Canada has a backlog of nearly 1.8 million immigration applications

Since July, the backlog has increased by about 350,000 applications. The CICC currently has a backlog of around 1.8 million immigration applications.

According to data obtained by CIC News from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (CICC), as of October 27, 2021, the following number of applications were in CICC's inventory:

• 548,000 applications for Canadian permanent residency (economic, family, refugee, and humanitarian class applicants)
• 776,000 applications for temporary residence (applications for study permits, work permits, temporary resident visas, and visitor extensions)
• 468,000 applicants for Canadian citizenship (as of October 26)
• There are 1,792,000 total applications in inventory.

According to CICC data, the backlog has increased by roughly 350,000 applications since July.

According to a report published in August by the Toronto Star's Nicholas Keung, the backlog as of July 6, 2021, was around:

• 375,000 applications for Canadian permanent residency
• 703,000 applications for temporary residence
• 370,000 applicants for Canadian citizenship. According to the Star, this figure does not include unprocessed Canadian citizenship applications in the CICC's mailrooms.
•  There are 1,448,000 applications in stock.

"Ongoing international travel limitations, border restrictions, restricted operational capacity overseas, and clients' inability to collect documents due to the consequences of COVID-19 have created bottlenecks within the processing continuum," a CICC representative noted in an email to CIC News. This impedes CICC's ability to complete applications, resulting in delays beyond CICCs control."

"Despite our efforts, we recognize that some applicants have suffered lengthy wait times in the processing of their applications, and we continue to work as hard as we can to reduce processing times," the spokesman said. We appreciate their patience and compassion during this time, and we hope to welcome them to Canada soon."

The CICC also published information on how many applications it processed during the pandemic:

•  Between January and September 2021, 337,000 Canadian permanent residency applications were processed. In 2020, it processed 214,000 applications.
• Between January and September 2021, 1,500,000 temporary residency applications will be processed. In 2020, about 1,700,000 applications are expected.
• Between January and September 2021, 134,000 Canadian citizenship applications were processed. In 2020, roughly 80,000 applications will be processed.

What impact has Backlog had on the application process for permanent residency in Canada?

Due to the backlog, the processing and acceptance of Federal Skilled Worker and Immigrant Investor applications have been put on hold for a long time. However, because of the backlog, SuperVisa applications for parents and grandparents have taken precedence over family sponsorship for permanent residency.

The pandemic has taken a toll on Canadian Immigration offices' working capacity during the last year. The pandemic is partly to blame for a slew of modifications to Canada's immigration system.

As a result, using the services of Immigration lawyers in Toronto has become more vital than ever before in order to gain a greater grasp and expertise of the immigration procedure. Most immigration-related issues can be resolved with the assistance of an immigration lawyer.

How will the CICC deal with backlogs?

The CICC has been using the Express Entry System to administer applications for the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), the Canadian Experience Class (CEC), and the Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP).

Express Entry is one of the main methods by which the Immigration and Refugee Council of Canada (CICC) welcomes low-income individuals to Canada.

Candidates who are eligible for any of the three programmes listed above can construct a profile on the CICC website to acquire a comprehensive ranking.

This complete ranking score method is based on an individual's education, age, language skills, and work experience. Previously, CICC held Express Entry lotteries every two weeks to invite the candidates with the best scores to apply for permanent residence. The pandemic, on the other hand, has changed many parts of this process. 

Despite the fact that most applicants in the express entry pool scored well, the IRCC has only invited PNP and CEC candidates to apply for a permanent residence this year.

The CICC is concentrating its efforts on just accepting CEC and PNP candidates in order to meet a target of 401,000 new permanent residence applications in 2021 as part of its immigration level projections for the years 2021-2023.

 A work permit, also known as a work visa, is granted to eligible individuals who seek to work in a country for a set length of time. People must apply for an open work permit along with their employment offer in order to be eligible for an open work permit in Canada.

The other alternative is to secure a job offer from a Canadian company. For the recruitment of foreign nationals, the business must obtain an LMIA or Labor Market Impact Assessment. Positions that can't be filled by Canadians are typically outsourced to qualified foreign labour.

Swis Immigration is a leading provider of immigration and visa consultation services in Canada. Thousands of Canadian visa applications have been processed by our experts, and they have the knowledge and experience to guide you through the process.

Among the services we provide are:

1. Full visa application assistance 

2. Assist in obtaining supporting documentation

3. Preparation for a visa interview, if one is required.

4. Follow-up with the Consulate and updates

5. If needed, job search assistance

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