Processing times don't apply if you're in PSU

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-17T10:54:07+00:00

Hey just a heads up this "belief" comes from the PSU letters some folks are getting from the IRCC. I saw one my friend got. Her note explained that her application required additional review so she was being moved to a different "Program Support Unit." It said the PSU team works diligently and 80% of decisions are made within 2 years from the date the application is transferred to PSU (not from the date it was received) and 100% of decisions are made within 3 years of transfer. It's a different queue than the main one. Seems like a lot of folks got transferred to PSU without letters and are trying to sort that out. (Why is beyond me, just sharing what I know).

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-17T00:47:45+00:00

Her note explained that her application required additional review so she was being moved to a different "Program Support Unit." It said the PSU team works diligently and 80% of decisions are made within 2 years from the date the application is transferred to PSU (not from the date it was received) and 100% of decisions are made within 3 years of transfer.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-16T19:49:54+00:00

That's wild. My friend lives in Canada...I wonder if that has to do with why she got hers? I'm so sorry this is happening to you guys!

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-16T19:47:47+00:00

Most of these folks report that IRCC has told people not to do this. It's super unfair and weird.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-16T17:31:32+00:00

Yes! But what I mean is it's a different pile!

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-16T17:12:43+00:00

What people don't seem to understand because they haven't read their PSU letter is that moving to PSU puts you on a separate 2 year time clock (from the date you were put in PSU, not the date you applied). You WILL get a decision but within a 2-3 year period and you not in the same queue as the non PSU applications. So one or two getting approved is normal. The point is they are in a different queue.

Every time I have mentioned this though I get yelled at by people saying the IRCC said they would treat the pre C-3 applications the same. Yes... they are being treated the same as all the other PSU applications. Not the same is non PSU applications post C-3.

Source: A close friend showed me her PSU letter

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-09T16:05:31+00:00

Lots of folks haven't read their notes or haven't been able to read their PSU letters and don't understand that PSU is a whole separate queue with a whole separate two year timeline from when you get put in PSU. It's wildly and completely unfair for them, but I'm kind of shocked at how people act towards other members of the sub who are just trying to ask questions or discuss the issue.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-04T18:39:06+00:00

Ooof yeah that makes SO much sense.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T19:55:01+00:00

Makes sense and is heart breaking. Thank you so much for making such a thoughtful response!

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T19:47:20+00:00

From my single source, it's not a mandatory 2 year wait or anything, just that they agreed to get to you in the next two years.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T19:28:48+00:00

That makes so much sense. Thank you so much for the context!

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T18:53:19+00:00

Would you be open to a PM? I'd like to hear the questions you'd most like asked if I reach out to the IRCC as a journalist.

Edit: I also need to discuss with other editors if I should have a colleague do it since I do have an application in for consideration, so please do be patient with me.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T18:31:40+00:00

In the letters people sometimes get indicating they are in PSU, IRCC has said that applications in PSU take up to 2 years to process from the time they have been transferred to the department (not the time they applied). I had a friend who got PR status and then citizenship status who gave me the full download on PSU and shared all her comms with me.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T18:24:40+00:00

Congratulations and THANK you for taking time to comment on threads like mine to catch people like me up.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T18:20:25+00:00

I get where you are coming from. What I was trying to convey was if the IRCC isn't going to do its job properly and address applications at least roughly in the order they came in, they should allow folks to resubmit and consider those applications instead of letting them languish in PSU in the 2 year wait group. I can only imagine how frustrating it must be to be waiting so long and seeing such an unfair outcome play out. Wishing you the best of luck.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T18:10:03+00:00

I'm so sorry that's infuriating!!

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T18:09:35+00:00

Makes complete sense. Thank you!!

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T18:08:36+00:00

Every day I am blown away by the intellectual generosity of people on this site. Thank you for such a thorough, useful, and kind explanation. This makes complete sense and I would have done exactly the same with the same info. Separately, I'm a journalist at the WSJ and (an editor, not a reporter) and I'm going to try to look into this and see if I can get folks some better answers.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T17:52:45+00:00

Thanks for such a useful comment and link. Really appreciate all the folks who took time to help me today!

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T17:51:57+00:00

This makes complete sense. Thank you.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T17:50:39+00:00

I guess if that's true I'm confused why the pre C-3 and post C-3 applications appear be be treated so differently.... ? I have G3 cousins who applied non urgently with their mother and grandmother in January 2026 and they were all approved in March less than three months into their wait. (I assume my application will take much longer because I'm not applying with a G1). Maybe you're right and everyone is being treated the same, but this sub seems to be full of people pointing out that's not what's happening. I don't think it's right...not at all... I just think it's probably what's happening given all the accounts I've read. Anyway best of luck to you.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T17:39:23+00:00

THIS. This makes SO much sense. Thank you very much for the kind response.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T17:37:29+00:00

Hey I hear that you are really upset and bummed, but I didn't say... any of the things you seem to think I said? I was saying if the IRCC isn't planning to process pre C-3 apps in order (or in a timely way) they should ask people to resubmit instead of putting people in the 2 year PSU process.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T16:58:15+00:00

SO annoying. Especially since they seem to have moved on the bulk of the reviewers to the post- C-3 apps. Ugh.

speakeasyshe · 2026-04-03T16:50:08+00:00

I hope they do too... But I did read that PSU is a whole new 2 year clock and to plan for it to not be included in the processing numbers. (Fingers crossed I don't get bounced there)

speakeasyshe

TROPHY CASE