your kind assistance.
I send my application on 17th December 2017,
did the test 27 October 2018
Asked for supplemetary document february 2018
Sent documents February 2018
and yet no decision . the last update was on july 2019 saying they need more time (as per the call agent).
My question; Can I as applicant request for hearing so that a decision is taken?
Thanks
Note: the post you quote was made more than a year ago. Older posts can be helpful but things change and can otherwise be dated or in need of updating. I am no expert and am always trying to learn more and understand things better, and am well aware that what I stated a year ago may need some clarification or correction.
One of the things we have learned since that post is that after the surge of new applications in late 2017 and early 2018 there has actually been a significant decline in the number of new applications. Hard to figure out how this has affected processing timelines.
Your timeline is remarkably long. I could only guess at what might be the problem. If the request for supplementary documents was the CIT 0171 form, which is the Residence Questionnaire and sometimes referred to as the full-blown version (in contrast to CIT 0520 often referred to as RQ-lite), your application could be in a lengthy queue waiting for a Citizenship Officer to prepare a referral to a Citizenship Judge.
Some here will recommend making the ATIP request for a copy of your file. Enough time has passed to justify doing that. However, I am not sure you will learn much from what you get.
In any event, YES, you can request that IRCC take action on your application. Whether that will lead to action is difficult to forecast. Such a demand is a prerequisite to pursuing legal recourse (via an application to the Federal Court for Mandamus). It is best to consult with a lawyer first, and if this is the route you go, to have a lawyer make the demand and otherwise prepare to make a Mandamus case.
BUT what you should do depends in significant part on what the issues are. You know your case, your facts, so you should have a fair idea why there are questions.