Thanks for your helpful information. I am guessing that right now priority is being given to applicants already resident in Canada as no (or minimal?) background checks are required and at least something is then moving forward. We are applicants from June 6th and have passed medicals, supplied PCC and the sponsor (our son) has been approved; so we are at the background check stage which started back in mid-March and just awaiting approval for ourselves. I am aware that this could not be continued whilst agents were working from home (our visa office is CPC-Missisauga) owing to data protection but wonder if you know whether they have now returned to the office, or when they are likely to resume working from there. Many thanks again for your help.