Can dependent applicant in one on-going CEC application apply as a primary applicant in a separate CEC application?

[gamzoog]

Hi @legalfalcon

Since it seems this topic was not previously explicitly asked, I would like to see if you could provide some insights here.

We currently have an on-going CEC application and it is progressing very slowly as we were in the 2020 Q1 batch that was affected by COVID directly.

In that application I'm the primary applicant and my spouse is dependent applicant.

However, since a year has gone by and my spouse now is also eligible to apply through CEC on her own as a primary applicant. I'm curious if this is possible that we could have two simultaneous CEC applications at the same time, where in one my spouse will be the primary applicant and in the other I'm the primary applicant, and we will be both "dependent applicant" in each other's application. Do you think there is any regulation or policy that does not allow that? Or do we have to withdraw one before submitting another, even though the primary applicants would not be the same in these two applications?

Thanks a lot!!

 

[legalfalcon]

Hi @legalfalcon

Since it seems this topic was not previously explicitly asked, I would like to see if you could provide some insights here.

We currently have an on-going CEC application and it is progressing very slowly as we were in the 2020 Q1 batch that was affected by COVID directly.

In that application I'm the primary applicant and my spouse is dependent applicant.

However, since a year has gone by and my spouse now is also eligible to apply through CEC on her own as a primary applicant. I'm curious if this is possible that we could have two simultaneous CEC applications at the same time, where in one my spouse will be the primary applicant and in the other I'm the primary applicant, and we will be both "dependent applicant" in each other's application. Do you think there is any regulation or policy that does not allow that? Or do we have to withdraw one before submitting another, even though the primary applicants would not be the same in these two applications?

Thanks a lot!!

YEs, you can have two applications. They will not be two, since you will have them under different names, wherein you are the PA and in another one your spouse.

The only regulation that applies is to avoid duplicity of work. If an applicant filed two applications, one will be put on hold until the first one is processed or withdrawn.

Filing another application will mean more money, time and resources, and may not necessarily get you a faster decision.

Also, if you are inland, you are already in Canada, most likely have a job here, and you can apply for a BOWP or SWOP if needed.

 

[gamzoog]

YEs, you can have two applications. They will not be two, since you will have them under different names, wherein you are the PA and in another one your spouse.

The only regulation that applies is to avoid duplicity of work. If an applicant filed two applications, one will be put on hold until the first one is processed or withdrawn.

Filing another application will mean more money, time and resources, and may not necessarily get you a faster decision.

Also, if you are inland, you are already in Canada, most likely have a job here, and you can apply for a BOWP or SWOP if needed.

Thank you very much @legalfalcon !

Just to clarify, does this mean that in the second CEC application (where my spouse will be the primary, and I'll be the spouse dependent), IRCC will simply put it onhold even if we submitted it and received AOR? Will they even process this application to certain point?

Our concern is that the 1st application is for some reason dramatically delayed like a lot of us who submitted in Q1 2020 due to COVID. So we are submitting a new application (but with a separate primary applicant) in hope that this won't be delayed as much.

Could it be possible that they process these two applications in parallel and in case one is approved then the other is withdrawn only at that time?

Thanks

 

[legalfalcon]

Thank you very much @legalfalcon !

Just to clarify, does this mean that in the second CEC application (where my spouse will be the primary, and I'll be the spouse dependent), IRCC will simply put it onhold even if we submitted it and received AOR? Will they even process this application to certain point?

Our concern is that the 1st application is for some reason dramatically delayed like a lot of us who submitted in Q1 2020 due to COVID. So we are submitting a new application (but with a separate primary applicant) in hope that this won't be delayed as much.

Could it be possible that they process these two applications in parallel and in case one is approved then the other is withdrawn only at that time?

Thanks

No, since the application pertains to different individuals, it will process, but may keep on hold one, which is at the discretion of IRCC.

What you are claiming as dramatic, is not that dramatic. The average processing time for an application pre-cOVID was 8-9 months for FSW and 7-8 months for CEC. Due to COVID, there will be processing delays and there is nothing much you can do.

If you want to file another application, you can, but you will just be wasting another $2000 and it does not guarantee that it will be processed sooner. Also, if you are CEC and in Canada, what difference does it make if you get a PR now or 5 months from now. You already have a WP, can renew it and what ever time you spend in Canada can be counted towards your citizenship residency requirement.

How long did it take to process an Express Entry application?
Table 35 displays the time, in months, that IRCC took to process 80% of applications under each program. In 2019, IRCC did not meet the processing standard of finalizing 80% of all applications sourced via Express Entry within six months. The processing time for Express Entry, overall, was eight months. As an alternative measure of processing times, 60% of applications finalized in the 12-month period ending on December 31, 2019, were completed within the six-month service standard.

Table 35: Processing Times for Express Entry applications finalized by year and immigration category, in months

Program	2017	2018	2019
Canadian Experience Class	4	5	7
Federal Skilled Worker	4	6	9
Provincial/Territorial Nominee	6	6	9
Federal Skilled Trades	6	7	12
All Programs	5	5	8

Source: CIC_EDW (MBR) as of January 3, 2020
Data is operational and as such should be considered preliminary and subject to change.

