Update on our online applications sent on July 20th. NO UPDATES: We have sent the web form 3 times, they put a note on our application to make it "High Priority", this was 1 month ago. I have been calling the CIC every week and they say there's nothing to do but to wait, that our applications are in Edmonton office and they have no way to know what's happening over there, they can only put notes and check the status, but nothing else.
Although we are still under implied status, our SIN numbers remain expired, and we cannot leave the country. Business trips and conferences need to be canceled, we can't make plans to go visit our families who live overseas, and with an expired SIN number the banks and insurance companies can bring us trouble. Life can't move forward for too long with an implied status and they don't understand this.
My theory is that our type of application is in the lowest priority right now because of the benefit of the implied status is not as big as an application for refugees or permanent resident cards.
The CIC has been extremely insensitive with this matter and it's not our fault they don't have enough manpower to process the applications. Holidays are coming and I suspect a lot of applications will remain on hold until next year because the offices will be closed.
Maybe this won't help much but you can refer to their own Service Standards page at
https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/mandate/service-declaration/service-standards/study-permit-canada.html
"RCC’s goal is to process applications submitted in Canada for a study permit submitted in Canada within 4 months. This includes new permits and extensions. "
