The CIC web site has mention of expected times for processing various applications - (<6 months is Dept. policy for overseas applications). These can change (extend) substantially without notice.

The reporting of the processing in this category is non-existant. Anybody looking for this information is referred to the international Canadian Missions.

Family Class sponsorships are classified by the Immigration Department as being given high priority in the waiting queue due to Canada's intent to minimize family separations.

Personal experience has shown that the initial estimate of processing time provided to a sponsored partner from the foreign mission can easily be doubled for any number of reasons without notification. This is specially troubling as missions will not respond at all to requests for status, even if the process has dragged long beyond the estimated processing time. Missions do/will not respond to status updates or inquiries when visas are in process or past due.

It is also noted that if personal income taxes for the Canadian partner are overdue, visa issuance may (incorrectly) be delayed until late payments are made. No notice or confirmation will be made by the Cdn Embassy confirming the reason for the delay - a deplorable situation.....

1. Quota limit set by Canada for each class per year. Meeting or exceeding this quota is widely reported by CIC. (Receiving no mention are statistics on the time it takes to process an applicant from application receipt to Visa issuance.)
2. The number of applicants in the queue for each country or within Canada.
3. Strikes and other labour actions in the Immigration Dept that may go unannounced.
4. Incomplete applications, missing documentation, late payments, regular mail delays, medical exam submissions (review of exams by the local medical officer seems to be the longest delay of all...)

Note: Family Class applications are supposed to receive priority processing. See Chapter OP 2 (Processing Members of the Family Class), section 5.6 & 5.7 (reasons for delays). Departmental policy requires that applications in the Family Class (overseas applications only) be finalized within 6 months. See Chapter OP 1 (Procedures), section 5.11

Note: If you have endured the standard overseas "process" timing and have had perhaps some expected Visa promise dates come and go, or are totally frustrated from the very common 'silent' treatment from the Department when trying to find out where your long overdue Visa is, do not hesitate to contact your local Member of Parliament (Federal MP). They may be able to extract from the Embassies a status report if you supply them your File #.

If you are in Canada as a student, visitor or on a work permit, you can apply using an In-Canada Application from within Canada only if you have been in Canada for at least 6 months and have received a 6 month Visa extension (ie: have received permission to be in Canada for a continuous period of 12 full months or more). Should the application process drag on past your 12 month permission period, you must apply again before your extension Visa expires.

Hint - when you request a Visa Extension, send your request forms by fax or mail (registered, etc) a couple of days before your present Visa is to expire. This is contrary to the requirements shown in CIC guidelines. Do NOT put a extension expiration date on your application. The Department will put a date of 6 months past the expected expiry date, or if they are late in processing, 6 months from the date they finally get around issuing the Visa extension, which will be beneficial to you.

This is intended as a last resort should your In-Canada application bog down in bureaucracy big time.

Should you be fortunate to be able to enter the USA, without the potential of being denied entry to the USA and re-entry to Canada, you could consider making an application outside-Canada (see below) through the Canadian Mission in Buffalo, New York, USA.
Family Class applications for a non-Canadian partner wishing to be united with his Canadian partner can be processed much quicker than in-Canada applications. You may be required to go to an interview in Detroit as part of the application process. The drawback to this is that you will be required to pay 2 application fees. You can send the Right of Permanent Residence Fee ($975) at the last minute, when requested by the quickest application. If you pay this twice, one RPRF will be returned to you when you cancel the slower application.

You will have to maintain your "status" in Canada by extending your Visitor Visa (Temporary Resident Visa) every 6 months, BEFORE the Visa end date expires.