I think another theory is also that different offices handle different parts of the application. In our case, Vancouver is handling our fingerprints. Notice, the fingerprint request letter says that your application processing remains at your local office. Sounds like they delegate different parts of the application then it all falls back to the main office to bring it all together.
We can only speculate about what’s happening here. If you look at the processing timelines, IRCC increased the lead time from 7 to 8 months right at the start of February. I’m still waiting for my test results, and it seems they haven’t even reviewed my application yet. Even if you call IRCC, I’m not sure how much the agents can actually do. They might just offer kind words and encourage you to stay patient while you wait
For sure, this is all speculation, hence my use of the word “theory”.
