Improve spouse sponsorship processing times at Canadian Visa offices

[Mercy24]

As many of you know the processing time for spouse sponsorship applications at London Visa office has changed from 11 months to 29 months.
I was shocked when I saw these changes. Nobody should have to endure these timelines - it is not ethical or humane. I wanted to create a thread where we could organize and exchange ideas.
I believe the timing is right considering this is an election year.
My dream would be to have a 100,000 signatures in 30 days from Canadians and permanent residents. Everybody can play a part, big or small to make a change for the better.
I think it's a cause worth fighting for your loved one. I have created a petition imploring the Conservative Government of Canada to make significant improvements in the processing time of outland spouse sponsorship applications at Canadian Visa offices.

How can I make a difference?


1) Sign the petition: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/improve-processing-times-for-spouse-sponsorship.html

2) Email colleagues, friends, family in Canada asking for their support in signing the petition

3) Add the following to your signature in this forum:
Improve Processing Times for Spouse Sponsorship
http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/improve-processing-times-for-spouse-sponsorship.html
http://tinyurl.com/majlurl

4) Authors of a thread, if they feel its relevant can post a sticky

5) Be a leader and not a follower

6) Contribute ideas in this forum

 

[Mercy24]

Petition Background (Preamble):
We love Canada and embrace Canadian values. We believe Canada represents freedom, peace and compassion. Living in a democracy affords us the right to be heard and listened to. We have hopes and dreams to build a better future for our families.

The challenges that we face is living apart from our spouses for a very lengthy time. There are Canadian Visa offices that are completing 80% of cases within 2 years time or more as published from Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website. This does not even include the time for stage one approval of sponsor. Many applicants have had to complete medical examination again because one year validity has expired from the delays in processing applications.

This has had a detrimental effect of creating undue hardship and anxiety for sponsoring spouses and their families. Our plans to build a future with our families are put on hold far too long.

We have plans upon being re-unified with our spouse, whether it be starting a family with the addition of a newborn baby or commencing higher education studies or starting a new career.

Petition:
WHEREAS: The processing times at Canadian Visa Offices of outland spouse sponsorship applications that exceed one year is unjust, inhumane and unreasonable to sponsoring spouses and their families.

THEREFORE: We, the undersigned, call upon the Conservative Government of Canada, to request a more respectable, humane and reasonable processing time within 30 days for Stage 1 sponsor approval time and within 10 months for Stage 2 sponsored spouse applicant from Canadian Visa offices to be re-united with our spouses.

http://tinyurl.com/majlurl

 

[rhcohen2014]

you are aware this increase of processing time reflects EVERY application received at london AND represent WORST CASE scenarios, correct? that means not just UK citizens, but also the applications for every other country (islamabad and pakistan i believe). just because that's what's posted, it doesn't mean that's what a straightforward UK citizen will experience. the biggest difference is that most UK citizens are visa exempt and London can confirm the information needed quicker. For those from other countries, the same can't be said, therefore the increase in processing time is a reflection of the applications where applicants are from non-visa exempt countries and where it takes more time to confirm security and background checks. I would recommend checking out the london spreadsheet and look to see how many realtime UK citizen applications took 29 months to process during the time these stats "represent". my guess - zero.

it is pretty well known the times posted online are not a true indicator of what people will actually experience when they have no red flags. Ottawa has a processing time of 15 or 16 months, yet many applicants are approved in less than half that time. the only applicants that take a year or more are those with application issues or were called for an interview. the processing times posted are NOT "one size fits all" for every application processed at that visa office.

good luck with your petition.

 

[Mercy24]

Dear Sir, I am not specifically targeting a UK citizen. The is a general reflection of the worsening timelines published by Citizenship and Immigration Canada in which 80 percent of all cases have been completed at the London Visa office. This is simply a petition statement to improve these times. I myself, sponsoring an Pakistani applicant and many others can attest to and show great concern.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Dear Sir, I am not specifically targeting a UK citizen. The is a general reflection of the worsening timelines published by Citizenship and Immigration Canada in which 80 percent of all cases have been completed at the London Visa office. This is simply a petition statement to improve these times. I myself, sponsoring an Pakistani applicant and many others can attest to and show great concern.

actually the numbers don't represent 80 of applications, meaning 80 percent take that time posted. what the processing times mean is that 79% of applications are processed quicker than the time posted. it is well known the processing time reflects WORST CASE SCENARIOS, and are not the AVERAGE timeline for all applicants. also, the number certainly is NOT a true average. the numbers are very misleading.

seeing how CIC has responded to the complaints, petitions and demonstrations from inland applicants that are exceeding 2 years to process, i highly doubt CIC will care to do anything about the processing time posted online. there are many factors that contribute to the increase of processing times, and it's certainly not something the leaders of canada (current or potential) feel the need to fix. obviously, if you want to try to get a response or make a difference, go for it...i wish you luck.

 

[Mercy24]

Sir, I have mentioned 80%.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Sir, I have mentioned 80%.

right, and i don't think you realize that 80% means a MAJORITY of cases are approved in far LESS time than what is posted. i'm pretty confident it's not going to take 29 months to process applications in london, especially for appplications that are straightforward and don't require interviews. i guess you'll find out one way or another when you get approved as to what it actually means.

 

[scylla]

As explained above, the petition contains factually incorrect information. 80% of cases do not take longer than 2 years. You need to remove this statement from the petition if you want anyone to take it seriously.

 

[rhcohen2014]

Petition Background (Preamble):
There are Canadian Visa offices with processing times exceeding two years for 80% of cases completed as published from Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website. This does not even include the time for stage one approval of sponsor. Many applicants have had to complete medical examination again because one year validity has expired from the delays in processing applications.

how is that not saying 80% of cases take more than 2 years to complete? you just said it in different words. you used "exceeded" instead of complete. again, the facts in the petition are wrong.

 

[RajaJi]

Just to breakdown the processing time:

100 - Total applications

080 - Approved in 24 months (Includes Approvals in 1, 2, 3, 4 5, 6.......23 months)

Some are approved within 3 months
Some are approved within 6 months
Some are approved within 9 months and so on

CIC also publishes the data with information such as how long it took for 20%, 50% and so.)

020 - More than 24 months

What should be the reasonable time to process applications? Well I want my application to be approved yesterday. I agree that for some and many the process is incredibly slow (ask someone who is waiting for 8 years). How to make the process quick, which requires a lot of scrutiny, is lot difficult and there is no easy solution.

I agree, it is incorrect to say that 80% of the cases take more than 2 years.

 

[Mercy24]

As explained above, the petition contains factually incorrect information. 80% of cases do not take longer than 2 years. You need to remove this statement from the petition if you want anyone to take it seriously.

thank you Scylla. I will re-word.

 

[Mercy24]

Scylla, there was some confusion when you quoted half the statement:

There is a big difference in statement when you say:
80% of cases take longer than 2 years

and when you say:
80% of cases exceed 2 years to be completed

But i think it can be worded better.

 

[RajaJi]

Scylla, there was some confusion when you quoted half the statement:

There is a big difference in statement when you say:
80% of cases take longer than 2 years

and when you say:
80% of cases exceed 2 years to be completed

But i think it can be worded better.

What is the big difference?

 

[rhcohen2014]

What is the big difference?

that's what i want to know. to me, they mean/say the same thing.

 

[Mercy24]

Thank you, rhcohen. It has been re-worded to:

Canadian Visa offices that are completing 80% of cases in over 2 years time as published from Citizenship and Immigration Canada's website.