You submitted your Express Entry application. You got your AOR. Now you are refreshing your IRCC portal multiple times per day, watching for any status change.
Then something updates. Your portal now says "We are processing your background check." Is that good? Bad? How much longer?
If you have searched for answers, you have probably found forum posts mentioning MEP, IP1, IP2, and ghost updates. These terms are not on any official IRCC page. They come from the applicant community, developed over years of shared experiences.
Here is what every Express Entry portal status actually means, what happens at each stage, and how long each step typically takes based on 700+ community-submitted timelines at Soon To Be Canadian.
The Express Entry Application Stages
After you receive your Acknowledgement of Receipt (AOR), your application moves through several processing stages. IRCC does not officially label these stages. The community has named them based on the status messages that appear in your portal.
Here is the typical progression:
AOR → BIL → MEP → IP1 → NA2 → IP2 → Ghost Updates → PPR → eCoPR
Not everyone sees every stage. Some applicants skip stages entirely. Others see them out of order. But this is the most common path.
AOR: Acknowledgement of Receipt
What your portal shows: Your application has been received.
What it means: IRCC confirms they have your application. You get a UCI (Unique Client Identifier) and application number.
Community data: 94% of applicants in our tracker received AOR within one day of submission. This is the easy part. Now the waiting begins.
BIL: Biometrics Instruction Letter
What your portal shows: A message with instructions to give your biometrics.
What it means: IRCC wants your fingerprints and photo. If you have given biometrics to IRCC within the last 10 years, you may not need to provide them again.
Community data: Median time from AOR to BIL is 3 days.
What to do: You have 30 days to complete biometrics after receiving your BIL. Book your appointment as soon as possible. Delays here delay your entire application.
MEP: Medicals Passed
What your portal shows: The medical results section changes to "You passed the medical exam."
What it means: Your Immigration Medical Examination results have been reviewed and you meet Canada's health requirements.
Community data: Median time from medical exam to MEP is 18 days. 90% of applicants see MEP within 45 days of their exam.
MEP is a positive signal. It means a human has reviewed at least part of your file. Many applicants see faster movement after MEP appears.
IP1: In Progress Stage 1
What your portal shows: The background check section changes to "Your application is in progress. We will send you a message when we start your background check."
What it means: Your application has moved from the queue into active processing. IRCC has started preliminary review.
Community data: IP1 typically lasts only a few hours to a couple of days. It is the shortest stage and easy to miss.
Many applicants never see IP1. They go directly from MEP to IP2. Canadian Experience Class (CEC) applicants especially tend to skip this stage. If you never see IP1, that is not a problem.
IP2: In Progress Stage 2
What your portal shows: The background check section changes to "We are processing your background check. We will send you a message if we need more information."
What it means: This is the main processing stage. Your security and criminality checks are being conducted. CSIS and CBSA are reviewing your file.
Community data: Based on our tracker, the median time in IP2 is 21 days. However, IP2 has the widest variance of any stage.
- 25th percentile: 8 days
- 75th percentile: 47 days
- Some applicants: 3 to 4 months
Why IP2 takes so long for some people: Extended background checks happen for applicants who have lived in or traveled to certain countries. IRCC does not publish which countries trigger extended screening. Complex employment histories, previous visa refusals, or discrepancies in your application can also extend IP2.
What if you are stuck in IP2? If you pass the 75th percentile (47 days) without movement and have not received any document requests, consider contacting IRCC through their web form.
Ghost Updates
What your portal shows: Your application says "Updated" but when you check, nothing has visibly changed.
What it means: Something happened in IRCC's internal system that triggered an update flag, but no status message changed on your end.
Community data: Most applicants who report ghost updates receive their PPR within 7 to 21 days after the final ghost update.
How ghost updates work: If you provided biometrics, you may see IP2 status immediately after AOR. This is "false IP2" before you have actually reached that stage. In this case:
- First ghost update = Your real IP1 has completed
- Second ghost update = Your real IP2 has completed
- Third ghost update = PPR is coming soon
Ghost updates are generally good signs. They mean your file is being actively processed.
ADR: Additional Document Request
What your portal shows: A message requesting specific additional documents.
What it means: IRCC needs more information. This could be clarification on employment, updated police certificates, or documents they feel are missing.
