As I have said in other answers, I am a retired visa officer (Canadian overseas immigration officer). I worked for CIC and its predecessors for many years.

Concerning “slow”, are you speaking of applications for visitor visas or applications to immigrate to Canada? Processing procedures and processing times are very different depending on what sort of visa you are applying for.

Visa applicants so often seem to imagine that CIC and its programming must be the most important activity conducted by the Government of Canada. It’s not even close. Historically immigration and visas have been much lower priorities than other Government of Canada activity, such as Employment Insurance, National Defence, international trade relations, income tax collection, implementing bilingualism legislation, regulating and ensuring the safety of the transportation industry, the pharmaceutical industry etc. After all, immigration applicants don’t vote.

The Government of Canada has a central budgetary agency called the Treasury Board. Each fiscal year every Government of Canada department must apply to the Treasury Board for its funding. The Treasury Board is responsible for advising the Prime Minister and the federal Cabinet about priorities for disbursing Government of Canada funds. The Government of Canada never has anything near the funds to resource every department to the hilt. There is no real reason to identify CIC as a special priority to receive large amounts of funding and resources.

The funds paid by visa applicants do not go into a special CIC account. Those fees are paid to the Receiver General for Canada. The Receiver General ‘s accounts are a central repository for all sorts of fees paid to the Government of Canada. It is mostly there where the Treasury Board finds the funds it will disburse.

I would almost suggest that the revenue producing parts of CIC ( principally the skilled worker program) be spun off into what in Canada we call a “Crown Corporation”.

Wikipedia describes what a Crown Corporation is:


Essentially a crown corporation acts in some ways like a private company but is owned by the Canadian federal or a provincial government. They operate “at arms length” from the federal or provincial bureaucracy and make most of their own business judgements. Unlike federal departments they collect and allocate their own revenues. Were a crown corporation operating the federal skilled worker selection program you might see much more efficient and timely operations.

The visa application program operated by CIC happens in the context of a rather rigid, hierarchical bureaucracy. Also, since the 1960’s a strong objective of Canada’s immigration selection legislation has been to limit the discretion of visa officers in order to reduce subjectivity and restrict the ability of visa officers to make such subjective and racist decisions. Even in the case of visitor visa applications visa officers are expected to note up the reasons for their decisions in the GCMS electronic visa processing system. This takes time, sometimes a lot of it.

I should note that, due to technical and infrastructural limitations GCMS sometimes stops and does not work. (Perhaps it could work better if more resources were devoted to operating it but there aren’t such resources.) In a situation like that the visa officer has no alternative but to stop work and look helplessly at their computer screen.

When I became a visa officer in 1978 the immigration program was to a large extent beyond the Canadian public eye. There was little attention in the Canadian media to visa matters. The immigration bar (those lawyers who specialize in immigration matters) was small and not always very professional. Now things are very different. In particular litigation is now very common. A visa officer’s notes have to be adequate enough to withstand review by the Federal Court. A visa officer would want to think very carefully and take extra time with their notes, and never have them become a source of derision by the Canadian media. This type of publicity can easily destroy your career.

I have mentioned in another Answer that, in my opinion, there has been intense pressure to reduce the cost of Canada’s visa operations. One of the results is to take as much as the processing as possible and “dumb it down” so it can be done by lower-paid clerical staff in Canadian processing centres, not more experienced and better paid visa officers. One of the unintended results is a substantial number of processing errors. This increases processing time.

So many applicants do not understand that CIC does not have full control of the visa application process. CIC has to rely heavily on CSIS, the RCMP and CBSA for security and criminal clearances. These federal agencies have many other, more important priorities than visas.

Visa applicants do not always understand that immigration visas are subject to rationing by the annual immigration levels system. CIC has to allocate resources to each visa office according to the contribution that office is expected to make to the annual level. A given visa office is only expected, or allowed, to issue a certain number of immigration visas per year. They are not allowed to issue as many visas as they can. At times they must delay or stop processing certain categories of visas.

I have alluded in the Answer I mention above to problems in the working environment and career system for visa officers. Put yourself in a visa officer’s shoes. How productive would you be?

Martin Levine

Additional Answer

It is September 11, 2017. I received a question about my Answer in the form of a comment. The question was to the effect of why CIC does not provide details about the reasons for refusals when it issues refusal letters to Study Permit applicants. Here was my response:

Study Permit processing is mass processing which has to be done within the couple of months before the start of the Canadian academic year. This doesn't allow for much detail in refusal letters. Nor is it clear in Canadian law that there has to be much. The applicants are meant to be given procedural fairness during the application process but not so much at the end.

