I had been so distressed during waiting so I decided to take a three-week vocation abroad. The long-awaited golden email arrived just a few hours after I hopped on the plane and was only found by me on my return last week. Yes, the PPRRRRRR!!!
I would like to sincerely thank you guys for all the advice and accompany during these 9 months. My complete timeline is as follows:
FSW Outland (No PNP)
VO: Ottawa
AOR: 29 Jan 2016
Eligibility review started and Medical passed: early Feb
Background check in progress: 6 July
CSIS to return the background check result to IRCC: 1 September
PPR: 27 Oct 2016
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Many of you who have been stuck at the background check are curious about whether it helps to contact the CSIS (Canadian Security Intelligence Service) and send their reply to IRCC, I would like to share my experience here.
From my numerous research on various forums relating to Canada immigration, I found that many people (those under the normal 6-month timeline) received PPR right after (a day up to a few weeks) their BC changed to “in progress”, and from their gcms note, this “a day up to a few weeks” is merely waiting in queue for a final review/visa printing queue. I seriously think that we (for the reason of military record, government working background, nationality, and whatsoever) were picked up by IRCC and referred to CSIS to do a DEEPER check. Once you are “picked up”, the application goes to an unpredictable route deviated from the normal track.
I fax my request of my “security check status” to CSIS (followed the instruction here: https://www.csis.gc.ca/scrtscrnng/index-en.php#bm02) and received their reply in two weeks, informing me that my security was already completed and sent back to IRCC.
Then, I sent an email to CPC-CTD-Ottawa@cic.gc.ca with the CSIS reply and politely “questioned” why nothing has been updated on my application even if my background check was completed.
A few days later I received a reply:
"Your application is currently in queue for a review. Unfortunately, we are not able to provide you with a date on which your file will be reviewed. We thank you for your patience and for keeping your correspondence to a minimum."
This email, I believe, gives you information about your “real status” because I have seen many other versions of reply in the same circumstance. If you receive some standard email reply like mine, I believe it is really only the matter of time: for an immigration officer to do a final review; if you got reply as “waiting for the reply from a third party”, “need to do some further verification”, the application may take longer and you may have to resolve other issues.
And a week later I got the PPR. It may be a time coincidence or my “questioning email” did trigger them to have a look at my application. I don’t know. But from my experience, no harm to get your CSIS security check status and know more about your application status. My thinking was, well, if I eventually had to do a “writ of mandamus”, this kind of record would back me up as I have taken every reasonably practicable step to follow up on my application and did my best to avoid any delay from my side.
This is my own speculation. If you have any questions, I am happy to help.
Wish everyone here good luck and psychological wellness in this journey!!!