H&C Application Taking Too Long? How to Check Its Status and What You Can Do (2026)
The short answer: If your H&C application seems stuck, start with the basics: check your status with IRCC, make sure IRCC has your current contact details, and do not file a second application. According to IRCC, a person may only have one H&C application under consideration at a time. Mandamus in the Federal Court is a legal remedy for unreasonable delay. Delay alone is not enough, but courts do grant mandamus in some cases. It is usually brought with a lawyer, and a consultant cannot appear for you in Federal Court. A court application is not a quick fix.
How do I check the status of my H&C application?
IRCC's page on how to check your application status lists an Application status tracker for certain application types. H&C is not among the types it lists, so you may need to use IRCC's web form instead. Check that page for what applies to you now.
You can also ask a question about a submitted application through IRCC's web form. IRCC says its agents can answer general questions and check application status, but they "don't have more details than what's available online." They cannot make a decision on your application or speed up processing unless you already qualify for urgent processing. IRCC also says that if you haven't heard from it, your application is likely still being processed, and that submitting another web form won't speed things up.
So expect limited information. IRCC says its agents can check your application status but have no more details than what is available online. A status check will not tell you when a decision is coming.
What does IRCC say about H&C processing?
We do not repeat the numbers here. See our H&C processing time post and IRCC's own processing times tool. One IRCC document to Parliament (a briefing for the House of Commons immigration committee, October 2025) states that "The H&C and Other category does not have a service standard." Processing is discretionary. See what happens after you apply.
Can I request my file notes?
You can ask IRCC for personal information it holds about you through a Privacy Act request. IRCC's Privacy Act request page says foreign nationals can make a request, there are no fees, and you can apply online through the government's ATIP portal or by mail using form IMM 5563 or a letter. IRCC warns that high request volumes may affect its ability to meet the response deadlines.
The page does not describe what a response will contain, so we cannot tell you what your file will show. For how this works in practice, see requesting GCMS notes. Keep in mind that a request takes time and is not a way to speed up your application.
What if I moved or received a letter?
IRCC's page on updating contact information says you must keep your address, email and phone number current and tell IRCC when they change. IRCC's web form covers email and phone changes; for an address change, check IRCC's address-change page for your application type. IRCC says it can take up to 2 weeks for updated information to appear in some of its online services, and that until it updates your record you should keep checking your old address and email, since it may contact you there.
IRCC also says not to send changes by mail. On its status page, it says that if you do, "we won't acknowledge your request or update your application."
If you receive a letter, read it carefully and note any deadline. A request for documents or a procedural fairness letter usually has a response date. Missing it could affect how IRCC handles your file.
What is mandamus, and can it help?
Mandamus is an order from the Federal Court telling a decision-maker to do something they are legally required to do. It does not tell IRCC to approve you. It asks the Court to require a decision.
In Emam Doust v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2025 FC 1546, the Federal Court set out the test, drawing on Apotex. It is conjunctive, meaning every element must be met. They include a public legal duty to act that is owed to the applicant, a clear right to performance of that duty, no other adequate remedy, a prior demand for performance and a reasonable time to comply, and a balance of convenience that favours an order. For delay, the Court cited Conille: the delay must be "prima facie longer than the nature of the process required," the applicant must not be responsible for it, and the authority has "not provided satisfactory justification."
Delay alone is not enough. In Habibi v. Canada (Citizenship and Immigration), 2025 FC 1675, the Court said published processing times are not binding on the Minister and do not automatically entitle an applicant to mandamus when exceeded. Even so, the Court granted mandamus in Habibi, a citizenship case. In Emam Doust, the Court dismissed the application even though the files had been pending far longer than average, because the delay was justified by admissibility concerns. Emam Doust involved study and work permits and Habibi involved citizenship, not H&C, so they show how the Court reasons rather than how your case would turn out.
Who can bring a mandamus application?
It is a court application. The Federal Court says a citizenship or immigration consultant "may neither represent you in a Federal Court proceeding nor provide legal advice regarding your Federal Court judicial process." See who may represent you. You may represent yourself or hire a lawyer. A regulated consultant can help with IRCC steps, but cannot appear for you in Federal Court. See RCIC or lawyer.
What should you not do?
Do not submit a second H&C application. IRCC says only one can be under consideration at a time.
Do not repeat the same web form. IRCC says it won't speed things up.
Do not mail address changes. Use the method IRCC lists for your application type.
Do not assume a long wait means a refusal. Keep your status in order. See status while waiting.
Who does this affect?
Applicants who filed inland H&C and have heard nothing
People who moved since applying
Applicants whose temporary status is about to expire
People thinking about court action over delay
What should you do?
Check your status with IRCC and save a screenshot or note with the date.
Confirm IRCC has your current address, email and phone.
Keep copies of everything you filed and any letters you received.
Decide whether a Privacy Act request for your file would help.
If you are considering mandamus, speak to a lawyer about your own facts.
Plan for your status, work and health coverage while you wait.
Unsure what your options are while you wait? E-Pathway Immigration, led by Domonic Cheung, RCIC (R711344) in Vancouver, can review your file and the IRCC steps open to you. Book a case review.
Frequently asked questions
Can I check my H&C application status online?
IRCC's status page lists the Application status tracker for certain application types, and H&C is not among them. You may need to use IRCC's web form. Check the page for what applies now.
Will contacting IRCC speed up my H&C application?
Probably not. IRCC says its agents cannot speed up processing unless you already qualify for urgent processing, and that submitting another web form won't help.
Can I submit a new H&C application if the first one is taking too long?
No. IRCC says a person is only allowed to have one H&C application under consideration at a time.
Can an RCIC file a mandamus application?
Generally no. The Federal Court says a consultant may not represent you in a Federal Court proceeding. You may represent yourself or use a lawyer.
Does a long wait mean I can get mandamus?
Not automatically. The Federal Court has said delay must be longer than the process requires, not your fault, and without satisfactory justification, among other elements.
Key takeaways
Check status through the method IRCC lists for your application type, and expect limited detail.
Keep your address, email and phone current, using IRCC's listed methods and not mail.
Never file a second H&C application.
Mandamus is usually brought with a lawyer, and delay alone is not enough.
The bottom line
A slow H&C file is frustrating, but most of the useful steps are simple. See the H&C hub for more. The basics: confirm IRCC can reach you, keep records, and protect your status. Court action is a specialist option for a lawyer to assess, not a shortcut.
Questions about your situation? E-Pathway Immigration, led by Domonic Cheung, RCIC (R711344) in Vancouver, can review your situation. Book a case review.
Last reviewed: November 2026
Sources: IRCC, How to check your application status; IRCC, Contact us online (web form); IRCC, Update your contact information; IRCC, How to make a request under the Privacy Act; IRCC, Humanitarian and compassionate considerations; IRCC, CIMM briefing on H&C and other immigration, October 2025; Federal Court, Emam Doust, 2025 FC 1546; Federal Court, Habibi, 2025 FC 1675; Federal Court, Who may represent you.
This article provides general information only. It is not legal advice and does not create a client relationship. Immigration options and outcomes depend on individual circumstances. Consult a qualified representative for advice about your situation.
About the author
Domonic Cheung is a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC), licence R711344, with E-Pathway Immigration in Vancouver, BC. You can verify his licence on the College of Immigration and Citizenship Consultants (CICC) public register.
Comments