The study permit program has had substantial difficulties with fraud and misrepresentation. Above all the applicants have to show that they are credible visitors to Canada, not elicit immigrants. Many can't.

I should point out that refused applicants may find out more about the refusal reasons if they know a citizen or permanent resident of Canada who will submit a Privacy request on their behalf.

This isn't to say that all refusal decisions are adequately documented by the deciding officer. Not infrequently the Federal Court decides that they weren't.

Again, remember that study permits are just one more Government of Canada program. The resources to operate it are limited.

Martin

There is something else that frankly I find a little disturbing in some of the questions I see that relate to immigration to Canada. Many of those comments come from the developing world.

Many of those who ask questions about visas do not seem aware that Canada is essentially land stolen by colonizing European countries. They invaded North America and attacked and brutalized and in some cases attempted to exterminate the indigenous peoples, all of them people of colour. Some of those countries were the same ones that attacked most of what is now the developing world and subjugated, exploited and humiliated the peoples who were there.

Please remember that Canada was established on a terrible historic justice. There is nothing that immigrants can do about it other than be aware and be understanding and supportive of Canadian aboriginal people who are trying to recover what is left of their heritage and their resources. If you do not you are essentially accepting the rationalizations of European colonizers who asserted it was their destiny to rule the developing world.

Omo @Bab5 this post is long oooooo Also I want to say that SOWP application will start receiving update very well from mid August because by then the pressure on study permit will have reduced because most schools in Canada resumes August/Sept. It will end in praise In Jesus Name.

Bab5:
As I have said in other answers, I am a retired visa officer (Canadian overseas immigration officer). I worked for CIC and its predecessors for many years.

Concerning “slow”, are you speaking of applications for visitor visas or applications to immigrate to Canada? Processing procedures and processing times are very different depending on what sort of visa you are applying for.

Visa applicants so often seem to imagine that CIC and its programming must be the most important activity conducted by the Government of Canada. It’s not even close. Historically immigration and visas have been much lower priorities than other Government of Canada activity, such as Employment Insurance, National Defence, international trade relations, income tax collection, implementing bilingualism legislation, regulating and ensur.

Amen oh, fingers crossed. We applied same time @ wealth360

Yeah....is long ooo, people should read it while we await approved updates.

I also thought about it, study permit pressure is high. From my little knowledge I feel the best time to apply for sowp visa is early or late in the year.

wealth360:
Omo @Bab5 this post is long oooooo Also I want to say that SOWP application will start receiving update very well from mid August because by then the pressure on study permit will have reduced because most schools in Canada resumes August/Sept. It will end in praise In Jesus Name.

I just sent you a PM please check if it was delivered. Thanks

Frostbaby:
Amen oh, fingers crossed. We applied same time @ wealth360

Bab5:
.......Visa applicants do not always understand that immigration visas are subject to rationing by the annual immigration levels system. CIC has to allocate resources to each visa office according to the contribution that office is expected to make to the annual level. A given visa office is only expected, or allowed, to issue a certain number of immigration visas per year. They are not allowed to issue as many visas as they can. At times they must delay or stop processing certain categories of visas......

I see the lengthy comment by the former staff as unrelated to our current situation, the fraction quotes above may likely be where our case is. I do not know exactly when he/she made that comment, but many of the situations described has been improved. For instance it doesn't take RCMP or CBSA any long time to scan their databases to trace the applicant's records using their Passport Numbers. Again, we can't be talking of lower paid or inexperienced staff when CIC claim to have the best immigration system, or can they argue that poorly trained and paid staff are the ones delivery the best of immigration services? If yes, do they only process those from Nigeria? Because our counterparts from other countries are getting responses - in less than 4 weeks! Again, I don't find this relevant.

Of a truth I suspect it is a quota thing. But that being said, let's not also forget that all the provinces operate somehow independent of others. And the possibility of all provinces hitting their quotas at same time is not large enough. Assuming they updated background check passed, send people for medical and etc, we can now make the argument that all is set; but final decision depends on quota. But this is not the case.

