Cloee,
Based on how you describe your friends' case - it already looks like CIC has become more used to handling RQs and knows when to move things ahead when it reviews docs sent as part of RQ.
I think they will get even more efficient with the whole thing and processes when they increase processing fee and improve their steps further. The people who were first hit by all the RQs etc were confused and maybe most impacted - but I am also very sure the CIC officers doing all the reviewing themselves were just as confused and also had their plates full with backlogs and job cuts.
It looks like maybe the water is slowly finding its level - and the period of real chaos and confusion was for those who applied in 2011 and 2012 when major changes and too many things were happening at around same time - more RQs being given, diff versions of forms, Bulk cancellng of Old applications for those who applied before Feb 2008 etc.
Based on how you describe your friends' case - it already looks like CIC has become more used to handling RQs and knows when to move things ahead when it reviews docs sent as part of RQ.
I think they will get even more efficient with the whole thing and processes when they increase processing fee and improve their steps further. The people who were first hit by all the RQs etc were confused and maybe most impacted - but I am also very sure the CIC officers doing all the reviewing themselves were just as confused and also had their plates full with backlogs and job cuts.
It looks like maybe the water is slowly finding its level - and the period of real chaos and confusion was for those who applied in 2011 and 2012 when major changes and too many things were happening at around same time - more RQs being given, diff versions of forms, Bulk cancellng of Old applications for those who applied before Feb 2008 etc.