Members compared notes on Student Direct Stream (SDS) processing times for master's applications and found wide variation, without a clear single explanation.
What members reported (historical — check current IRCC processing standards, as these shift over time):- Some applicants received a decision in under 10 days.
- Most applicants in the discussion reported closer to 80 days.
- Members disagreed on why — some suspected it depended on the visa office processing their file (e.g., country-specific backlogs) rather than a strict, predictable rule tied to program level (master's vs. bachelor's).
Takeaway: don't benchmark your own timeline too closely against another applicant's — SDS processing varies significantly by processing office and application volume at the time, not just program type. Check IRCC's current published processing times for the most accurate expectation.