This Forum,
Just for discussion I am asking.
(...)
I don't agree with all of it. The speed at which you will be processed depends on so many things, that each case is unique and you can't make assumptions based on what somebody else's process looks or looked like. Although we still compare notes, everyone has their own unique journey. Here's what I think. Keep in mind that none of this is official info, it comes all from my common sense core, lol!
Things that might speed up an application- Applied at a fast foreign VO. This is not in our hands, it is merely a matter of where you are born and which citizenship you hold. Bejing is lucky (5 months for 80%), Nairobi is unlucky (30 months for 80%, imagine that!).
- Sending in a complete package. An incomplete package leads to Mississauga asking you for more info or even returning the entire package so you'll have to complete and resend it
- Paying your fees up front and in full, including the landing fee
- A straightforward application with easy to verify data in it
- Have enough and well-rounded proof of relationship, but not a complete truck full (you know who you are!), because imagine to have to go through a truck full of pictures, love letters and phone bills. Argh!
- Not having to make changes to your data while the application processes. My husband and I would like to move to a different appartment, but we decided to stay put, since an address change might slow things down a bit, and even allow for screwups (like stuff being sent to our old address). And aw well, it's not like we're unhappy here. First things first!
- Lack of a criminal record. A criminal record does not automatically lead to refusal but will complicate things a lot more
- Not having been in the military, not having visited or served in countries like Afghanistan (sorry to all Afghanistanians, no offence meant). They have to do some more background checks if you were in the military or visited countries that might raise red flags.
- The sponsor living in Canada. If the sponsor lives outside Canada, (s)he will need to prove in the application that they intend to live in Canada as soon as the PR comes through. It might take some time to verify that proof.
- Calling CIC when they are obviously and officially past your application date and you haven't heard anything yet. But only when they are really past it.
- Sending additional info if and as soon as they require it.
- LUCK
Things that do not speed up an application- Having a child. Kids are not proof of relationship. And I think that is a good thing, a baby should be born without the burden of serving as "proof". If anything, having a baby might slow stuff down, because it is not a good idea tro get an X-ray for your medical while pregnant (if the pregnant person is the applicant) and you'll have to change your info when the baby is born to make sure CIC knows of your new family situation.
- Calling CIC will not usually help. It might give you some information on what's already happening, but that's all. What happens still happens, whether you call or not. Everybody has to wait their turn, whenever that is. Even worse than calling, is being impolite or complaining a lot to the CIC person you have on the phone.
- Lying on your application. Telling lies is in this case the worst thing you can do.
- Sending incomplete info
- Sending a truck load of relationship evidence. Again, you know who you are! Send enough, but don't go overboard.
- The outland applicant being in Canada. It doesn't matter where you are if you are outland.
- The sponsor having sponsored someone before. They will have to look up info on the last sponsorship and that might take a while
Immigration Forum
