Kelvin , New Horison , GK , Imrann
I am applying from the Pacific Islands and My processing office is Sydney
In my case , since i got my AOR in Feb 07 i have been able to check my status. It has always said In process even though nothing was happening. Thus my conclusion that once you get an AOR you get loaded into the system. I do not believe it means that your case is being looked at. You wait for as long as the others at your center do.
I presume that the AOR you get varies from center to center and in my case stated the approx time frame and a disclaimer that it may change depending on the situation with CIC and i should keep checking the CIC link for processing times to get a more realistic idea of the time frame. The letter also stated the documents i should be prepared to produce when they eventually ask for it.
In my case , i was shocked to see how long my app would take. i didn't realise it took so long for a Canadian PR. Now i learn i am one of the luckier ones , as there are those from India who have to wait up for 5 years or more.
i would check the website from month to month hoping to see a change but nothing did. The address listed on the website did not include the name of the country. I was certainly concerned that it "may" be incorrect/incomplete without the country name. However , i eventually received my RFD in September ( 20 months later ) and the address did include the country name. So i assume the Country name is a hidden field which we the applicants do not see.
Imrann , what does your AOR letter say. It should say that you have applied in Federal Skill Worker Class. Along with the letter are included standard handouts which i presume is sent to every applicant irrespective of which category you apply in. You just concentrate on whatever is applicable to your case. i think they do it to save on time as so many people apply everyday and they are swamped.
With respect to where you should apply ie Australia or Canada etc that is entirely up to you. My thoughts are that you need to decide where you would be most comfortable to live in Can vs Aus. Then if you really want to move there , you will endure the time it takes. Irrespective of which country you want to immigrate to , it will not happen in a matter of months.
With all fairness to the canadians the lengthy time it takes to process a single application seems to be a testament of the hundreds of thousands of us who are all trying to go there.
cheers