Talking about immigrants not voting or that the immigration system care less about immigration is not true. Canada depend largely on immigration to survive. For instance, latest federal government data shows that Canada had just fewer than 500,000 international students at the end of 2017; one can only but imagine how much this adds to the funding of Canadian Institutions. So they value us! The problem we have here is "a Nigerian problem". I am hopeful though that delay doesn't necessarily mean denial.

Months ago the whole world was out for Trump for separating children from their parents. At this point I am not sure we are in any way different/far from that situation. It is worse when we are legally (by Canada's Law) entitled to have our spouses and kids with us - so long as we can afford to care for them, only to be delayed or denied that access.

Two weeks ago I sent a tweet CIC's twitter page complaining of this same delay. They responded, informing me that they cannot tackle specific (personal) cases. At this point I suggest we all comment there (respectfully) and ask them to look into cases of SOWP applications from Nigeria. I believe by the time 2-6 of us do that they will communicate the Nigerian office to know what's amiss. Here's their handle: https://twitter.com/CitImmCanada.

I study here and also work for the Government, and to be honest I find it hard to concentrate and study or do my work. I am mostly depressed and worried to see my family and I know many of us are in same situation. That is not good!

StudentsNG:


I see the lengthy comment by the former staff as unrelated to our current situation, the fraction quotes above may likely be where our case is. I do not know exactly when he/she made that comment, but many of the situations described has been improved. For instance it doesn't take RCMP or CBSA any long time to scan their databases to trace the applicant's records using their Passport Numbers. Again, we can't be talking of lower paid or inexperienced staff when CIC claim to have the best immigration system, or can they argue that poorly trained and paid staff are the ones delivery the best of immigration services? If yes, do they only process those from Nigeria? Because our counterparts from other countries are getting responses - in less than 4 weeks! Again, I don't find this relevant.

Of a truth I suspect it is a quota thing. But that being said, let's not also forget that all the provinces operate somehow independent of others. And the possibility of all provinces hitting their quotas at same time is not large enough. Assuming they updated background check passed, send people for medical and etc, we can now make the argument that all is set; but final decision depends on quota. But this is not the case.

Talking about immigrants not voting or that the immigration system care less about immigration is not true. Canada depend largely on immigration to survive. For instance, latest federal government data shows that Canada had just fewer than 500,000 international students at the end of 2017; one can only but imagine how much this adds to the funding of Canadian Institutions. So they value us! The problem we have here is "a Nigerian problem". I am hopeful though that delay doesn't necessarily mean denial.

Months ago the whole world was out for Trump for separating children from their parents. At this point I am not sure we are in any way different/far from that situation. It is worse when we are legally (by Canada's Law) entitled to have our spouses and kids with us - so long as we can afford to care for them, only to be delayed or denied that access.

Two weeks ago I sent a tweet CIC's twitter page complaining of this same delay. They responded, informing me that they cannot tackle specific (personal) cases. At this point I suggest we all comment there (respectfully) and ask them to look into cases of SOWP applications from Nigeria. I believe by the time 2-6 of us do that they will communicate the Nigerian office to know what's amiss. Here's their handle: https://twitter.com/CitImmCanada.

I study here and also work for the Government, and to be honest I find it hard to concentrate and study or do my work. I am mostly depressed and worried to see my family and I know many of us are in same situation. That is not good!

Well said. I made a comment on their Twitter page as well, didn't state the country tho I guess that's why there's no response. Looking at the timelines here, I can only say it is well.

well said brother. steps has been taken bro. I also made comment on their twitter page. no reply yet.

StudentsNG:



I study here and also work for the Government, and to be honest I find it hard to concentrate and study or do my work. I am mostly depressed and worried to see my family and I know many of us are in same situation. That is not good!

Hello my people, due to the condition of my baby in Nigeria, I could not wait any longer for the processing time to elapse before I sent an Email to the MP representing my constituency to really know why is taking time for applications under SOWP to be reviewed and process. the below was the response I got concerning my wife application.


Hello xxxxxxxx

Thank you for contacting the office of the MP regarding your wife’s open work permit.

I have spoken with a liaison with IRCC.

Currently, the application is in progress, criminality has been completed, preliminary verifications have been completed, the medicals are good until May 2019, eligibility is still to be determined. The liaison said it is still too soon to be able to discern from the agent’s notes if all the concerns that occurred with the first application have been address to the agent’s satisfaction.

