The posted processing times for spousal applications reflect generally the time taken to process about 80% of the files received by CIC. The remaining 20% are considered “non-routine” and the delayed processing times can be attributed to a number of reasons. Here are some reasons CIC cites as to why cases can take longer to process or even result in refusal:
- medical, security or criminal issues;
- suspected relationship or dissolution of convenience;
- misrepresentation of marital status at time of marriage;
- previous deportation;
- inability to support self and family members due to legal obligations or other reasons;
- relationship of applicant to sponsor or applicant to other family members in doubt;
- marital status of family member suspect;
- sponsor under investigation for violation of IRPA; or
- outstanding criminal charge against sponsor.
- legal validity of foreign marriage in question (marriage which occurred in country other than in processing mission’s area of responsibility);
- custody of children of applicant;
- residence status of sponsor in doubt;
- delays created by applicant not following instructions;
- communications not received by mission or by applicant (unreliable postal system, mission not informed of change of address);
- family members and principal applicant residing in different countries and processing coordination difficulties occur;
- applicant previously removed or excluded from Canada.