Upfront: timelines for processing PR card applications now depend on the triage of complexity --
-- low (or no) complexity qualifying for automated approval; very fast
-- complex (or medium complex as labelled in pilot projects), to be processed routinely; no concrete information about current processing times but likely around two months or more
-- high complex, referred for non-routine process; anecdotal reports indicate timelines ranging from three months to a year
Is it advisable to file urgent application when the processing time is already down to 12 days?
I am looking forward to hear from the experts or if someone had a similar experience.
I am NOT an expert. I have not had any personal experience applying for a PR card (let mine expire while waiting to take the oath for citizenship), let alone a similar experience.
I can confidently say, nonetheless, that it is readily apparent the fastest processing of a PR card application is now for those applications which are not "
complex," whatever the label, and are approved through the automated decision-making procedure.
We do not know what makes an application "
complex" or even "
high complex," which are applications that will not benefit from automated decision making.
Most complex applications are likely to be routinely processed, while high complex applications will be subject to non-routine processing.
We do not know whether a request for urgent processing will itself preclude automated decision making, and thus result in a processing timeline longer than the current timeline for applications approved through the automated process. Note, in particular, that IRCC may expedite processing (grant the request for urgent processing) but if that involves processing by an officer, rather than the machines (of late it appears that IRCC is using the term "
digital" for a lot of its processing), it will take longer than applications approved by automated decision making . . . not so long as routinely processed applications (those not qualifying for automated decision making), and probably no where near so long as applications subject to non-routine processing.
Meanwhile, so far as the anecdotal reporting has indicated, it appears that IRCC does not commonly expedite PR card applications.
Bottom-line: an online application meeting the criteria for automated decision making will most likely be approved almost immediately, no need to request urgent processing. The problem is knowing whether or not your application will processed and approved via the automated procedure. As I posted here more than a year ago:
. . . many online PR card applications meeting the criteria for electronic processing and triaged (electronically) as low complexity are getting approval almost immediately upon submission . . .
. . . since it is clear that many online applications are getting virtually immediate approval, for those PRs who clearly are eligible to be issued a new PR card and who do not have any potentially complex issues, perhaps the basic online application (not marked urgent) is the best approach to obtaining a new PR card as fast as possible . . . recognizing, however, this is dependent on there being an issue-free application, a totally issue-free application.
Meanwhile IRCC information about processing times is dismally vague. While "
most" must mean at least one more than half, that could be 50.01 percent or 99 percent, or anywhere in-between, and what IRCC considers a "
complete" application for this purpose is not all that clear. Obviously a far larger number of PR card applications are qualifying for and being approved by automated decision-making today than a year ago, as reflected in the big difference in IRCC's posted processing times more than a year ago (more than two months, approaching three or more months much of the time) compared to now (just 11 days as of today). But in the meantime IRCC has changed how it reports processing times, and its explanations for this are less than transparent.
SO . . .
Is it advisable to file urgent application when the processing time is already down to 12 days?
A background on current situation: My first card expired in March 2024. I have just completed 735 days. My employer is outside Canada wants me to come back by the end of May and has already sent letter of invitation for filing work visa application.
Now, should I file an urgent application by attaching the letter of invitation, an air ticket with a letter of explanation. I have heard two opinions about this:
1) Do not raise a flag by filing urgent application as this might lead to additional scruitny considering that I did not complete 2 years within the validity of first PR card.
2) Now that you have met RO, there is nothing stopping you to file an urgent application. All that IRCC needs is compliance with RO.
Given how uncommon it is for IRCC to expedite PR card application processing, generally, in conjunction with a request for urgent processing based on needing the PR card to facilitate employment outside Canada, which hardly seems to be a reason for which IRCC is likely to expedite processing, the odds are probably against urgent processing, poor enough to not rely on an expedited timeline.
Best bet for fastest processing time is probably an online application that has no issues and meets the criteria (a low or no complex application) for automated decision making.
Cannot say, or guess even, whether your application will be approved by machine, or deemed complex and put in the queue for routine processing by an IRCC official . . . or, for that matter, deemed high complex and referred for non-routine processing.
There have been anecdotal reports indicating automated approval for some PRs who made their PR card applications applying with little or practically no margin above meeting the Residency Obligation (meeting the RO based on days physically present in Canada). So, just
cutting-it-close does not appear to be a factor that would preclude qualifying for automated processing. That said, such anecdotal reports generally lack sufficient detail to identify other factors that might influence the triage assessment (low, medium, or high complex, whatever the particular labels IRCC is employing).
Of course the extent to which you are
currently settled permanently in Canada, or not, is likely a big factor. Current employment and employment history probably carries significant weight in this regard.
I do not mean to be discouraging or pessimistic, or to be forecasting how this will go for you (I very much do not know), but frankly you probably should be prepared (in case it happens, given the risk it could happen) for not just the longer processing time involved in routine processing (for applications not getting automated approval), but potentially the significantly longer timeline for applications tangled in non-routine processing. It may be your online application gets automated approval, no problem, PR card in the mail headed your way within two to three weeks. But depending on a lot of other details in your situation (including nature and extent of continuing long term ties outside Canada compared to established ties in Canada), you may need to do without getting a new PR card for a couple or even many months.
