Security Screening duration update

[am1978]

Greetings folks!

I came across this alarming post on LinkedIn by immigration lawyer Steven Meurrens and thought it might be beneficial to share. LinkedIn Link.

Basically, a comprehensive security check by IRCC & respective agencies for permanent residence applications will take 64 months at current inventory levels.

 

[Naturgrl]

Greetings folks!

I came across this alarming post on LinkedIn by immigration lawyer Steven Meurrens and thought it might be beneficial to share. LinkedIn Link.

Basically, a comprehensive security check by IRCC & respective agencies for permanent residence applications will take 64 months at current inventory levels.

You have misread so read the whole article. It says "security screening referred to a partner agency" not IRCC. Of course if sent to a partner agency it is going to take a long time and always has as depends on your citizenship and where you have lived. Nothing has changed. For example, it can take years for a Chinese citizen to have security cleared. Why? Because CSIS has to conduct an investigation as well as wait for security, background and immigration information from the Chinese government. This can take years.

If from Europe, UK or Australia, IRCC will probably not send it to a partner agency. So take out IRCC from your discussion.

 

[tripko]

Im on security check for long time, its nightmare for me, currently has pass 26 months on SS and end of February will be 3 years since I did submit my aplication.
I can't not move with my life or to change a job for example, I stuck with my job, even I lose it i can just pack my bags and go back. I have feeling that I'm just wasting my time.

 

[am1978]

You have misread so read the whole article. It says "security screening referred to a partner agency" not IRCC. Of course if sent to a partner agency it is going to take a long time and always has as depends on your citizenship and where you have lived. Nothing has changed. For example, it can take years for a Chinese citizen to have security cleared. Why? Because CSIS has to conduct an investigation as well as wait for security, background and immigration information from the Chinese government. This can take years.

If from Europe, UK or Australia, IRCC will probably not send it to a partner agency. So take out IRCC from your discussion.

Appreciate the feedback.

I did not misread the article. Yes, I understood the delegated security screening combined is resulting in those 64 months estimate. And this is why in the my original post I used the words, "respective agencies".

But, please, lets be honest, as applicants, at the end of the day, we are hoping for relief from IRCC alone because that is were our application files / virtual folders / PDF's are stuck.

Hope that makes sense.

 

[Naturgrl]

Appreciate the feedback.

I did not misread the article. Yes, I understood the delegated security screening combined is resulting in those 64 months estimate. And this is why in the my original post I used the words, "respective agencies".

But, please, lets be honest, as applicants, at the end of the day, we are hoping for relief from IRCC alone because that is were our application files / virtual folders / PDF's are stuck.

Hope that makes sense.

Still misunderstanding the post. Take out IRCC as it is not an IRCC issue if security, background and immigration checks go out to other agencies. Once it does this has really nothing to do with IRCC. IRCC has to wait for the information from the agencies. IRCC cannot move a file along without that information. From a security and safety issue then those respective agencies can take as long as they want. A file should not be moved along if another foreign government is not submitting the requesting information.

So argue with the foreign governments where you have lived and have citizenship to demand they move on your files. That is why it is stuck.

 

[am1978]

Still misunderstanding the post. Take out IRCC as it is not an IRCC issue if security, background and immigration checks go out to other agencies. Once it does this has really nothing to do with IRCC. IRCC has to wait for the information from the agencies. IRCC cannot move a file along without that information. From a security and safety issue then those respective agencies can take as long as they want. A file should not be moved along if another foreign government is not submitting the requesting information.

So argue with the foreign governments where you have lived and have citizenship to demand they move on your files. That is why it is stuck.

You missed the part where the "foreign government" is unknown when SS is stuck and travel history is more than 1 country. Plus, there is really no proper channel to coordinate and resolve any outstanding questions through.

So, yes, okay, not IRCC's fault, but there is no recourse through IRCC to resolve SS concerns with. There is really NOTHING to do but wait.

And that is entirely where the frustration is :-(

 

[armoured]

You have misread so read the whole article. It says "security screening referred to a partner agency" not IRCC. Of course if sent to a partner agency it is going to take a long time and always has as depends on your citizenship and where you have lived. Nothing has changed. For example, it can take years for a Chinese citizen to have security cleared. Why? Because CSIS has to conduct an investigation as well as wait for security, background and immigration information from the Chinese government. This can take years.

If from Europe, UK or Australia, IRCC will probably not send it to a partner agency. So take out IRCC from your discussion.

