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@Miss bee please I need you clarification between PVO and SVO.

My PVO is Sydney while SVO is Etobicoke.

I understand that my secondary visa office is slow looking at the trend and what people say about them

But I want to ask if it will have a significant effect on my application, I mean if my application will be slow like people that their PVO is Etobicoke, mine is just Secondary and primary is Sydney.

My timeline is this: Aug 5, eligibility in progress, criminality passed, info sharing completed, security not started, no MR too.

Please when can I expect eligibility to be passed and is it possible my security start while eligibility is in progress?
 
@Miss bee please I need you clarification between PVO and SVO.

My PVO is Sydney while SVO is Etobicoke.

I understand that my secondary visa office is slow looking at the trend and what people say about them

But I want to ask if it will have a significant effect on my application, I mean if my application will be slow like people that their PVO is Etobicoke, mine is just Secondary and primary is Sydney.

My timeline is this: Aug 5, eligibility in progress, criminality passed, info sharing completed, security not started, no MR too.

Please when can I expect eligibility to be passed and is it possible my security start while eligibility is in progress?
In the context of IRCC processing, the Primary Visa Office (PVO) is typically responsible for overseeing the overall progress and initial assessment of your permanent residence application. In your case, Sydney (CPC Sydney) is your PVO, which is known for handling file intake and initiating key stages like medical, eligibility, and criminality. The Secondary Visa Office (SVO)—Etobicoke in your case—usually takes over when localized or more detailed review is needed, especially for inland applicants, relationship assessments, or further scrutiny of certain documents.
The fact that your PVO is Sydney, not Etobicoke, is important. It means your file is initially processed by a relatively faster and more streamlined office. The SVO only becomes active if additional review or background checks specific to your situation are required. While it’s true that Etobicoke is generally slower when it’s the PVO, being listed as an SVO doesn’t automatically mean your case will be delayed to the same extent. It may not even be actively involved unless needed.
As for your timeline, since your eligibility has been “in progress” since August 5, it has been under review for a significant time. While there’s no fixed timeline, it’s not unusual for eligibility to take several months, especially in non-Express Entry streams. The fact that criminality is passed and info sharing is completed shows some progress. Security checks usually start after eligibility is passed, but in some cases, it can begin concurrently or shortly before final eligibility is confirmed—so it’s possible but less common.
Overall, your application’s pace will primarily depend on Sydney’s workload and complexity of your file, not so much on Etobicoke being the SVO. Keep an eye on your PR tracker and GCMS notes (if ordered), as they can give clearer insights into who is actively working on your file and what remains.
 
Hi @Miss bee , hope you are doing well.

I tried to order GCMS notes a few days ago but they never asked for the $5 fee and I only got a temporary tracking number which I'm not even sure where to use it.
How do I check if my request on the GCMS went through?

Appreciate your response in advance.
 
Hi @Miss bee , hope you are doing well.

I tried to order GCMS notes a few days ago but they never asked for the $5 fee and I only got a temporary tracking number which I'm not even sure where to use it.
How do I check if my request on the GCMS went through?

Appreciate your response in advance.
There is no way to track it . You will receive it within 30-40 days in your email.
 
Hi @Miss bee i hope you are doing well, i called ircc and they said my pvo and svo are sydney and ottawa respectively. do you think they are decent processing wise? Also i changed my job and got my province confirmation, do you think there would be any delays with IRCC and do you think there is a risk that my file get transferred to another centre. Thanks!
 
Hi @Miss bee i hope you are doing well, i called ircc and they said my pvo and svo are sydney and ottawa respectively. do you think they are decent processing wise? Also i changed my job and got my province confirmation, do you think there would be any delays with IRCC and do you think there is a risk that my file get transferred to another centre. Thanks!
Based on what IRCC told you, having Sydney as your Primary Visa Office (PVO) and Ottawa as your Secondary Visa Office (SVO) is quite common, especially for inland applicants. Sydney typically handles the initial processing steps such as completeness checks and background processing, while Ottawa often takes over for finalization. Both centers are considered efficient and standard in terms of processing times, although actual timelines can still vary depending on the specifics of your case and current workloads.
Regarding your job change and the confirmation from your province, it’s great that you’ve secured provincial approval—it shows that you’ve remained compliant with the terms of your nomination. While a job change can sometimes trigger additional scrutiny, especially if it’s significant or outside your original NOC, having provincial confirmation should minimize the risk of complications. In most cases, this won’t delay your application or cause your file to be transferred unless IRCC needs to verify new details that require specialized review. So long as your new role remains within the scope of your nomination and you’re updating IRCC properly, your file is likely to stay on track.
 
