Petition to Ensure Equality in Processing Times - Please Sign

[RoamingSpirit]

The processing times between some visa offices is inconsistent. Those of us at the Accra thread have written a letter to the minister asking that resources be assigned to ensure fair processing of applications across visa offices. We have also created a petition at Change.org and are hoping that others sign it also. It is not limited to improving processing times at Accra, but across all visa offices.

http://chn.ge/2oHm7yt

 

[mikeymyke]

There's a reason some offices are slower, those countries have higher rates of marriage fraud, poorer integrity of documents and background checks.

Vietnam for example, has tons of marriage fraud, yet my wife got her visa in 5 mths by preparing a strong application. Regardless of visa office, processing times can be shortened if you have a good application

 

[canuck_in_uk]

The processing times between some visa offices is inconsistent. Those of us at the Accra thread have written a letter to the minister asking that resources be assigned to ensure fair processing of applications across visa offices. We have also created a petition at Change.org and are hoping that others sign it also. It is not limited to improving processing times at Accra, but across all visa offices.

http://chn.ge/2oHm7yt

The difference between processing in developed vs. undeveloped countries generally results from the issues of that country.

Undeveloped countries have higher rates of immigraton fraud, so apps will face higher scrutiny until that country's fraud rate seriously declines. This is the fault of all of the people from those countries who committed fraud in the past, not IRCC. For example, Mexico was visa-exempt many years ago, until way too many Mexicans started falsely claiming asylum. Canada then imposed a visa on all Mexicans, which prevented many from coming here; they paid the price for the fraud of their countrymen.

Background/security checks rely on responses from the government of the applicant's country. For obvious reasons, developed countries have much better and faster responses.

 

[RoamingSpirit]

The difference between processing in developed vs. undeveloped countries generally results from the issues of that country.

Undeveloped countries have higher rates of immigraton fraud, so apps will face higher scrutiny until that country's fraud rate seriously declines. This is the fault of all of the people from those countries who committed fraud in the past, not IRCC. For example, Mexico was visa-exempt many years ago, until way too many Mexicans started falsely claiming asylum. Canada then imposed a visa on all Mexicans, which prevented many from coming here; they paid the price for the fraud of their countrymen.

Background/security checks rely on responses from the government of the applicant's country. For obvious reasons, developed countries have much better and faster responses.

I mean my following comments with respect, and i understand that it is hard to show tone online...

I think all of us that are being processed through a developing country understands the barriers in the process, and the need for integrity in the process. Sponsors are either from there, or like me, have visited these countries and understand the political climate and the risks.

However, understanding the why doesn't change our reality or our expectations. It doesn't change the fact that we worry about our spouses and our children every day. It doesn't change the fact that we worry every day that someone that knows nothing about us can stop us being with our loved ones and we have no control over it. It doesn't change that fact that my kids and my husband are at higher risk of being kidnapped because I am a white Canadian. Knowing the why doesn't stop us from being lonely, for feeling disengaged at work and in the community, for questioning why someone that applied a month after us at the same VO has heard and we haven't.

Most of us are Canadians too, we pay the same fees for this process as those going through a developed country. Yet our experience is VERY different.

I know how this feels for me. I can only imagine how this process would feel for populations that already feel that systems work against them, that feel systemic racism. This process would just reinforce that. Even if there is a reason as to why the process is slower.

The process as it is isn't working for everyone. So maybe the process needs to change, maybe people need to think differently about the problem and find unique, creative and innovative solutions.

For us, we had the option to sit back and just allow the process to eat us alive, or stand up and say that this isn't fair or right. We chose to speak up. If nothing else, it gives us hope that things will get better.

 

[RoamingSpirit]

There's a reason some offices are slower, those countries have higher rates of marriage fraud, poorer integrity of documents and background checks.

Vietnam for example, has tons of marriage fraud, yet my wife got her visa in 5 mths by preparing a strong application. Regardless of visa office, processing times can be shortened if you have a good application

With all due respect, that is your experience and your reality. It is not ours. Even when an application is processed within 12 months, people are waiting a month to get their passports back from the VO. No matter how good someone's application is, no one gets processed within 10 months at our VO, and that doesn't include waiting for PUM.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

I mean my following comments with respect, and i understand that it is hard to show tone online...

I think all of us that are being processed through a developing country understands the barriers in the process, and the need for integrity in the process. Sponsors are either from there, or like me, have visited these countries and understand the political climate and the risks.