The liaison was unable to give a projected completion date for your wife’s file.

wealth360:
Hello xxxxxxxx

Thank you for contacting the office of the MP regarding your wife’s open work permit.

I have spoken with a liaison with IRCC.

Currently, the application is in progress, criminality has been completed, preliminary verifications have been completed, the medicals are good until May 2019, eligibility is still to be determined. The liaison said it is still too soon to be able to discern from the agent’s notes if all the concerns that occurred with the first application have been address to the agent’s satisfaction.

The liaison was unable to give a projected completion date for your wife’s file.

What is all these?!

I have a question please, as international students, can't we also do the express entry? I think with that, we should have better chances.

My medical passed yesterday and eligibility started, my son's eligibility started reviewing yesterday. Then my daughter's original passport request came yesterday. Meanwhile it was a family application. It's well I thank God for everything.

Jimmychuks2018:
My medical passed yesterday and eligibility started, my son's eligibility started reviewing yesterday. Then my daughter's original passport request came yesterday. Meanwhile it was a family application. It's well I thank God for everything.

Now here’s some hope!!! May God be praised!

Thank you Jesus. congratulations to your family.

Jimmychuks2018:
My medical passed yesterday and eligibility started, my son's eligibility started reviewing yesterday. Then my daughter's original passport request came yesterday. Meanwhile it was a family application. It's well I thank God for everything.

Of course go ahead if you have all the requirement.

Mickychen:
I have a question please, as international students, can't we also do the express entry? I think with that, we should have better chances.

Jimmychuks2018:
My medical passed yesterday and eligibility started, my son's eligibility started reviewing yesterday. Then my daughter's original passport request came yesterday. Meanwhile it was a family application. It's well I thank God for everything.

Goodnews...congrats! It will end in praise for everyone of us.

Thanks bro was just wondering why they would approve just my daughter's own. Whereas it was a single application.

wealth360:
Thank you Jesus. congratulations to your family.

Thanks alot brother. I pray we all be favored. But what do you think can make them to approve 1 out of 3 apps.


quote author=StudentsNG post=69551803]
Now here’s some hope!!! May God be praised![/quote]

I have seen cases like that here before. you do not need to panic about yours and your boy, they will all be approve. How old is your girl? lets see if she can travel alone, maybe that is what they wanna consider but I doubt sha.

Jimmychuks2018:
Thanks bro was just wondering why they would approve just my daughter's own. Whereas it was a single application.

She just 4 years

wealth360:
I have seen cases like that here before. you do not need to panic about yours and your boy, they will all be approve. How old is your girl? lets see if she can travel alone, maybe that is what they wanna consider but I doubt sha.

So all the applications will be approved. she cant travel alone without you.

Jimmychuks2018:
She just 4 years

hello house, can upfront medicals be done for sowp or one has to wait for medical call after submission?

either both ways. Anyone you chose works.

Aghatise:
hello house, can upfront medicals be done for sowp or one has to wait for medical call after submission?

Congratulations....God will perfect the rest.

Jimmychuks2018:
My medical passed yesterday and eligibility started, my son's eligibility started reviewing yesterday. Then my daughter's original passport request came yesterday. Meanwhile it was a family application. It's well I thank God for everything.

I am a PhD student and was looking at applying for my family prior to departing Nigeria - will dis be a problem? including my study visa documents as well as financial docs as madam is unemployed.

please share letter of explanation to jyizuagie@gmail.com. Thanks

2neeyoo:
Can you please share the letter with us. please share letter of explanation please oladosuabisola@yahoo.com

Any news yet Jimmy?

Jimmychuks2018:
She just 4 years

Dear Nairalanders,

I have been trying to link my paper based application online, but I have not been able to do that. I linked that of my kids without any problem. Please how else can one link his paper based application for SOWP?

Thank you.

Nothing yet bro, thinking of sending them email

quote author=wealth360 post=69639318]Any news yet Jimmy?[/quote]

Just wait and be calm. its done already.

Jimmychuks2018:
Nothing yet bro, thinking of sending them email

quote author=wealth360 post=69639318]Any news yet Jimmy?

Jimmychuks2018:
Nothing yet bro, thinking of sending them email

quote author=wealth360 post=69639318]Any news yet Jimmy?

Try and send them a mail immediately. Meanwhile when did you submit your application initially? It will end in praise.

How far yours?

debolic05:


Try and send them a mail immediately. Meanwhile when did you submit your application initially? It will end in praise.