Hi, Does anyone have first hand experience of recent permanent residency application processing times, under the old (pre Express Entry) system? We applied under the Canadian Experience Class last October and received the AOR in mid-February. The CIC website ("My application") shows mid-February as the date the application began to be processed, although my understanding is that since the application was complete in October that is when the clock started. We have heard nothing since and I wondered when we should expect to be called for medicals. According to the website, the processing time (for 80% of the applications) is 14 months. This is for the year to end-June, so should reflect some slowing-up due to the processing of EE applications. I suspect the position is that we should hear soon, but really just wanted the reassurance that this would not be out of line with anyone else in a similar position. Also, my son is at university in Ontario while the rest of the family is in BC. I assume there would be no problem in our having medicals at different times/locations? Thanks in advance.

Hi, you are not alone. There are many pre EE 2014 CEC applicants in the same boat.

You will have to hang in there.


S

Okay - thanks. I read (probably on this site) that contacting CIC with an enquiry can lead to a delay as they take the application out of the queue to answer. Sounds a bit far-fetched, but I wouldn't want to risk it!

We applied for PR (CEC) Feb/March 2014 with police checks etc upfront, request for medicals sent Oct 2014, awarded PR status in May 2015. So it was about 14 months in total. We had no hold ups but we were applying as a family of 4 people. Hang in there you should be hearing something soon. Good luck

So I called CIC today to check on the status of my PR application. The person who initially answered the call agreed that since the "complete application package" had been with them for 14 months and I had not been asked to undergo a medical then he would check on the position.

After consulting colleagues, he confirmed that:
* all pre Express Entry applications are taking longer than the 14 months indicated on the website (for Canadian Economic Class applications)
* he wasn't sure whether the increased processing times were due to EE applications or just the number of applications
* they would expect my application to be completed by April 1 (though obviously there is no guarantee). If so, that would be about 18 months from start to finish.

On a personal note, but this will probably also apply to others in this position, he said that the application was complete, there are no questions/concerns and the process is simply one of verifying the information provided.

That is good news Bexb. I know it is a frustrating process but better late than never. You'll get there.

I'm in a similar position, except they have had my complete application package for only 10 months. But i have had the medical request and completed it in September. I really hope I dont have to wait another 8 months

Hi everyone,
This seems to be the best thread to post my question.

I had my medical in October 2015 and at the same time CIC asked me to pay the fee for Certificate of Permanent Residency which I can only think is a positive sign.

I've logged in online to check the status of my application and it says they have received medicals and a decision has been made. I'm aware this could be a approval or rejection (probably the former given medical was clear and paid fee for PR).

However, I haven't heard anything since as to whether my application is approved or not. I understand the government offices may have closed for a week or two over Christmas so this might be causing a delay.

My question is when do people typically receive their official approval after having their medical? I've heard about 2 months so given I had my medical in Oct 2015 I would have expected to have my approval by now.

Any thoughts?
Thanks

The date of approval and date of medical seem to have had no bearing on each other in our case - we had our medicals in November 2014 and didn't get the approval til Dec 2015. Others have their medical just before decision made.
However, you have had the all important decision made - after the decision is made (hopefully if it is positive) you should expect to get a request for more photos and passport (copies or originals depending on whether you are from visa exempt country or not).
We were 2 & 1/2 weeks from decision made to request for passports/photos. (This may have slowed down over the Christmas break though).
We sent those express post and it was literally only a week before we got the COPR in our hands.
You should be on the home stretch now

We did our medicals in September '15, still only says medicals received. Not had a decision made yet, congratulations on that!

Thanks - that's helpful. I was asked for a copy of my passport at the same time they requested me to go for a medical & pay the fee for PR. So maybe I have done that too already. I guess I can only wait and hopefully I'm very close to receiving an official confirmation