CPC-S and Local Office RQ stats: 22.1% *UPDATED*

The Canadian government has launched a new site

The data in this article is a bit old.  Look at http://residencequestionnaire.files.wordpress.com/2013/05/cic_rq_delays_apr2013.pdf  for the script call centre personnel are using to answer calls.  The last page contains current processing times ---avg. 35 months. 

Vast and useful information at this site, including RQ numbers for the various offices.  BC Itinerant services for example issued ONE from 4/12-10/12, then 200 from 10/12-4/13.  http://residencequestionnaire.files.wordpress.com/2013/06/rq_stats_apr2013.pdf

EasyRider wrote: coldnomad wrote: Are these only self-requested ICES requests, or does it include requests from CIC as well, since latest CIC application form includes a checkbox authorizing such requests? Also, I requested my CBSA report without getting an RQ, as a preemptive step, as part of my initial application. I wonder how many people did that as well. This should include requests by CIC, but newer figures may make it more difficult to correlate with RQ numbers because CBSA consent is in citizenship application from itself since at least October 2012 and we don't know a policy of invoking such requests. And yes, I too requested CBSA w/o having RQ, but likely it's a minority of requests.

I have to confirm by looking at my request wording, but my gut feeling is that they count privacy requests coming into ATIP dept (the ones that get an individual tracking number), meaning that batch requests under "CBSA consent" regime will likely either register as 1 request for many applicants, or won't register at all in this stats (if they built an automated feed or something like that).

Are these only self-requested ICES requests, or does it include requests from CIC as well, since latest CIC application form includes a checkbox authorizing such requests?

Also, I requested my CBSA report without getting an RQ, as a preemptive step, as part of my initial application. I wonder how many people did that as well.

Rappo wrote: I am not sure why your analysis seems tilting more towards optimism. I disagree with such an outlook. Simply put, things have not improved an iota. Pre-test RQed cases are standstill.

Well, first, as can be seen from these numbers, pre-test RQ affects less than one in four applicants overall. So the fact that things are not going well for those given RQ does not detract from the numbers showing, as I illustrated above, that the rate at which files are being transferred to the local office has nearly doubled recently, comparing a 12 time period last fall with the most recent 12 week period covered by this data. And the indication that the rate of RQ recently is trending toward half what it was during the fall of 2012 is what it is, an indication that fewer new applicants are going to suffer pre-test RQ going forward.

That said, I would not characterize my analysis as leanding toward optimism. Best case scenario is that the Minister is pushing toward processing routine applications slower, in a longer timeline, than it was when I landed and became a PR. Even then, this forum (predecessor rendition) and another at which I participated, was dominated by complaints about how long it was taking. I recall when the timeline approached a full year for many and a vociferous outcry of protest and disdain echoed through these forums. Now, the Minister has indicated just a desire to get routine processing down to a year, and thus the ambition, the goal, is to reach a timeline most find unacceptable. Just because a year is better than two years (last year's low tide rate) does not make it acceptable or an optimistic view. Moreover, as a practical matter, while many applicants are apparently progressing from date of application to oath in around a year now, a realistic estimate of what the current median timeline is, is probably at least 14 or 15 months, perhaps as much as 18 or more months. Again, this is hardly an optimistic view.

Additionally, based on the most recent 12 week period covered, while that indicated 47,970 files were transferred to local office in that time frame, which in turn would correspond to around 200,000 annually, that is still around 40,000 or so less than the number of applications many anticipate will be filed this year, and thus would indicate that in addition to the problematic backlog of cases now, the backlog is likely to continue to increase. That is hardly an optimistic view of things.

One of the problems with a great many observations posted in this forum is entrenched narcissism, views based on how the system, the process, is affecting the individual reporting. Many of those who feel they received RQ unfairly post the view that RQ is unfair generally. That is not a realistic or objective view. Many RQ cases are so because there are real concerns indicated in the application, real questions about the applicant's qualifications. I outline a number of the situations that fall into this group above. Not all RQs are created equal. Not by a long shot. Just because thirty or seventy applicants reporting their experience here were given RQ even though they accurately declared actual physical presence 1095+ while maintaining residence in Canada, does not really illuminate what the typical circumstances are for the majority of the 15,000 or so applicants in the GTA given RQ this last year. What percentage of the 15,000 have cases involving specific issues of concern, versus those for whom there is little or no reason to question their residency, is impossible to discern. It is safe to say, though, I am confident, that the numbers on both sides of that equation are high.



Bottom-line numbers:
All that said, relative to RQ issued by Sydney (pre-test RQ), the numbers indicated for the last 12 weeks represented in this data bear repeating, particularly in comparison to the data for last fall --

In the 12 weeks between Sept 2, 2012 through Nov. 24, 2012:
7,837 RQs issued; 25,040 files transferred to local office (31.2% given RQ)

In the 12 weeks between Feb 3, 2013 through April 27, 2013:
7,022 RQs issued; 47,970 files transferred to local office (14.6% given RQ)

The numbers speak for themselves, fairly clearly.