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?