However, understanding the why doesn't change our reality or our expectations. It doesn't change the fact that we worry about our spouses and our children every day. It doesn't change the fact that we worry every day that someone that knows nothing about us can stop us being with our loved ones and we have no control over it. It doesn't change that fact that my kids and my husband are at higher risk of being kidnapped because I am a white Canadian. Knowing the why doesn't stop us from being lonely, for feeling disengaged at work and in the community, for questioning why someone that applied a month after us at the same VO has heard and we haven't.

Most of us are Canadians too, we pay the same fees for this process as those going through a developed country. Yet our experience is VERY different.

I know how this feels for me. I can only imagine how this process would feel for populations that already feel that systems work against them, that feel systemic racism. This process would just reinforce that. Even if there is a reason as to why the process is slower.

The process as it is isn't working for everyone. So maybe the process needs to change, maybe people need to think differently about the problem and find unique, creative and innovative solutions.

For us, we had the option to sit back and just allow the process to eat us alive, or stand up and say that this isn't fair or right. We chose to speak up. If nothing else, it gives us hope that things will get better.

I understand your personal feelings but the process works, albeit slower for some. It is simply not possible to ensure that processing times for each country are consistent and this is generally due to circumstances out of the control of IRCC and the Canadian government in general.

Hiring more staff in the VO is not going to make your spouse's government respond any faster to requests about him/her, nor is it going to make less of his/her countrymen try to commit immigration fraud. The reforms to reduce that time need to happen in the applicant's country.

If you want to argue for FIFO, I'm all for it; all apps should be processed in order of receipt (within the limitations due to individual circumstances). If you want to argue that it is taking too long after approval to receive the passport/COPR back, then go for it; this is an issue that can affect people from any country. It shouldn't take more than a few weeks if the passport/passport copy is requested after the app has already been approved.

However, changing the fundamental process would mean cutting corners. Background/security checks are generally the main cause of delay and to safeguard Canada and Canadians, those are not going to be changed. Reducing scrutiny on apps from countries with known histories of fraud will result in more fraud, so that is not likely to be changed until the rates from those countries reduce.

 

[RoamingSpirit]

I understand your personal feelings but the process works, albeit slower for some. It is simply not possible to ensure that processing times for each country are consistent and this is generally due to circumstances out of the control of IRCC and the Canadian government in general.

Hiring more staff in the VO is not going to make your spouse's government respond any faster to requests about him/her, nor is it going to make less of his/her countrymen try to commit immigration fraud. The reforms to reduce that time need to happen in the applicant's country.

If you want to argue for FIFO, I'm all for it; all apps should be processed in order of receipt (within the limitations due to individual circumstances). If you want to argue that it is taking too long after approval to receive the passport/COPR back, then go for it; this is an issue that can affect people from any country. It shouldn't take more than a few weeks if the passport/passport copy is requested after the app has already been approved.

However, changing the fundamental process would mean cutting corners. Background/security checks are generally the main cause of delay and to safeguard Canada and Canadians, those are not going to be changed. Reducing scrutiny on apps from countries with known histories of fraud will result in more fraud, so that is not likely to be changed until the rates from those countries reduce.

And yet they can process applications under economic streams within months

 

[JulianaAndrew]

And yet they can process applications under economic streams within months

Why do you compare two completely different streams in this context? It doesn't make any sense at all. Economic streams don't have to prove something that can be very difficult to prove in nature, like relationships. If you want to actually change things, you would be better off having a better sense of reality. And as tough as it may sound to a lot of people, including myself, Canada is more interested in bringing experienced, educated workers than it is in bringing spouses, common-law and conjugal partners. And this is not necessarily just the government, but a lot of people in general. Most Canadians don't need to sponsor anyone, so it's something that doesn't reach their personal interests. If you want to complain, go ahead, we've all got a bunch of things to complain about this process, and that is fine. But, if you really want to change something, just complaining won't do anything at all, beyond relieving your stress. In her pragmatic response, canuck already did something more meaningful, suggesting that they take less time to send back passports, which is actually doable, because in many cases the applications are ready to be finalized but they take months to send the passports back (my case) and the only thing keeping them from finishing the application is taking a look at it, print off a visa and/or a COPR, and mail it, which can be done in an hour.

 

[RoamingSpirit]

Guys - if you don't want to sign the petition, don't sign. Am totally not looking for your approvals.

The one thing that we have in this process is a voice, and using our voices gives us hope.

If t is ok by you all, let us do what we can to feel hopeful.

 

[canuck_in_uk]

And yet they can process applications under economic streams within months

Still dependent on individual circumstances. Those that see the fast processing times are generally already in Canada and have far less information that needs to be scrutinized. It can take a lot longer to subjectively review a relationship for a sponsorship app than it does to just check off the boxes for an economic app. Economic applicants from undeveloped countries who have never applied to Canada before see a corresponding longer processing time.