I could a lot of us don't know overall process and actually don't need to know. However, it is always good to know a bit of it. Hope below may help.
1. AOR - usually get after 100+ days of AR as per the current trends and it may change.. EE applicants get AOR immediately after submitting the application.
2. Once you get AOR and you have submitted biometric fees you will get BIL latter, otherwise you may get ADR to submit BIL fees. OR any other ADR if information is missing in your application
3. Your application may return if issues found in - Birth certificate, and few forms .. where family information is missing or primary applicant failed to issue PCC or name is mismatch etc.
4. After AOR, IRCC can start working on your eligibility or background check ... Eligibility usually they check points you claimed like your education, your claimed NOC, your work experience, funds if necessary on your application etc.
5. Once you are passed with eligibility you can get PAL (Pre Arrival letter)
6. In parallel medical also goes .. for outlanders if you are did medical upfront, it does not mean that your medical will be completed. For inland medical is exempt as of now and if inland applicant did IME in the past 5 years, then no need for medical. However this will be validated again in background check.
7. For outlanders once medical is reviewed and passed then medical will be completed.
8. Background Check (medical)- For inland IRCC send request to RMO to get the medical status, based on this, IRCC either mark medical as completed or send MR for another medical. Sometime, this may take a lot of time and we say background check is stuck from quite a long. But here if applicant does medical and submit again then chances are they can get FD only if security is completed. (this is only for inland)
9. Background check - In addition of above, background check will be in progress (like infor sharing will be in progres at this phase)
10. Background Check - If biometric is given and PCC is issued and valid and there is no NRT then criminality will be completed - If there is NRT in PCC then subject to review and here you may have ghost update
11. Background check - If Eligibility is passed (in max cases), security check will start and if it is considered as routine-check (usually 99% applications are considered) then security will be passed, otherwise application will be considered as non-routine and some review is required (comprehensive security check).
12. If your application is not a part of comprehensive security check then your background check will be completed and you will get FD.
13. If application is considered for comprehensive check then to be honest no timeline. :( (I am stuck here)
14. Portal-1 - For inland if background check is completed and received FD after that portal 1. for outlanders you will get PPR.
15. Portal-2 for inland
16. PR Card - Inland
Step 14 to 16 is also called as landing process.