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Same here, replied to portal 1 email on May 3rd but not received P2 till now. I am sure we will get next week. Stay positive :)
Hello! by way of update- I got my PR confirmation email today. It asked me -
1) to confirm that i am staying in Canada,
2) My Canada mailing address
3) Photo for PR card.

All done and submitted.

So reached the final step and am waiting for the PR card now (approx 46 days processing time). It has been a long journey since Aug16, 2023 when I first applied for Express of Interest(EOI) for OINP. Applied for PR on July 23rd, 2024 and today, May 23, 2025 got the PR confirmation. What I have learnt in these 2 years is not to stress yourself. IRCC will respond as per their timeline. There is no use in checking the portal or any sheet on daily basis. Some candidates might get a few of the stages early, while some might get them late. But the average overall processing time is almost the same (leaving a few cases). So all the best to all of you. Relax....your PR is on its way. God bless you all.
 
Hello! by way of update- I got my PR confirmation email today. It asked me -
1) to confirm that i am staying in Canada,
2) My Canada mailing address
3) Photo for PR card.

All done and submitted.

So reached the final step and am waiting for the PR card now (approx 46 days processing time). It has been a long journey since Aug16, 2023 when I first applied for Express of Interest(EOI) for OINP. Applied for PR on July 23rd, 2024 and today, May 23, 2025 got the PR confirmation. What I have learnt in these 2 years is not to stress yourself. IRCC will respond as per their timeline. There is no use in checking the portal or any sheet on daily basis. Some candidates might get a few of the stages early, while some might get them late. But the average overall processing time is almost the same (leaving a few cases). So all the best to all of you. Relax....your PR is on its way. God bless you all.
I have a quick question for this. For the photo to submit, does it need to be a new photo or is the one taken for when you apply initially good enough (so basically just to resubmit the same photo)?
 
Hi @Miss bee and everyone, I have a question, i checked the tracker today, showing medical completed with an expiry until next year. I have not given a medical test the last one I did was when I came here on a study visa about 5 years ago. Do you know what this means?
 
I have a quick question for this. For the photo to submit, does it need to be a new photo or is the one taken for when you apply initially good enough (so basically just to resubmit the same photo)?
The portal says it should be taken within 12 months and you can use it. Even if there is an issue, you don't have to worry as it does not impact your PR. IRCC might ask you for a new photo, which would delay getting your physical PR card. Considering the Canada Post strike scenario, I did not want to take any chances of further delays. I took new photos(digital) and uploaded the digital copy.
 
Hi @Miss bee and everyone, I have a question, i checked the tracker today, showing medical completed with an expiry until next year. I have not given a medical test the last one I did was when I came here on a study visa about 5 years ago. Do you know what this means?
Yes, IRCC does have a public policy that allows reusing a previous medical exam under certain conditions. This was introduced to streamline processing for inland applicants, especially during and after the pandemic.
Public Policy on Reusing Medical Exams
IRCC can waive the requirement for a new immigration medical exam (IME) if:

  1. You are applying from within Canada (inland).
  2. You previously completed a medical exam in the last 5 years.
  3. Your previous exam didn’t show any health issues that would pose a risk to public health or safety.
  4. You haven’t left Canada for long periods that could increase your exposure to health risks.
This reuse policy is often applied automatically by IRCC based on your UCI (Unique Client Identifier).
 
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@Miss bee Can you shed on some light? Its been almost 30 days since I booked the medical date. Thanks
The time it takes for a medical exam to be marked as “passed” by IRCC after it shows as “completed” on the PR tracker can vary. In many cases, applicants see their medicals marked as passed within a few days to a couple of weeks after completion. However, delays of 15 days or more are not uncommon and do not necessarily indicate a problem. It’s possible that IRCC has received the results but has not yet finalized the review, especially if additional internal checks are being performed or if processing volumes are high. If it’s been more than three weeks with no update, you may consider submitting a webform inquiry to request clarification or confirmation that your medical results have been received and are under review.