U.S. applicants question

[Avila]

Is the processing time really currently taking about 11 months after the sponsorship approval? I thought it had been taking around 5-6 months, Has it slowed down a lot? Just wondering if the 11 months is average or if it's an unlikely amount of time. Spousal sponsorship btw. Thanks!

 

[AllisonVSC]

Check out the Buffalo thread. They keep track of app dates, PPR dates and everything in between. I have seen some March applicants get PPR this week, but there are also a few still hanging on from Dec 2010. So there is some variability but 11 months is quite likely the average. And yes, they seemed to have slowed down quite a bit.

 

[Leon]

No, 11 months is not the average. It is the time it takes to process 80% of cases, see http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/perm/fc-spouses.asp where it says "The times are based on how long it took to process 80 percent of all cases between July 1, 2010, and June 30, 2011."

CIC used to print the 30% number, 50% number and 80% number but not too long ago, they changed it to only give out the 80% number. Maybe it is so that people will not have too high expectations and will not start bothering the visa office if their case takes a week longer than the 50% mark.

Looking at trackitt.com for cases in Buffalo approved in the last 6 months, the average is 207 days or almost 7 months.

 

[AllisonVSC]

Thanks for the correction, Leon.

 

[Avila]

Thank you both of you! Very helpful and makes me at least feel better about the wait for now...I know I'm in for it!