Processing and Non-Routine Cases

Each officer making a decision reviewing your file has a number of ongoing applications pending review which is why processing times can be so extensive. What many people do not know is that there is priority given to applications that involve children.

Applications for permanent residence for spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners and dependent children have the highest priority, along with children to be adopted. Other members of the family class come subsequently. These are operational, not regulatory, priorities. This means that CIC chooses to process such applications with priority as it considers the best interest of the child.

The processing department has a goal to process 80% of sponsorship and permanent residence applications submitted on behalf of the high-priority group of spouses, common-law partners, conjugal partners and dependent children within 12 months.

However, unforeseeable circumstances do arise and are dubbed “non-routine cases” that simply take longer due to the fact that more is involved with processing those application types. If your matter falls under such cases, you can expect an even longer processing time depending on the officer making a decision on your matter.

These situations can be extremely frustrating as you attempt to provide CIC with the amount of time they require to process an application, but when does long become too long? Having legal representation in times like these can assist you as we will follow up on your matter within reasonable time frames and act fast to get the results you are looking for. We understand the constraints of officers making decisions; however, there is a reasonable amount of time to allow to pass before you can expect communication.