They continue to maintain contacts with host country officials and representatives of other diplomatic, official and non-government organizations. All business immigrants now apply at one of nine Business Immigration Centres , which provide access to expertise in business immigration. As these offices are an integral part of the Department's overseas network, they may also perform processing functions if necessary. Processing times at visa offices vary. For example, routine applications by spouses can usually be processed in about six months.
More complicated applications can take longer.
The calculation of processing times begins only when the visa office receives a properly completed application form. There are several reasons why an application would be considered non-routine. The Department recently introduced a New Immigrant Application Processing System to streamline application processing and ensure necessary information and documents are provided quickly. Immigration medical officers at missions abroad designate medical practitioners in each country to conduct the medical exam, then review the doctor's report to determine admissibility. A list of Designated Medical Practitioners can be found on the CIC Internet site.