For IRCC 'partner agency' I think generally refers to CSIS, possibly RCMP for criminality, CBSA conceivably for some issues, but this is mostly about domestic Canadian services. They do not directly 'farm out' to foreign agencies. Each of those may in turn have info-sharing and ways to get info from their sister-agencies abroad and international (eg Interpol) - in some of these cases (close partners and allies) extremely close coop and info-sharing.

To what extent they request and 'wait for' info from non-allies is going to depend on circumstances, but I seriously doubt that they often send general requests and just wait. Esp for 'security.' For some countries like this there is/was reasonable cooperation for some things (plain old criminality eg getting and confirming criminal records) and specific areas of joint interest (eg terrorism in other parts of the world, thematic possibly like money laundering / smuggling / weapons). But they also know there is a LOT of information they cannot share (where it could imperil anyone in Canada) or ask about.

So yes, it can be very hard for them to get reliable info from abroad, particularly in/regarding some countries. But delays not likely because they're waiting for responses from those, shall we say, 'less friendly' foreign services.

[I may have misunderstood exactly what you're suggesting but my own attempt at muddying the waters anyway]

 

[chineseatmoosejaw]

As a Chinese entrepreneur at Moose Jaw SK,I established buiness at 2022 and applied PR at June 2023.I brought my family and settled down here.Meanwhile we have been suffering from waiting the result of security check for PR for 24 months! The prolonged delay is causing considerable uncertainty and difficulty for my family!I was thinking 24 months to 30 months might be the maximum waiting time,now....another 40 months to wait?!!!Totally depressed!What a Canadian system!

 

[tripko]

Currently for me is 26 months at security check, in ten days will be 27 months. End of February will be three years since I did submit my application.
Suffering and waiting is huge, now there are some indications of layoff in next six month0s, there is possibility that I will get layoff after five years of working in the same company but not only rest of the team as well. If came to that I can just pack my bags and return home.
This is the most worst period in my life, waiting and not knowing timeline.

 

[chineseatmoosejaw]

Currently for me is 26 months at security check, in ten days will be 27 months. End of February will be three years since I did submit my application.
Suffering and waiting is huge, now there are some indications of layoff in next six month0s, there is possibility that I will get layoff after five years of working in the same company but not only rest of the team as well. If came to that I can just pack my bags and return home.
This is the most worst period in my life, waiting and not knowing timeline.

On the same sinking boat What can I say?Packing and return is also a final result?For me,I wish I could either get the PR or get the result for packing and retuning!Waiting for uncertainty is the worst!

 

[tripko]

On the same sinking boat What can I say?Packing and return is also a final result?For me,I wish I could either get the PR or get the result for packing and retuning!Waiting for uncertainty is the worst!

Correct same sinking boat. I would rather like to get PR or not. Or just give me open work permit whit out restriction and out time limit or until they finished they process for PR so I can plan my life and see if all of this is worthwhile. I saw so many families are returning home after decade of working here, they sell their home and go back or just go to another country.

 

[chineseatmoosejaw]

Correct same sinking boat. I would rather like to get PR or not. Or just give me open work permit whit out restriction and out time limit or until they finished they process for PR so I can plan my life and see if all of this is worthwhile. I saw so many families are returning home after decade of working here, they sell their home and go back or just go to another country.

Hugs bro!

Whatever result they give to us we will be happy!Life is short,hopefully we could wait the result before we get retired!Sometimes I am thinking moving back or to another country might not be a worse decision!Without PR we are stucked here doing your job or mine business,for sure we do not have any opportunities for a better life!Sometimes we might be yelled at,insulted,and treated unfairly by our colleagues or managers or whoever around,even though our life has to be continued like this!We have no choice for now and we have to work for the limited incoimg to deal with the inflation and left nothing in our bare pocket at the end of the week!So,that is why we feel whatever result we just want it coming soon!

You know what,last year 2025 I was always drinking and smoking alot at each single night because of uncertainty of my life!Recently 2026 I even quit smoking which I had been addicted to for more than 20 years,and at the same time,I am working out to lose body fat to 15%!People around me say oh!you are sreiously impressive.Quitting smoking while working on fat loss takes real discipline!Only me myself deeply understand that doing those is my only redemption and way out of depression!I am kinda crazy!

However,I know it is really hard to keep waiting,but sometimes that is all we can do.Hang in there!We have already come this far--do not lose heart now!