It's mostly at NA2 the files get transferred to LVO (Local Visa Offices)- have you guys contemplated on emailing CIC to know which office is presently progressing your application?
All the best.
Yes, I wrote to CIC last week and got a reply that file is at CIO- Sydney. Current background status is NA.
Wish you good luck as well...
Copying following from one of the pages:
Following is the process how they access your file after you have submitted e-APR
Steps 1, 2 and 3 can go in parallel, after each one of them are complete 4 and then 5 will follow.
File transfer to Local VO will happen once step 1,2 and 3 are complete. Local VO will take care of steps 4 and 5.
1. Medical will change to passed (if you have passed the medical exam) -- depends on clinic to clinic and country to country, they will check if you don't any serious conditions like HIV, hepatitis and you wont be a burden on their health care initially.
2. R10 (Completeness check) -- they will verify if they have received all the documents, will notify you if you have missed any
3. A11.2 (Analyst Recommendation) -- they will verify if you are actually eligible for the program you have applied under and calculate CRS and if your CRS was above cutoff for that draw.
4. Background check and other formalities and checks -- here they will verify everything that you have mentioned in your application. Travel history, personal history, work history, criminality check etc... This part is time consuming, it if safe to assume that normally it would take anywhere from 1 to 4 months. Although the BG check time varies heavily. May even exceed the 6 months timeline. No one knows for sure how long will it take for your file.
5. Final decision -- I have seen 1 to 7 days after BG check completed to final decision made. Again, the time will vary and depends on visa officer.
In rarest cases they schedule an interview, they are very rare and we have not seen enough cases to conclude anything.