Community data: About 15% of applicants in our tracker received at least one ADR. The most common requests are for employment reference letters and updated police certificates.
What to do: You typically have 30 to 60 days to respond. Take this seriously. Respond completely and on time. Failure to respond leads to refusal.
ADR does not necessarily mean something is wrong. Many routine applications receive ADRs simply because IRCC wants additional verification.
PPR: Passport Request
What your portal shows: You receive the "Ready for visa" email.
What it means: Your application has been approved in principle. IRCC wants your passport to stamp your visa (if applicable) and issue your eCoPR.
Community data: The median time from AOR to PPR is 52 days for CEC, 86 days for FSW, and 71 days for PNP applicants.
What to do: If you are outside Canada, follow the instructions to submit your passport to your visa office. If you are inside Canada with valid status, you may not need to submit a physical passport.
PPR is the home stretch. You are almost a permanent resident.
eCoPR: Confirmation of Permanent Residence
What your portal shows: Your application status changes to "Approved."
What it means: You are officially a permanent resident of Canada.
What comes next: Your physical PR card is mailed separately. This takes 30 to 90 days after eCoPR. You do not need the physical card to live and work in Canada.
Stage Timing Summary
Based on 700+ timelines in the Express Entry Tracker:
| Stage | Typical Duration |
|---|---|
| Submission to AOR | Minutes to 24 hours |
| AOR to BIL | 1 to 7 days |
| Medical Exam to MEP | 7 to 45 days |
| IP2 Duration | 8 to 47 days (median 21) |
| IP2 to PPR | 7 to 20 days |
| PPR to eCoPR | 1 to 21 days |
Total AOR to eCoPR: 42 to 150 days for most applicants.
What You Should Do While Waiting
Check your portal once daily. More than that will not speed anything up and will only increase your anxiety.
Keep your documents current. Police certificates and medical exams expire. If your processing extends, you may need to renew them.
Report changes immediately. New job, new address, new family member, marriage, divorce. Update IRCC through your portal right away.
Add your timeline to the tracker. Help future applicants by sharing your experience at the Express Entry Tracker. The data in this article exists because hundreds of community members contributed their timelines.
This article is based on community-submitted data and is intended for informational purposes only. IRCC processing varies based on individual circumstances. This is not legal or immigration advice. For guidance specific to your situation, consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or immigration lawyer. Data reflects timelines submitted to Soon To Be Canadian as of March 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "We are processing your background check" mean in Express Entry?
This message indicates you are in the IP2 stage. IRCC is conducting security and criminality checks through CSIS and CBSA. This is the main processing phase and typically takes 8 to 47 days based on community data. If you see this status, your application is progressing normally. Extended background checks for certain countries of residence can make this stage last longer.
Why did my Express Entry portal update but nothing changed?
This is called a "ghost update" in the applicant community. Your portal shows the application was updated, but no visible status changed. Ghost updates typically indicate internal processing milestones. For applicants who provided biometrics, ghost updates often signal completion of IP1 or IP2 stages. Most applicants receive PPR within 7 to 21 days of their final ghost update.
How long does the IP2 stage take in 2026?
Based on 700+ community-submitted timelines, the median IP2 duration is 21 days. The 25th percentile is 8 days and the 75th percentile is 47 days. Some applicants with extended background checks remain in IP2 for 3 to 4 months. If you exceed 47 days without a status change, consider contacting IRCC through their web form.
What is the difference between IP1 and IP2 in Express Entry?
IP1 (In Progress Stage 1) is a preliminary review that typically lasts hours to a few days. IP2 (In Progress Stage 2) is the main processing stage where your full background and security checks occur. IP1 says IRCC will message you when they start your background check. IP2 says they are processing your background check. Many applicants skip IP1 entirely and go straight to IP2, especially CEC applicants.
What happens after PPR in Express Entry?
After receiving your Passport Request (PPR), you submit your passport if required (mainly for applicants outside Canada). IRCC then issues your eCoPR (electronic Confirmation of Permanent Residence), typically within 1 to 21 days. Your eCoPR confirms you are officially a permanent resident of Canada. Your physical PR card is mailed separately within 30 to 90 days.