RECEIVED vs PROCESSING times

[ELOH]

My status used to say We received your application Sept 9, 2011. Now it says they received it September 9, 2011 but PROCESSING BEGAN March 1, 2012.

Does the processing time start from the time they receive the application OR the date they say they started PROCESSING it?

Please tell me I don't have to wait 11 months from March 1 !!! I have been counting the time as of Sept 9, 2011.

Thank you!

 

[smokijoe]

September 9th is when your application was first received by CIC, March 1st 2012 is when the application started to be processed by the VO.
Good luck, your file is being worked on.

 

[ELOH]

Thank you for your reply. I guess what I was wondering is, when does my processing time begin? With the date they received it or the date they began processing it? When can I start the countdown, from Sept 9, or March 1? I have already waited for so long. Are you saying that if it takes 11 months for Buffalo to process applications, my countdown starts with March 1? 11 months from March?

 

[NBaker]

What happens is you mail your application; it is received at the location where you are required to send it. It is stamped with the date received - in your case 9.9.11. It sits there in a box with all the other applications that have been received that day in a storage area along with those received the day before yours etc. etc. The ones ahead of yours are opened and reviewed and finally yours is at the point where it has its turn to be opened and preliminarily reviewed. This happened with yours about 1 Mar 2012.

I see CIC has changed the wording of processing times and charts and the average processing for Buffalo is now 11 months - provided the application is complete - since the only way CIC can tell if the application is complete is by opening and reviewing it then the timeline for yours is after 1 Mar 2012 when it appears to have been decided it is complete (possibly only checked for all blanks filled and signed at that time). The only way to tell if it is complete is if you have followed the instructions for the various application types:

Q 9. What is a complete application package?

It depends on the category you are applying under.

Each category has an application package on this site (link did not attach) with

the forms you need to fill out, and
the instruction guide.

The processing times are averaged over a year so 11 months should be the median; some shorter some longer. Best case scenario then with the dates here would be sooner than Feb 2012 but certainly could be longer.

 

[smokijoe]

The 11 months is an average of 80% completion of applications and the time begins when the application reaches the visa office. Some are finalised in under 11 months and others take longer.
No need to worry about the 11 months at all, just that your application is being processed is great news.

 

[ELOH]

I don't think you understand. We have been together for 3 and a half years. Every day apart seems like a year. I don't know if I can do this any more. I am absolutely beside myself.

 

[NBaker]

I think it's likely many here do understand. The waiting time can be significant and there really is nothing that can be done to speed it up.

If you are in a position to visit each other in either country then that is what is available.

If travel to Canada and the officer at the port of entry sees the application is in process and believes you are a genuine visitor that would leave if the application is rejected then you could be given a visitor record until the decision is made on the application or extend one from in Canada if not decided where one ends, but you could not work while in Canada unless granted a work permit and if you leave would have to seek entry again.

It is unlikely anyone would say it is easy, but it is reality.

 

[ELOH]

Thank you for your support. I am 47 years old. My husband is 46. We live 2000 miles apart. I have had reality. I know it. I know my application was received in canada in september and I know the office there lost it until December. Lost it. They admitted it. And here I am. Not wanting to live limbo anymore.

 

[Jamgirl]

The average wait times start from date received.

 

[ELOH]

Jamgirl, I hope you are right. I so want your answer to be right. Thank you.

 

[NBaker]

Here is the link describing processing times from CIC:

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm-fc.asp


Processing Times: Family Sponsorship for those sponsored from outside Canada:

This information is updated weekly (step 1) and quarterly (step 2) and shows the time it takes to process an application after we receive a complete application package.

There are two steps in processing family sponsorship applications. In order to know the total approximate time it may take for your application to be processed, ADD the time in step 1 to the time in step 2 (the two steps are consecutive).

Last update: February 29, 2012

Step 1 says the sponsorship is reviewed in 55 days - added to the processing time for the country involved - USA average 11 months - this for applications received at 3 Jan 2012

There are no statements at the CIC website that state that the processing time is from receipt of the application. This may have been the case in the past, but the statement now is from the time the application is found to be complete.

 

[ELOH]

I appreciate what you are saying, NBaker, but what about this statement? I'm not trying to be argumentative, just hopeful.

Q 3. What is included in the processing time information?

Processing times are calculated from the date that an application is received until the date that the application is finalized.

 

[ELOH]

Does that mean the time that it was received in the VO or the time that it was received period?

 

[NBaker]

Processing time is from the point when processing begins which is when the application has been found to be complete so from the point it is actually looked at outside the envelope that it was sent in by a person whose job it is to see it is 'complete'. Processing can't be counted where all there is is a sealed envelope, lost or otherwise unfortunately.

No worry about being argumentative and certainly being hopeful is what you want to be especially after delay due to losing the application, but probably best to consider the worse case scenario. Perhaps yours will be one of those completed that are on the shorter end rather than the longer end.

Fingers crossed.

 

[smokijoe]

http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp