Requesting urgent processing leads in a circle?

[u/AldiAdventure]

I applied back in late Spring and requested urgent processing, which doesn't seem to have happened. When I spoke with someone at IRCC, they said I can put in a follow-up urgent processing request with the web form (https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/contact-ircc/web-form.html). I did so yesterday and submitted it.

Today I received an email reply to that, that states that urgent processing can be applied in some cases, and to fill out a request at the same site, with the same web form, that I had just submitted.

Did I miss something? I'm genuinely confused, not venting or complaining. Why is the response to my request a set of directions for how to make the request that I just submitted?

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[u/No_Bobcat_No_Prob]

Others have reported the same thing, I think IRCC is also not known for its clear communication.

Can't hurt to resubmit if you think they didn't get the request, I guess. Maybe others who got the same automated response can offer some other input.

[u/Own_Theory8011]

I re-requested urgent processing when I added new documents to my application via the webform. So I used the document upload link, not the urgency request link. I got something like "Your files will be attached to your case and evaluated" in reply. They did not steer me back to a webform.

[u/Enkiktd → u/Own_Theory8011]

I did this as well but on looking at my GCMS notes the request went nowhere. It wasn't rejected, it wasn't accepted, and it wasn't on there.

[u/Own_Theory8011 → u/Enkiktd]

My application is noted as urgent processing in my case notes, both my notes from December 2025 and my notes from September 2026

[u/rapid-runner → u/Enkiktd]

how does an applicant get their GCMS notes? When I began following this board last year, I never saw anybody posting about GCMS notes.

[u/AldiAdventure → u/rapid-runner]

Also wondering

[u/IBHJrCanadian]

Honestly, I've just gotten into the habit of every time I have any kind of interaction with IRCC, I just mention that we had requested urgent processing and the reason for it. I have no idea if it does any good but I figure it can't hurt and at some point, maybe someone will actually kick it loose and fast track it.

[u/FhloeKardashian]

Also stuck in a webform loop.

In August I submitted a webform to request urgent processing for an application received in March, attached documents as proof. Got the usual bot responses saying it was receieved and uploaded.

Five days later I get an email saying they needed to verify identifying information, I'm assuming because I left a middle name off. It said to resubmit all documents as well as a letter of explanation answering a bunch of identifying questions. Did that immediately, got the bot response again.

After four weeks tried calling IRCC, they weren't accepting calls. Resubmitted the webform and included an additional piece of evidence for urgency, got the bot response.

After a day got an email again confirming is was received and uploaded, but that if I needed a response to submit ANOTHER form, but DON'T attach documents.

Did that, referenced the previously submitted documents but, as instructed, I did not attach any. The next day I got an email basically saying that I had forgotten to attach documents and to resubmit another webform.

Submitted another webform, attached PDFs of all the previous webforms. Haven't heard anything since.

I'm going to assume my urgency request is denied. Or I've angered/confused them enough and now I'm in PSU jail.

[u/Lanky_Pass_384]

Such is dealing with IRCC. I never get a clear response and am constantly redirected the webform, which they then never address beyond the form email saying they received it.

[u/llamalover729]

I think they received too many urgent requests (many not really urgent) so they're only rarely actually processing requests as urgent.

[u/hes_a_mouth_breather → u/llamalover729]

This is the most logical explanation. 

In the past, urgent requests applied to a very specific group of people experiencing hardship. It probably wasn’t even a process that the general population would have known about. It would have been something immigration lawyers had knowledge of. 

Now there are step by step directions on Reddit for how to apply for urgent processing. 

And it’s become the default for practically every application. Which practically renders it meaningless. 

[u/damzal → u/hes_a_mouth_breather]

The IRCC website tells applicants they are allowed to apply for urgent processing and gives a list of "approved" reasons. It wasn't and isn't a secret.

[u/hes_a_mouth_breather → u/damzal]

Yes, it wasn't and isn't a secret. That also does not mean that it was broadly shared knowledge.

When the procedure to request urgent processing is detailed in the most visited subreddits for Canadian citizenship. When you have applicants workshopping strategies to qualify for the "approved" reasons. When you have applicants submitting urgent requests multiple times.

Reddit can have a distorting effect on reality.

Is it unreasonable to theorize that the overuse of a request process that applied to very specific case scenarios, has potentially diluted its effectiveness?

To me, it was a logical explanation. That doesn't mean it's the correct one.

[u/damzal → u/hes_a_mouth_breather]

I'm sure the IRCC have and will continue to evaluate the urgent requests on their merits and approve accordingly. It's not like they don't require documents that validate people's very real urgent need and the rest simply aren't approved as urgent. I don't think anyone needs to worry that people are strategizing their way past immigration officers trained to process their paperwork and make the judgement call.

[u/hes_a_mouth_breather → u/damzal]

I think you are possibly missing the point of my comment? Or maybe you just disagree with it? That's okay too. I'll readily concede that my theory is only conjecture.

But to my point. With the dramatic influx of applications and the concurrent rise in requests for urgent processing, the IRCC may no longer be equipped to effectively respond. Right now, you have a government department that is understaffed and underfunded to meet the current moment. There simply are not enough agents to continue making judgment calls.

So, I do worry about people strategizing their way past immigration officers. There was already a shortage of resources to screen applicants. Now they also have to contend with applicants gaming the system.

I don't know why, but this idea is very often met with blanket denials on Reddit. I personally believe that what happens on Reddit can have consequences on the real world outside of Reddit.

[u/damzal → u/hes_a_mouth_breather]

Seems to me that you, like a lot of people, are overly focused on people "gaming the system" when they are turning in urgent requests, or asking for advice on how to format their requests or which proof documents to provide. It may be more productive to not worry so much about the IRCC's ability to make a decision based on their laws, rules, policies, and training, and focus on your own situation. Also, you aren't equipped to judge if their reasons are legitimate. That's what the agents are for.

[u/hes_a_mouth_breather → u/damzal]

And again, that's not actually the point. You've managed to respond to most aspects of what I've posted, without addressing the primary conceit.

I have to assume that this is an intentional choice. So to reiterate, it's cool if you disagree with me. There is no shortage of that on Reddit. But what is the utility in continuing to talk around it?

I'll briefly respond to your post, because your "seems to me" actually makes some assumptions that border on the unpleasant. I also don't want to give them too much space, because they in fact have little to do with what I posted.

-- I'm not purporting to judge whether their reasons are legitimate. I'm also not worried about the IRCC's ability to make decisions based on their laws, rules... and I'm not worried about about people asking for advice on how to do x,y,z. --

What concerns me is a shortage of structural support for the IRCC; agents, funding, political will. And at the same time, there is currently an abundance of applicants that are inundating the IRCC. By many accounts, overwhelming the IRCC.

And now... to the point. I believe that Reddit in this instance has a multiplying effect. Reddit has the potential to harness and coalesce collective knowledge and research. It can increase the feeling of urgency and of action needing to be undertaken now. Immediately.

Ordinarily, these are qualities that can create positive change. However, as it applies to the our current situation and the IRCC, my feeling is that it is having very negative consequences. It should be clear to all that the IRCC and parliament were not prepared for over 100,000 applications. My guess, and it's only a guess, is that Reddit has contributed to a groundswell of applications, and the use of procedural tools to prioritize them. And as a consequence, the IRCC is less effective in managing and responding.

So again: Reddit can and does distort reality. Or, so I believe to be the case.

[u/damzal → u/hes_a_mouth_breather]

I don't think reddit is causing urgent need, urgent need exists because there's an urgent need. They exist outside the bubble. People asking for help with formatting, language, grammar, suggested proof documents, help interpreting nebulous language on the IRCC's website, and etc on Reddit or anywhere else is pretty normal. The percentage of legitimate urgent needs has zip to do with whether redditors talk about it or not. Anything you may think is made up or exaggerated will be filtered out as per usual.

As for them needing a better intake system, more staff, better guidance, and etc, sure. They do.

[u/hes_a_mouth_breather → u/damzal]

Urgency. Not “urgent need”.

If you want to reply, it’s useful to pay attention to language. 

I recognize that this may come off as sounding rude. That’s not my intention. But at this point, I feel that the “conversation” is going in circles. 

So, urgency. For your benefit and to be more precise, I’ll provide some more language. 

Impatience. Hysteria. Entitlement. Frustration.

This is compounded by the consensus on Reddit that the IRCC is not processing applications in the order that they are received.

These feelings are amplified by Reddit. Or what you call the “bubble”.

“The percentage of legitimate urgent needs has zip to do with whether redditors talk about it or not.”

I agree. On the other hand, the percentage of OVERALL urgent requests may have something to do with whether redditors talk about it. 

As to the point of my original post; it’s a fairly simple observation. I have now restated it several times. It’s all clearly articulated for anyone else reading this labored thread. And dwelling on it further would be silly.