Navigating Canada’s immigration system can be a long, arduous process. When making an immigration application, or considering whether to make an application, it is important to know what the process entails in order to have proper expectations and to have the best chance of making a successful application. Different applications have differing requirements, and notably, they have different processing times, which can be checked before an application is even made. Processing times for immigration applications has been one of the areas that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada has been trying to address in recent years in order to make processing more efficient.

Canada’s Immigration Backlog

Increased immigration into Canada in conjunction with the delays in immigration caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in a large backlog of immigration applications for Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada. The backlog consists of immigration applications that are not processed within the service standard time set by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

The Government of Canada is cognizant of the backlog and government initiatives have tried to remedy the backlog in order to reduce processing times and bring them in line with the set service standards. Although the Canadian Government has instituted advanced, modern methods to help clear the backlog such as automation tools, there is still a large backlog in applications, despite Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada finalizing more than 7.3 million immigration decisions in 2023.

The application backlog reached a peak of more than 1.8 million applications in late 2021. Since then, the backlog has been reduced, but there is still a significant backlog that needs to be addressed. As of August 31, 2024, the application backlog stands at a total of 1,078,300 applications out of a total of 2,420,800 applications. According to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, the target is to process 80% of applications within the service standards.

The number of applications in the backlog varies based on the type of application. Further, the service standard for each backlog, being the time in which Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada determines is appropriate for processing an application also varies depending on the type of application. Some applications, such as study permit applications are processed faster than Express Entry applications.

According to the data from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, there were a total of 805,600 applications for permanent residence to be processed on August 31, 2024. These applications include applications for permanent residence made under the Provincial Nominee Programs, Express Entry, and family sponsorship.

Permanent Residence

The backlog of permanent residence applications is 300,800 applications, and percentages of the backlog for each category are available. The Express Entry backlog in August 2024 was 16%, which is slightly above the projected backlog of 15% but below the 20% general guideline that has been established. However, the backlog for the Provincial Nominee Program was above the target and projected backlog as it stands at 22%. The family sponsorship backlog is below the target and projected backlog as it is at 14% as of August 2024.

Temporary Residence

While permanent residence backlogs are close to, or below the target backlog of 20%, the situation for temporary residence applications is drastically different. Out of 1,386,000 total applications, 53% are currently in the backlog. This represents a total of 738,900 applications.

The temporary resident visa backlog in August 2024 was 71%. This is drastically above the target of 20%, and still well above the projected backlog of 43%. According to the available data, the backlog for study permits is 32%, well above the projected backlog and the target backlog. Additionally, the backlog for work permits is 47%, which is also well above the target and projected backlogs.

Citizenship

Citizen applications are mostly within service standards according to the available data. The backlog as of August 2024 is at 17%, which is below the target backlog but above the projected backlog.

The Backlog and the Near Future of Immigration in Canada

Overall, there is still a large backlog, although certain applications, like citizenship applications, have comparatively lower backlogs than other applications such as temporary resident applications. While the backlog is down from the post-COVID-19 pandemic heights, there is more work to be done in order to streamline applications and make the process more efficient overall.

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada deserve some credit however, as they have instituted new methods and programs in order to reduce the backlogs. Initiatives such as virtual citizenship ceremonies, the creation of online portals for applications and prioritization of essential occupation applications have all served to reduce the backlog from its peak. Technological improvements like automated processing and additional online application tools can make application processing more efficient and should continue to be implemented by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.

Although there may be concern about automated tools being used, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada have made it clear that even when the tools are used, the decisions made will be consistent with decisions made by an immigration officer. Also, automation tools alone will never refuse an application, or recommend refusing an immigration application, as those decisions are to be made by officers.

Finally, the backlog may be reduced in 2025 if additional immigration restrictions continue to be implemented. Stricter immigration regulations as well as caps on immigration programs such as the study permit program and a potential soft cap on temporary residents coming into Canada will serve to reduce the backlog by dissuading some people from applying, as well as making decisions on applications more efficiently because of the stricter regulations.

Contact Garson Immigration Law for Canadian Immigration Assistance

At Garson Immigration Law, we are exclusively dedicated to the practice of immigration law. We understand that waiting for your immigration application to be processed can be stressful. Our immigration lawyers can help successfully guide you through the immigration process and find solutions for your individual immigration needs.

We work to find effective solutions for our clients in all kinds of immigration matters, including permanent residence, inadmissibility, and US immigration. If you have any questions about an immigration application, do not hesitate to reach out to us online or by calling us at 416-321-2860.