I want to share my time line until now still waiting if approve or not.
In my case, I sponsored my 2 kids 16 and 19 y/o at the time. They received their application for permanent residence on February 2012. Decision made on May 2012 about the application. Completed all the requirements even the medical. Passport request on July 2012 and sent the passport August 2012 until Last week of JANUARY 2013 I DIDN'T hear anything what is the status. so, I made an Inquiry 4th week of January 2013. I check my eCAS and found,
We started processing application on February 21, 2013.
2nd week of March 2013 I received an email regarding additional requirements (update family information) to get another NBI and to do the MEDICAL again and done on the 25 March 2013 and the guard on duty received the additional requirements on the same day.
So far, my children are waiting. I even sacrifice not to enroll my youngest for the trimester (summer) because I assume they will receive their passport last april. THEY TOOK THEIR PASSPORT 08 AUGUST 2012. about to 9 months hold the passport.