How long will it take to process your application?
The departmental processing standard for Family Class applications is 12 months.
Processing time is calculated from the date the application for sponsorship was submitted in Canada at the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia, not the date it was received in London.
The processing of applications starts in order of received date but once the file is in process, how long it will take to finalize the application depends on the complexity of the file. This explains why files are not finalized in the same order they were received. While we endeavour to process all files within the departmental processing standard, complex applications may require more than 12 months.
The IRCC Office in London is a large office responsible for 17 countries in three different regions (the British Isles and Nordic Countries, the Gulf, and Pakistan and Afghanistan). Due to the volume of applications we receive it may be a few months before we start active processing of your application.
Applications where the only applicants are minor children are processed in priority. They are usually finalized within 6 months from the received date unless they present complex issues or involve adoption or orphans. In these cases additional verifications may be required and will take longer to complete.
If you have not received any further communication from this office within 9 months of the received date of your application, please contact us for an update.
What are the steps in the review of your application?
The first step took place at the Case Processing Centre in Sydney, Nova Scotia where a review was conducted to assess whether your sponsor was eligible to sponsor you and met the requirements for sponsorship. We will now assess whether you, the applicant, meet the relevant requirements to be granted a permanent resident visa.
Your application will first go through a pre-assessment done by Case Analysts. Case Analysts do not make decisions. They will go over the facts of your application and deepen the understanding of your circumstances before your file is assigned to an officer for processing. You may receive a request for additional evidence.
Once your application is assigned to an officer, the first step will be for the officer to review whether you meet the requirements for the Family Class category you applied under. This is called: Eligibility.
Once eligibility is completed, the officer will review your admissibility to Canada. Providing there are no concerns, the decision on your admissibility may closely follow the decision on your eligibility. However, complex medical conditions, criminal records or security concerns can significantly extend the processing time of your application. Certain reviews or verifications are conducted by partner agencies and these verifications will most likely extend the processing time of your application.
Once these reviews are completed, your application should be ready for final decision.
How and when will you hear back from us?
Once the eligibility is successfully passed, you will receive an eligibility letter informing you of the positive eligibility decision and providing information to help you prepare for immigration. Please keep in mind that this letter simply means that you are eligible, not that your application will be approved.
Admissibility is reviewed shortly after eligibility is successfully passed. You should expect to hear back from us within 60 days following the receipt of the eligibility letter.
If there are concerns with your eligibility or your admissibility, or if further evidence is required, you will receive a request letter or you may be requested to attend an interview. Certain reviews or verifications may extend the processing of your application beyond 12 months.
What happens if you require an interview?
Depending on your place of residence, your interview may take place in London, Stockholm, Abu Dhabi or Islamabad. It is usually not possible for your interview to take place in other locations. Where serious circumstances prevent you from travelling to one of these locations, exceptional arrangements may be possible or we may need to transfer your application to another office. In either case, this will delay processing so you should endeavour to attend your interview at the assigned location.
Around one month prior to your interview, you will receive a letter of convocation. In addition to the time and date of your interview, the letter will provide you with instructions on attending the interview and will list any additional documents that you are required to bring with you. The processing time of your application may be impacted by the timing of officer travel to your region.
How can you help us process your application?
Inform us without delay:
- of any change in your contact details;
- of a change in your country of residence;
- of the birth of a child – unless the child has a claim to Canadian citizenship, the newborn child will need to be added to your application and be examined;
- of any change in your marital status or the marital status of your dependents;
- if you or your dependents are issued a new passport – make sure to provide us with copies of the bio-data page of the new passport;
- if you are unable to complete the medical examinations due to your pregnancy;
- if you will not be able to comply with a request we made within the deadline provided – explain why you cannot comply within the deadline and when you expect to be able to comply;
- if you wish to withdraw your application or add or cancel an authorized representative.
Further considerations:
- if your destination in Canada is in the province of Quebec, ensure your sponsor has applied for a Certificat de sélection du Québec for you and the dependents included in your application;
- if your sponsor has not yet paid the Right of Permanent Residence fees, consult our website to find out how to pay online:http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/fees/pay.asp;
- create a MyCIC account and link your application to your account. You will receive any correspondence from us directly in your account and documents uploaded in your account are available for review much faster. To create a MyCIC account, please visit our website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/e-services/account.asp.
Our contact address is:
LDNIMMIGRATION@international.gc.ca
When sending evidence, send it only once, preferably online or by email unless we specifically requested originals. Do not send additional documents or evidence we have not requested as this pulls away resources from processing. However, do gather and keep any additional evidence to have it ready if we need it.
In anticipation of our next communication with you, take a look at what awaits you in Canada and learn more about Canada at
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/newcomers/live/index.asp.
You are an important client for our office and we appreciate your patience and cooperation.
Sincerely,
The Family Reunification Unit, IRCC London
