Immigration Applications are not Processed in the Order that they are Received

[MofC2014]

I believe the spouse sponsorship applications are processed in order, its just that some people have lots of red flags which causes delays.

In addition there are some applications missing information/documents, there are applicants that were in the military or police in which case it takes longer for security screening, there are those who lived in many countries for more than 6 months thus require more involvement etc. Each time a document or further proof is requested by a VO it delays a file by at approx 3 months.

 

[JRPW]

I believe the spouse sponsorship applications are processed in order, its just that some people have lots of red flags which causes delays.

What is a red flag?

My Japanese wife and I have been married for almost five years (married in May 2009). We've been together for eight. My wife is seven years older than I am. Is this a red flag? Even though we have been together for eight years?

We didn't have a wedding ceremony due to 1) Personal reasons (born and raised a Catholic, but I can't stand the Catholic Church; wife has no religion), 2) Financial reasons (Japanese weddings cost a fortune) and 3) Logistical reasons (couldn't agree where to have ceremony; In Canada? In Japan?). Is this a red flag? Even though my wife and I provided many photos in chronological order beginning when we were friends in 2006 until we sent the application in 2012? I even explained in an essay our reasons why we didn't have a ceremony, explaining that we will have a get together with my parents, sister, my mother-in-law, wife's aunt and mutual friends living in Alberta once my wife gets her PR.

 

[Rob_TO]

In addition there are some applications missing information/documents, there are applicants that were in the military or police in which case it takes longer for security screening, there are those who lived in many countries for more than 6 months thus require more involvement etc. Each time a document or further proof is requested by a VO it delays a file by at approx 3 months.

There are also lots of apps where i think the VO simply screws things up or CIC somehow loses parts of the application, causing unwarranted delays. It's unfortunate but it does happen, causing people who should have fairly straightforward apps to see way longer processing times then they should.

 

[MofC2014]

What is a red flag?

My Japanese wife and I have been married for almost five years (married in May 2009). We've been together for eight. My wife is seven years older than I am. Is this a red flag? Even though we have been together for eight years?

We didn't have a wedding ceremony due to 1) personal reasons (born and raised a Catholic, but I can't stand the Catholic Church; wife has no religion), 2) Financial reasons (Japanese weddings cost a fortune) and 3) Logistical reasons (couldn't agree where to have ceremony; In Canada? In Japan?). Is this a red flag? Even though my wife and I provided many photos in chronological order beginning when we were friends in 2006 until we sent the application in 2012? I even explained in an essay our reasons why we didn't have a ceremony, explaining that we will have a get together with my parents, sister, my mother-in-law, wife's aunt and mutual friends living in Alberta once my wife gets her PR.

Although the age difference and no wedding ceremony is a red flag, in your case I do not believe these would be viewed as red flags. You have been waiting a while now, but I think your last delay is the re-medical request, in all honesty the VO should have just extended the ones your wife did previously. I would not be surprised now that your wife did the re-medical in December that you will have a decision made this month. I certainly hope so!!!

What bothers me is that the CIC policy should be applied by all visa officers, for example the extension of medicals, some visa offices do it more than others, and often they extend for a 12 month period without a re-medical request, saving time and money for everyone involved. Than you have some visa offices that are notorious for requesting re-medicals in each and every case. There is just no rhyme and reason to how policies are applied, and it makes the process very unfair.

 

[JRPW]

Although the age difference and no wedding ceremony is a red flag, in your case I do not believe these would be viewed as red flags. You have been waiting a while now, but I think your last delay is the re-medical request, in all honesty the VO should have just extended the ones your wife did previously. I would not be surprised now that your wife did the re-medical in December that you will have a decision made this month. I certainly hope so!!!

What bothers me is that the CIC policy should be applied by all visa officers, for example the extension of medicals, some visa offices do it more than others, and often they extend for a 12 month period without a re-medical request, saving time and money for everyone involved. Than you have some visa offices that are notorious for requesting re-medicals in each and every case. There is just no rhyme and reason to how policies are applied, and it makes the process very unfair.

I agree with the re-med. There is no consistency in how, or why, a VO asks one person for a re-med and doesn't ask another person for one. Very pathetic. I hope that her PR comes this month, but I don't think it will. I met a Canadian on this forum going through the same song and dance with CEM - married to a Japanese for 12 years with two children. His wife JUST RECEIVED her COPR last week after waiting for 15-16 months.

 

[MofC2014]

I agree with the re-med. There is no consistency in how, or why, a VO asks one person for a re-med and doesn't ask another person for one. Very pathetic. I hope that her PR comes this month, but I don't think it will. I met a Canadian on this forum going through the same song and dance with CEM - married to a Japanese for 12 years with two children. His wife JUST RECEIVED her COPR last week after waiting for 15-16 months.

Visa officer and different visa offices are very inconsistent, therefore unfair. I think Canada should move to central processing within Canada for all family applications. Interviews aren't really necessary. Sponsors and applicants are asked to provide relationship proof with applications, sometimes asked to submit more proof of ongoing relationships. Only this move would make it a fair process. Where now one visa office has a timeline of 8 months another of 24 months, therefore in reality applications are not processed in the order they are received.

Bottom line is, right now, CIC claims that interviews are held to answer additional questions if the visa officer suspects the relationship is not genuine. But the truth is at the end of the day, if a visa officer suspect marriage of convenience prior to the interview they already formed a decision to refuse the application and nothing the applicant says or does during the interview would change the officer's mind. I have read hundreds of posts/appeals where the visa officers calls someone in for an interview and asks them to bring in additional proof of relationship, at the interview the officers refuse to look at the new proof brought in, interview ends in refusal of application.