Canada’s immigration backlog has remained stagnant for one month. As per the latest data, it is still 2.6 million people. The updated data by IRCC shows the same data as the last update on September 30.
All business fields comprise the following inventory since July 2021:
- September 30, 2022: 2,600,000 people (estimated figure given by IRCC)
- August 31, 2022: 2,583,827 people
- July 15-17, 2022: 2,679,031 people
- June 1-6, 2022: 2,387,884 people
- April 30-May 2, 2022: 2,130,385 people
- April 11-12, 2022: 2,031,589 people
- March 15 and 17, 2022: 1,844,424 people
- February 1, 2022: 1,815,628 people
- December 15, 2021: 1,813,144 people
- October 27, 2021: 1,792,404 people
- July 6, 2021: 1,447,474 people
Application inventories at present
According to the website, the applications classify into permanent residence, temporary residence, and citizenship applications. Out of all these applications, IRCC claims the processing of 1.11 million applications within the given standard processing times. These processed applications account for at least 50 percent of them. However, around 1.49 million applications don’t meet the service standards. As per the classification above, these account for 46 percent of temporary residence applications, with 47 percent and 69 percent of PR, and citizenship applications, respectively.
What is a service standard?
IRCC created a service standard for the internal processing of applications for all business lines. The primary aim of IRCC is to process a standard number of applications associated with each immigration program. However, these service standards are not the same as the average duration of time to process applications of each program. In fact, IRCC even promised to provide regular updates regarding application processing time on their website to maintain transparency.
The Express Entry pathway for permanent residence takes an average time of six months. However, the economic class business lines will take longer than this time. Spousal, as well as Child Family Class Sponsorship, will take 12 months processing time.
Temporary Residence applications
The service standards of the Temporary Residence applications more or less depend upon the application type, that is, either study or work application. The timeframe is between 60 to 120 days. Another factor determining the service standard is whether an individual applied from Canada or abroad. Contrarily, the service standard for citizenship applications is twelve months. Extra four months shall also be included due to the time between the application approval and the schedule for the citizenship ceremony.
Canada’s immigration backlog reduction
The latest update on September 30 on the IRCCs website remains the same as of now. The allocation for Canada’s immigration backlog diverted based on the business lines. Permanent Residence applications saw a drastic increase, while temporary residency and citizenship applications deteriorated. PR applications increased after the Express Entry draws for all programs resumed on July 6. Additionally, IRCC invited 1,500 candidates to apply for permanent residence.
The inventory numbers include the following:
- The inventory for citizenship applications stands at 352,000 individuals as of September 30. The earlier inventory as on August 31 was 371,620 individuals.
- The PR inventory comprises 614,600 individuals as of September 30, while on August 31, the PR inventory consisted of 513,923 applications.
- Additionally, the inventory for temporary residents remained at 1,644,100 applicants on September 30 compared to August 31, with 1,698,284 individuals.
Therefore, out of the three chief immigration categories, two of them underwent a decline. Contrarily, the PR applications increased by 100,677 applicants.
Possibility of Canada’s immigration backlog resuming to normal
The estimation of the overall immigration backlog in Canada will reflect on the IRCCs webpage for the following months. According to the published data on the website, the federal skilled PR applications and applications under the Provincial Nominee Programs will likely have a 20 percent backlog by December 2022. On the other hand, PR applications for family, spouse, or children (excluding Quebec) will account for 19 percent of the backlog. The estimated backlog for citizenship applications will account for 25 percent by December 2022.
The predictions for Temporary Resident Permits will vary based on the type of visa.
The following predictions will reflect in March 2023:
- 58 percent of the backlog will reflect Temporary Resident Visas.
- 23 percent of the backlog in the Study Permits.
- The estimated backlog for work permits will account for 30 percent in March 2023.
- As per IRCC, the immigration backlog will increase to 60 percent by December 2022 before declining again.
IRCCs initiatives for improvement
IRCC took into consideration Canada’s immigration backlog situation and further decided to take a few initiatives to speed up the processing time. Canadian Prime Minister developed a Taskforce to ensure the adoption of new measures for backlog improvements, both long-term and short-term. Followed by this, on September 1, the Prime Minister also declared the system with the latest updates.
The department decided to shift to an absolute digitalized procedure, specifically most of the PR-based programs, on September 23. A few adjustments also happened for those who failed to apply online. This shift included the citizenship applications, which are now 100 percent digital for those above the age of 18 years. However, IRCC seeks to make this digital for even minors. It looks forward to welcoming a more modernized and technically updated system, with at least 1,250 new staff members added to the team.
