What happens after AOR in Express Entry and what impact Operational Bulletin 699 has | ImmigraCan

What is the AOR in Express Entry?

The AOR (Acknowledgement of Receipt) is the official confirmation sent by IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) after receiving your complete application through Express Entry. This is an important milestone in the Canadian immigration process, since it confirms your documents have been received and are being processed.

When you receive the AOR, IRCC provides a unique reference number you'll use to track your application's progress through the online portal. This is also the moment your Express Entry profile changes status, moving from being just a profile in the candidate pool into the formal eligibility review phase.

Expected timeline after the AOR

After receiving the AOR, you can expect the following timelines:

• Preliminary eligibility: 4-6 weeks
• Security and background checks: 2-8 months (depending on country of origin)
• Provisional approval: up to 6 months for most cases
• Final approval: once all requirements have been met

It's essential to understand that receiving the AOR does not guarantee approval. It's only the beginning of the detailed review of your eligibility.

Operational Bulletin 699 and its impact in 2026

Operational Bulletin 699 (Op Bulletin 699) established significant changes to the Express Entry process, particularly regarding the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) and the granting of Bridging Open Work Permits.

Key changes from Bulletin 699:

1. Expanded Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP)

The bulletin expanded access to the BOWP for candidates nominated through the PNP who are awaiting a final decision. This means many candidates can work legally in Canada while their PR application is being processed.

2. Revised eligibility criteria

The bulletin introduced new criteria to determine who is eligible to apply for the BOWP, based on processing stage and the specific provincial nomination.

3. Faster processing for PNP nominees

Candidates nominated by provinces receive priority processing, with completion targets of within 6 months of the AOR in many cases.

How to check your status after the AOR

Access the My Immigration Portal using your GCKey account or banking credentials. There you can:

• Track your application's progress in real time
• View which steps have been completed
• Receive notifications about requests for additional documentation
• See the estimated decision date

Important next steps

After the AOR, you should:

1. Respond promptly to any IRCC request for additional information
2. Keep your information updated, including address and phone number
3. Check your email regularly for official communications
4. Not abandon your application even if processing takes longer than expected

If you're considering Express Entry, we recommend calculating your CRS score to understand your chances of receiving an invitation. For specific provincial nomination cases, explore the immigration programs available for your professional and personal situation.

Final thoughts

Operational Bulletin 699 represented an important evolution in the Canadian immigration process, making it more predictable and offering more opportunities for candidates awaiting decisions. Understanding what happens after the AOR is crucial for managing expectations and planning your transition to Canada properly.

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*This content is informational and does not constitute legal or immigration advice. ImmigraCan is not affiliated with the Government of Canada or IRCC. Always confirm official data on canada.ca and, for your specific case, consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or lawyer.*