• Processing times refer to the time in which 80% of applications were finalized by IRCC. The processing time is measured from the day a complete application is received until the time a final decision is made by an immigration officer.

 

[gamzoog]

No, since the application pertains to different individuals, it will process, but may keep on hold one, which is at the discretion of IRCC.

What you are claiming as dramatic, is not that dramatic. The average processing time for an application pre-cOVID was 8-9 months for FSW and 7-8 months for CEC. Due to COVID, there will be processing delays and there is nothing much you can do.

If you want to file another application, you can, but you will just be wasting another $2000 and it does not guarantee that it will be processed sooner. Also, if you are CEC and in Canada, what difference does it make if you get a PR now or 5 months from now. You already have a WP, can renew it and what ever time you spend in Canada can be counted towards your citizenship residency requirement.

How long did it take to process an Express Entry application?
Table 35 displays the time, in months, that IRCC took to process 80% of applications under each program. In 2019, IRCC did not meet the processing standard of finalizing 80% of all applications sourced via Express Entry within six months. The processing time for Express Entry, overall, was eight months. As an alternative measure of processing times, 60% of applications finalized in the 12-month period ending on December 31, 2019, were completed within the six-month service standard.

Table 35: Processing Times for Express Entry applications finalized by year and immigration category, in months

Program	2017	2018	2019
Canadian Experience Class	4	5	7
Federal Skilled Worker	4	6	9
Provincial/Territorial Nominee	6	6	9
Federal Skilled Trades	6	7	12
All Programs	5	5	8

Source: CIC_EDW (MBR) as of January 3, 2020
Data is operational and as such should be considered preliminary and subject to change.

• Processing times refer to the time in which 80% of applications were finalized by IRCC. The processing time is measured from the day a complete application is received until the time a final decision is made by an immigration officer.

Thank you for your valuable input and I appreciate it.

You made a great point that IRCC is delayed by COVID. However there are cases that were submitted much later (say AOR in August, Sept, or Nov 2020) which are getting CoPR whereas we have seen Q1 2020 applicants still waiting. I don't know how to make of this? We have checked that we are not in security screening but, like many others, were simply put on hold or something as no one is touching them since COVID originally hit.

There are many theories to explain this but it "appears" IRCC is preferentially processing recent applications. If IRCC is delayed, shouldn't it affect everyone? The fact that IRCC is processing more recent applicants while the earlier applicants were waiting does not seem to fit in the logic though. What do you think? Your response will be appreciated!
Thanks!

 

[legalfalcon]

Thank you for your valuable input and I appreciate it.

You made a great point that IRCC is delayed by COVID. However there are cases that were submitted much later (say AOR in August, Sept, or Nov 2020) which are getting CoPR whereas we have seen Q1 2020 applicants still waiting. I don't know how to make of this? We have checked that we are not in security screening but, like many others, were simply put on hold or something as no one is touching them since COVID originally hit.

There are many theories to explain this but it "appears" IRCC is preferentially processing recent applications. If IRCC is delayed, shouldn't it affect everyone? The fact that IRCC is processing more recent applicants while the earlier applicants were waiting does not seem to fit in the logic though. What do you think? Your response will be appreciated!
Thanks!

I will not get into the debate what IRCC should be doing or if they are giving any preferential treatment to recent applications. Because there is no data on it yet. When IRCC publishes the reports for 2020 we can then analyze it.

The bottom line is, all applications have to be processed, and COVID is affecting everyone. Many applications have everything approved in GCMS notes, but still are waiting for a final decision. Many other have been waiting for security to start. Others have COPRs, but cannot travel. Some have COPRs, which are expired. Inland applicants too have been waiting.

Its all over the place and even pre COVID, there were applications that were processed faster than others.

The bottom line is, it is your application, your money and your decision. If you feel that filing a new application will get you faster results, you can try. No one can guarantee it. If you have filed an application, a decision will be made on it, sooner or later.

All the information you see is anecdotal. Remember, many who get a decision never bother coming to the forum or posting anything and just move on with their lives. Others who are waiting will hang around, and you will see more of those people posting, not because they are disproportionately affected, but because they are posting and it seem they are more in number.

 

[gamzoog]

I will not get into the debate what IRCC should be doing or if they are giving any preferential treatment to recent applications. Because there is no date one it yet. When IRCC published the reports fro 2020 we can then analyze it.

The bottom line is, all applications have to be processed, and COVID is affecting everyone. Many applications have everything approved in GCMS notes, but still are waiting for a final decision. Many other have been waiting for security to start. Others have COPRs, but cannot travel. Some have COPRs, which are expired. Inland applicants too have been waiting.

Its all over the place and even pre COVID, there were applications that were processed faster than others.

The bottom line is, it is your application, your money and your decision. If you feel that filing a new application will get you faster results, you can try. No one can guarantee it. If you have filed an application, a decision will be made on it, sooner or later.

All the information you see is anecdotal. Remember, many who get a decision never bother coming to the forum or posting anything and just move on with their lives. Others who are waiting will hang around, and you will see more of those people posting, not because they are disproportionately affected, but because they are posting and it seem they are more in number.

Thanks again for your input!