IRCC incorporated important updates in the processing times system regarding the amount of time to take for processing applications. The update will keep up the transparency with all the clients and also display correct information before them.
Sean Fraser, the immigration minister, introduced this update on March 31, 2022. This update is an initiative by the Government to organize a planned timeline for the upcoming applicants. The processing times will be calculated based on all the previous data from six months for permanent citizenship using dynamic processing times. These calculations will be displayed weekly.
The new processing times system will also give information on the approximate number of applications under process.
How does the Service Standard differ from the latest Processing Time?
The Service Standard is the estimate of the amount of time the government takes to process and complete applications whereas Processing Times talks about the time taken to process and complete applications in the past with updates on a weekly basis.
Also, the Service Standard isn’t available for all the programs and lacks regular updates, unlike the latest Processing Times.
Processing Times Calculations
- The processing time is calculated on the time taken to process previous 80 percent of applications.
- The processing time begins with the completion of application and ends with the IRCC officer’s decision about it.
- If an individual applies through the mail, the processing time starts when the complete application is received by email.
- For those who apply physically or online, their processing time starts once their application is submitted.
Current Processing Times of IRCC
With effect from March 31, 2022, the processing times are given below:
IMMIGRATION FOR THE ECONOMY CLASS
Express Entry Programs
- The processing time for CEC is 7 months.
- For FSWP and FSTP the processing time is 27 months.
- For PNP it is 22 months.
- For PNP, Non-Express Entry it is 27 months.
- For Quebec Skilled Workers it is 31 months.
- For Quebec Business Class it is 65 months.
- For the Federal Self-Employed, it is 42 months.
- The processing time for Atlantic Immigration Program is 14 months.
- Start-Up Visa’s processing time is 31 months.
- There is no processing time available for Caregivers Pilots.
PROCESSING TIME FOR FAMILY CLASS IMMIGRATION
- For parents and Grandparents, the time is 32 months.
- For the dependent or adopted child or relative, the processing time shall vary from one country to another.
- The processing times for spouse or common-law partner in and outside Canada are 16 and 19 months respectively.
PROCESSING TIME FOR REFUGEES
- Refugees sponsored or assisted either by the Government or private also differ.
- The Processing time for Refugees and protected people is 22 months.
- For the Humanitarian and Compassionate category, it is 16 months.
APPLICATIONS OF TEMPORARY RESIDENTS
- For outside Canadian Visitor Visa, it depends upon the country.
- For online inside Candian Visitor Visa, it is 16 days while via paper it is 48 days.
- For parents and grandparents Super Visa, it depends on the country.
- For Visitor’s extension online it takes 162 days while via paper it takes 201 days.
- It takes 13 weeks for a Study Permit outside Canada while only 9 weeks for a Study Permit inside Canada.
- For a Study Permit extension online, it takes 75 days whereas 156 days via paper.
- Initial application/ Extension for Work Permit inside Canada is 133 days online and 239 days via paper.
- It takes just 5 minutes for authorization of electronic travel.
- Work Permit outside Canada depends on country to country.
- Processing time for International experience in Canada also depends on the country.
CITIZENSHIP APPLICATIONS
- It takes 27 months to receive a grant for Citizenship.
- It takes 17 months to receive citizenship certificate.
- It takes 23 months to resume citizenship.
- 15 months’ time processing for rejecting citizenship.
- 15 months’ time to search for citizenship records.
- For part 1 Adoption procedure is 11 months whereas part 2 will differ based on its complexity.
PERMANENT RESIDENCY STATUS
- 108 days for renewal or replacement of canada PR card.
- 103 days waiting time for the arrival of the first card.
REPLACEMENTS AND VERIFICATION OF DOCUMENTS
- 26 weeks for verifying the status of documents.
- 22 weeks to replace the valid documents of temporary residents.
- 47 weeks for modification of documents.
- 27 weeks for alterations to be made for valid documents of temporary residents.
Conclusion: IRCC has about 1.84 million people with their applications under procession. While programs such as Express Entry, FSWP, and CEC are helping IRCC to progress, the applications for citizenship continue to struggle.
