詳細はわかりませんが、バックグラウンドチェックもセキュリティチェックもやってますよ。自分のファイルの写しを取ったときに、完了の日付が入っていました。
ただ、国内申請者さんのプロセスが長引いている理由が、本当にバックグラウンド/セキュリティチェックのためなのか、他に問題があるのかはわかりません。もう少し踏み込んで、スポンサーがコールセンターに電話してスーパーバイザを呼び出し確認する、ローカルの移民局で尋ねる、FOSSファイルを取る、MPを通じて確認するなどの手立てを打つことも考えられます。
国内申請者さんは、配偶者ですか、コモンローですか。コモンローなら、関係の証明が不足ということも考えられます。それで2年近くかかった人も知っていますよ。
バックグラウンド/セキュリティチェックについては、コンサルタントが次のように説明しています。
1. Background check - conducted by visa post processing application with cooperation from visa posts in jurisdictions where your education/experience credentials and personal data are from. It verifies your personal info as well as your education and work experience as claimed in application. And yes - employers and schools are often contacted during this task.
2. Security check - conducted completely independently from CIC by Canadian intelligence and security agencies with or without cooperation of proper authorities in countries it is conducted. It checks if applicant is or ever was involved in or associated in any way with someone who is or was involved in espionage, terrorism, war crimes, crimes against humanity, organized crime, radical movements, etc.. Security check is initiated after positive selection decision (subject to completion of background check) was made (after successful interview or interview waiver) and may take anywhere from few months to well over 15 months to conclude - visa post won’t know anything about progress of security check nor any details, all what visa post will receive is positive or negative security decision without any explanation. How far they will go - as far as it takes to have full and clear picture of applicant’s past and present activities, involvements and associations.
http://britishexpats.com/forum/showthread.php?t=366974