In response to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) recently revealed strategy, “An Immigration System for Canada’s Future,” the IRCC is taking steps to realign application processing times for key programs and reassess their effectiveness. A crucial aspect of this initiative involves synchronizing application intake with available admission spaces to counter the prolonged waiting times that applicants might face when demand surpasses the available program spaces.
The strategy emphasizes that aligning application intake with admission spaces will alleviate the extended waiting periods, enabling applicants and their support networks to better plan for their arrival. This, in turn, facilitates a smoother settlement and integration process for newcomers to Canada.
Challenges in Certain Programs
The Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP) is currently contending with a backlog of applications stretching back three years to the onset of the pandemic. Despite challenges posed by border closures, travel restrictions, and temporary office closures, the IRCC continued to accept applications for the PGP during the pandemic, leading to a substantial inventory of nearly 100,000 applicants. As of 2023, the IRCC is still processing the 2020 pool of applicants for the PGP. The program enables Canadian citizens and permanent residents to sponsor their parents and grandparents to live in Canada.
Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026
The IRCC establishes immigration targets for up to three years in its annual Immigration Levels Plan. The most recent plan, released on November 1st, outlines targets for the number of permanent residents Canada plans to admit for 2024 (485,000) and 2025 and 2026 (500,000 each year). These targets are set with the aim of strengthening Canada’s economy and workforce through sustainable population growth, adding another layer of consideration to application intake.
The IRCC Strategy and Auditor General Report
The IRCC‘s strategy to improve processing times aligns with recommendations from Canada’s Auditor General (OAG), which identified the need for achievable and reliable service standards for all permanent residency programs. The OAG report also suggested prioritizing the finalization of older backlogged applications and leveraging digital tools to enhance processing efficiency.
The strategy outlines plans to embrace digital tools and advanced analytics to automate routine case determinations, streamline application processing, and ensure fairness in decision-making. Already in motion, this approach is being implemented in processing Post-Graduation Work Permits (PGWPs) and Work Permit Extensions.
Current Backlog Situation
The IRCC aims to process 80% of all applications within specified service standards, varying based on the application type. While there has been a slight reduction in the total number of applications in inventory as of September 30, the backlog remains a concern. Temporary residence visas, including work permits, study visas, and visitor visas, accounted for the highest number of backlogged applications in September, indicating an 18% increase over August data.