My timeline are the following:
applied in buffalo jan.2003
file number feb.2003
initial assesment jan.2004
medical march.2004
RCMP july.2004
sumbit passports august.2004
received visa august.2004 <--- took only 5 days to get back passports+visa
landed sept.2004
-------------------total time: 18 month
1. if your online status changed to "in process" - medical has been received. that means you are approved of visa. and you should hearing from them within 1month.
2. if your RCMP sent to embassy, you should hear from them within 2 month.
3. if your didn't hear from them after your RCMP was done for 3 month, then something is wrong with your case. (background checking, etc)