If you're an inland Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicant wondering whether it's safe to travel internationally while waiting:
- Expect roughly 6 months as an average processing time for inland CEC applications, though individual timelines vary and some applicants wait considerably longer.
- Confirm your work permit is valid before you travel. As long as you hold a valid work permit, traveling outside Canada (other than the US, per this discussion) and returning before your CEC decision is generally reported as not causing a problem.
- Don't assume travel automatically pauses or restarts your application — the key factor raised here is maintaining valid status via your work permit, not travel itself.
- Track your own AOR and biometrics dates relative to the current average to gauge whether you're within a normal range or should consider following up with IRCC.
Because processing times shift with IRCC's inventory and season, check the current official CEC processing time estimate before making final travel plans.