Review of Eligibility - processing time

[JeanineC]

Good day all,

I am new to the forum. I have applied for Permanent Residency under the Express Entry Program. We are from South Africa.

My full application was submitted on 3 March 2016 and fees were paid on the same day. Within a few days the status on Medical changed to Passed, and Review of Eligibility was in progress. The review of Eligibility is still "in progress" and other items are still "not started" or "not required at this time". How long does it generally take or should I be getting worried?

Also, I can not use the online tool to check the status of my application - (I can only see the summary of my application and messages in my CIC Account). Is this right?

Feeling nervous and impatient

Thanks for any feedback - advice / assistance most welcome!!

Jeanine

 

[ellia]

The review of eligibility will stay in progress til the very end, even after you get your PPR. It will only be 'completed' once they stamp your passport. Background check might take some time to begin. I'd say, get ready for 3-4 months (from AOR) of nothing moving at all, unless you'll be one of the few lucky guys who are processed fast.

If by 'online tool' you mean ECAS, it is not working for EE applicants, your only way of checking your progress is your MyCIC account or ordering GCMS notes.

Good luck!


Edit: right, sorry, you said your AOR was March 3. Then, I guess, we can safely say you'll have the standard length of the process. So about a month more (maybe month and a half) of silence, and then things will start to move.

 

[JeanineC]

Thank you for the reply. Was beginning feel nervous and forgotten

Getting no updates makes it feel that nothing is happening.

Do you know how long after submitting all documents they generally decline/reject an application if they are going to do so?

Really REALLY want to move before the new school year starts on 7 September!

Also, is everyone requested to pay fees upfront?

(Lots of questions...just don't know anyone who has done this before!)

 

[cjs]

Thank you for the reply. Was beginning feel nervous and forgotten

Getting no updates makes it feel that nothing is happening.

Do you know how long after submitting all documents they generally decline/reject an application if they are going to do so?
Rejection can be anytime from 1st day of AOR to last day of application approval. but chances of application being refused are in initial days. I ll say stay positive on this front. Else lot of thinking ll keep going in mind.

Really REALLY want to move before the new school year starts on 7 September!
Being March AOR. you can expect PPR after mid july. you can move before September then

Also, is everyone requested to pay fees upfront?
Processing fee is paid upfront, RPRF Fee can be paid later.

(Lots of questions...just don't know anyone who has done this before!)

 

[ellia]

Don't worry, we all have a lot of questions, that's what this forum is for
Well, not to disappoint you, but - it probably does mean that nothing is happening) My application was absolutely stagnant the first four months after AOR, and from what I've read, that's the case for most applicants.
They try to keep whithin the stated 6 months goal for processing, that means that they only start working on your application actively when you approach the 5-6 months mark. Before that, they work on the previous months' applications.

I'd say, the probability of refusal declines with time. The first major test to pass is the R10, or the completeness check. It usually happens within the first month. If you haven't been rejected then, you're probably okay. The next thing that usually leads to refusal is problems with calculating and/or proving work experience. It is checked during the eligibility review, but you can't know when the ER is over since the myCIC profile doesn't really reflect changes in ER. You can know for sure if you order GCMS notes.
I have to say, late refusals do happen, unfortunately, even at the end of the 6th month. But those are the exceptions, I believe.

The application fee has to be paid upfront, the RPRF fee you can pay upfront or later, when they request it.

It might be a good idea to follow your AOR month's thread, if you're not doing that already. People there will have timelines similar to yours, and you'll know when PPR rains start, and will be able to keep track of things in general. Here it is: http://www.canadavisa.com/canada-immigration-discussion-board/aor-in-march-2016-good-luck-all-t400931.0.html

 

[JeanineC]

How do I order GCMS notes? (Bearing in mind I am not in Canada...yet ;D)

 

[cjs]

How do I order GCMS notes? (Bearing in mind I am not in Canada...yet ;D)

You can order from gcmsnow.com or http://www.visafile.info/choose-your-option/