Additional documents request - ADR:
-Did you answer yes to all the questions before you proceed?
-Did you get an ADR?
If you answered yes but got an ADR, you either made a mistake or should have answered NO. This is already a sign that you are prone to have your application taking longer. ADRs are either sent because your documentation was incomplete, or because you were not careful enough and made a mistake.
Got and ADR?
Do what they request as soon as possible. If your application is honest, I don't see any reason why additional documents should take too long. Therefore,
send it in less than 30 days or you will raise flags. That will severely delay your application. Even if you are too busy to do it, work overtime, don't sleep, drink more coffee or red bull. Use the web form. Link your application to your myCIC profile (leave the city your were born blank, some required fields with asterisks are not actually required). Then check if they received.
CIC will always send a receipt of additional documentation and if you went ahead and did or got an ADR, there will be a message in your profile page. If you did not get the message, they did not get it, upload it again, better safe than sorry.
Each ADR will delay your application in about 2 months.
Change in personal information or update to sent documents:
-Had a new baby?
-Changed address?
-Change jobs?
-Traveled abroad?
-Married or divorced?
-Got a new phone number?
-Got a new degree?*
That means the documents you sent need to be updated. If you didn't know that, go back a few steps, read about it above, but I will link this again.
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=021&top=4
That part that says "
tell us of
any changes to the personal information on your application, such as changes to your" means that you have to tell them of any change. Any. And that you have to click on the link, Anyway:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/helpcentre/answer.asp?qnum=43&top=4
If you live in Canada and went to the US for a black Friday border crossing shopping spree, even for 24 hours, don't you new stamps in your passport? And didn't you have to send pictures of all the pages or list all the countries you visited and lived in, with the date of the stamps? Well, then you have a new stamp and that means a new Schedule A must be uploaded.
Use the web form.
Don't wait for them to ask for additional documents. at the moment you step in your new house, update your driver's license address immediately and tell CIC.
Upload your new docs asap, because if the agent sees the original documents and the updated documents, he/she will not send an ADR and
you will save about 2 months!
Now, some cases will really delay your application. We'll talk about it in the mistakes, but if you go to Canada, tell them your spouse is not coming with you, but after you got the PR, you want to sponsor him/her to come from your previous country, after staying 4 years apart, and you can't prove you dated before, that will raise flags. Likewise, if your application is in process, you then add a spouse, maybe because you two weren't married before, the application took too long that you got married in between, well, that will raise flags, but sending proof of marriage is not a problem, after all, who doesn't have a signed document, pictures of the marriage, of, because marriage parties are super expensive, even or pictures of you two together, drinking a coke together, don't hesitate to send it along with a plethora of proof that will not leave a shadow of doubt.
Read these article about marriage and judgment issues:
https://ottawacitizen.com/opinion/columnists/ashby-proof-of-love-is-not-as-simple-as-immigration-officials-would-have-it
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/5634913-liars-or-in-love-detecting-marriage-fraud-in-canada-called-racist-and-offensive-/
https://www.odt.co.nz/news/dunedin/facing-deportation-after-officials-question-marriage
*If the application takes about 2 years to be processed and your 17 yo son finished high school, I don't believe you have to tell them because they can figure it out, but I don't see a reason not to.
Change in nomination conditions
This one is complex, so I will not talk about it too much. It goes on a case by case basis.
In summary, legally, if the conditions of your nomination change, you lost your nomination. You should contact your province AND CIC (yes, both) immediately. Some factors will apply, such as your economical success, trying to find a new job or getting it in the same NOC or similar as fast as possible if your nomination was based on employment and locked to the employer. It may also weigh in your favor is how long it took to process your application. It is natural to look for new positions, to try to go up in life, or even to be bothered by your boss, creating a difficult relationship, and then you have to quit. This is NORMAL! And they know that, in 2 years, you may have a fight with your boss.
What is not normal is not telling CIC and the province. You have to. If you are really needed by the province, they will continue to support your nomination and issue a new certificate.
Bear in mind that
CANADA NEEDS SKILLED AND WELL INTENTIONED IMMIGRANTS. THEY NEED YOU. What they don't need is people tied to immigration fraudulent schemes, fake employment offers, shady stuff. Nobody likes liars.
Do your part and CIC will do theirs. Just try to make their jobs easy.
