CIC processing times site updated...

[S_and_C]

Hi,

Has anyone noticed the latest CIC website update for the Processing Times?
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp

Essentially it looks like it's been dumbed down to ask "What" you are applying for (i.e. Sponsoring a Family Member) and what "Type" (i.e. Spouse outside Canada), and it gives me a generic "17 Months" for processing time including the sponsor assessment of 60 days. The site used to have it broken down by Visa Office, and there used to be a LOT of variation among processing times depending upon the source country. It seems like the time of 17 months is so inaccurate and useless, it's as if they are just displaying the "average" time of all Visa offices to process an family class application.

When the new Liberal government came in to power just a few months ago, they mentioned on their campaign website that they were committed to doubling the funding for immigration programs to process applications faster (especially family class) and make everything better. Has there been any indication of improvements yet in "actual" processing times? Has there been any metrics posted anywhere on this?

Thanks in advance...

 

[PMM]

Hi

Hi,

Has anyone noticed the latest CIC website update for the Processing Times?
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp

Essentially it looks like it's been dumbed down to ask "What" you are applying for (i.e. Sponsoring a Family Member) and what "Type" (i.e. Spouse outside Canada), and it gives me a generic "17 Months" for processing time including the sponsor assessment of 60 days. The site used to have it broken down by Visa Office, and there used to be a LOT of variation among processing times depending upon the source country. It seems like the time of 17 months is so inaccurate and useless, it's as if they are just displaying the "average" time of all Visa offices to process an family class application.

When the new Liberal government came in to power just a few months ago, they mentioned on their campaign website that they were committed to doubling the funding for immigration programs to process applications faster (especially family class) and make everything better. Has there been any indication of improvements yet in "actual" processing times? Has there been any metrics posted anywhere on this?

Thanks in advance...

1. Note there are election promises, and then there is reality. Remember PRs and prospective PRs can't vote, so it is not issue to the Liberals until the next election in 4 years.

 

[S_and_C]

Yes, there is always a disconnect between the promises and the reality. I was also looking into the operational manuals on the CIC site and internally they have a 6 month window where they try to complete 80% of all applications, so the 17 months they state is WAY off their internal target...

5.6 Processing priorities
Applications for permanent residence from spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners and dependent children have the highest priority, along with children to be adopted. Other members of the family class follow. These are operational, not regulatory priorities. The Department aims to process 80% of sponsorship and permanent residence applications submitted on behalf of the high-priority group of spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners and dependent children within six months.

I found that here:
http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/resources/manuals/op/op02-eng.pdf

I think I can conclude that the Processing Times website is a useless indicator, and it's best to just be hopeful they blaze through our application by the time we submit it.