Ok, from reading so many blogs and forums there are a few things that make an application takes extra time:
1 - Since the volume of application is big, some applications(usually 20%) takes more than 6 months for CIC to analyse. It sucks put is just time.
2 - If they request additional documents - is in your best interest to upload as fast as we can. The CIC works with an " BFD" or " bring forward date ".
https://www.canadavisa.com/canada-i...ads/question-about-bring-forward-date.105536/
And i am pretty sure they put the analizes of your application on "hold" because you are "missing a document".
3 - If you decided to include a spouse/common-law in the middle of your analyzes.
4 - They select random application for a deep Security screen and that sucks. Because they send you application to all the security agencies and that can take A LOT OF TIME.
I would suggest that you order your notes as soon as possible. It takes around 30/35 days for you to received the notes back. You will have a better understanding of which stage is your application. And what is going on.