January 15th, 2024 at 01:42 am
IRCC Latest Processing Time: Changes for PR Cards, Visitor & Super Visas, Work Permits & More – January 2024
The immigration laws in Canada are still changing quickly, with different permanent residence and temporary visa categories often having differing processing times. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published revised processing timeframes on January 9, 2024. These timelines offer vital information for applicants attempting to strategically navigate the system.
This extensive analysis will examine in detail the most recent IRCC processing statistics for all significant permanent and temporary pathways. To identify new trends in citizenship awards, permanent resident cards, family sponsorships, economic applications, visitor visas, study permits, work permits, and other areas, we will compare the timeframes for this week to those from previous weeks.
Also, to properly prepare themselves while submitting immigration applications to Canada, applicants should be aware of the areas where processing speeds are improving or declining. To make educated judgments and prevent annoyance from unforeseen delays, tracking variations in processing time is essential.
As we start the New Year, let’s look at what the IRCC’s January 9th, 2024 processing time report has to say about the condition of Canada’s immigration system.
IRCC Processing Time Reports
The IRCC has greatly improved the accuracy and transparency of its processing time reports since the beginning of 2022. Important improvements consist of;
- Replacing vague service standards with actual processing times
- Also, giving precise deadlines instead of averages for 80% of submissions
- Besides that, weekly data updates as opposed to monthly or quarterly updates
- In addition, dividing the deadlines for traditional and online applications
- Lastly, processing according to visa category and immigration program
This is a radical shift in real-time data granularity. Applicant timeframes are now more precise than in past years, better reflecting changes in application volume and processing capability. Based on existing trends, the timetables are intended to provide potential immigrants with an estimate of the time it will take to receive a decision on their application.
Nevertheless, a variety of circumstances may impact each application, so candidates may experience differences from the stated numbers. Still, the IRCC dates provide a priceless glimpse into the changing dynamics of Canada’s immigration system. Regularly keeping an eye on them allows candidates to make appropriate plans.
Canada Permanent Residence Processing Times
Processing applications for permanent residence includes a variety of procedures and formats, each with a certain deadline. Let’s examine the most recent patterns.
1. Citizenship Grant
Current processing time: 15 months
Since December 13th, 2022, the current processing time of 15 months has not altered. The extended 15-month period continues, suggesting that there is still a significant demand for citizenship awards. Candidates must be patient as they wait more than a year.
2. Citizenship Certificates
Current processing time: 9 months
This is down from 11 months one month ago, and down from December 20, 2022, by 2 months. As of right now, the timescale is nine months—less than a year. Although the tendency is lower, there are still lengthy waits.
3. Resumption of Citizenship
Current processing time: not enough data
Since the IRCC most likely hasn’t processed enough applications for resumption to be able to provide a solid estimate, no timeline is available. Candidates can only see a limited amount of the current wait times.
4. Renunciation of Citizenship
Current processing time: 14 months
Processing time has remained constant since early December 2022 at 14 months. Renunciation also challenges difficulties with candidates waiting over a year. Demand is still quite high.
5. Citizenship Record Searches
Current processing time: 14 months
Record searches, like renunciation, have been indefinitely delayed since early December 2022. The process of obtaining citizenship records is still rather time-consuming.
6. Permanent Resident Cards
- New PR card: 16 days
- PR renewal: 59 days
Processing of PR cards has significantly improved after peaking earlier. Less than two weeks are needed for new cards, which is a decrease of 13 days over the previous month. Now, renewals take two months, with two days lost over the previous month. This is a significant advancement.
Family Reunification Processing Times
1. Spousal sponsorship outside Canada (excluding Quebec)
Current processing time: 12 months
Since early December 2022, processing has not changed. Applicants must wait for approximately a year.
2. Spousal sponsorship outside Canada (Quebec)
Current processing time: 39 months
There is still an unsettling multi-year wait period that hasn’t changed since late December 2022. Sponsors in Quebec face significant delays.
3. Spousal sponsorship inside Canada (excluding Quebec)
Current processing time: 10 months
Processing time has remained at 10 months from early December 2022, in line with other categories.
4. Spousal sponsorship inside Canada (Quebec)
Current processing time: 26 months
Although processing takes much longer in Quebec than it does outside of Canada—26 months—it is still very long. Since late 2022, it has remained constant.
5. Parent or Grandparent sponsorship (excluding Quebec)
Current processing time: 24 months
Processing row from a month ago, somewhat older than 23 months. These days, wait times surpass two years, which puts a heavy burden on families trying to reunite.
6. Parent or Grandparent sponsorship (Quebec)
Current processing time: 48 months
Grandparents and parents in Quebec must endure startling 4-year waits, which haven’t changed since late 2022. This poses a significant obstacle to the reunion of families.
Key Takeaways: Family Reunification
Little Improvement across most categories since late 2022
- Spousal screening takes, on average, 10 to 12 months outside of Quebec, although candidates from that province must wait two to three years or longer.
- Grandparents or parents from outside Quebec at 2 years, and at least four years in Quebec
- Overall, not much has changed from last year in terms of backlog reduction.
All categories and regions continue to experience significant delays in family reunions, notwithstanding recent slight improvements in certain places. Candidates must have a great deal of patience.
Economic Class Permanent Residence Processing Times
Now let’s examine timelines for key Economic Immigration Programs
1. Canadian Experience Class
Current processing time: 5 months
Unchanged since the end of 2022. A consistent 5-month processing period is maintained by CEC, making it the fastest economic category. Candidates gain from reasonably speedy decisions.
2. Federal Skilled Worker Program
Current processing time: 6 months
This went from five months in late December 2022 to one month this month, but six months is still a respectably efficient amount of processing time.
3. Federal Skilled Trades Program
Current processing time: not updated since March 2022
Since the FSTP was wound down in March 2022, the IRCC has not released timetables. There aren’t many applications left in the system.
4. Provincial Nominee Program: Express Entry
Current processing time: 8 months
Since late 2022, PNP Express Entry has remained constant for eight months. Processing for a nomination pathway happens quite quickly.
5. Provincial Nominee Program: Non-Express Entry
Current processing time: 14 months
Processing reached a stable 14 months in early 2024, following a one-month decline in late December 2022.
6. Quebec Skilled Worker Program
Current processing time: 10 months
Following a two-month decline in Quebec processing in late December 2022, a positive trend is beginning to emerge. Timelines have been shortened to 10 months, indicating increased capacity.
7. Quebec Business Immigration: Entrepreneur, Investor, Self-Employed
Current processing time: 61 months
Unchanged since the end of 2022. Unsettlingly, Quebec company is still immobilized by exorbitant wait times of more than five years. The applicant must have a lot of patience.
8. Federal Self-Employed Program
Current processing time: 54 months
Processing row somewhat from 52 months, a month ago. Similar to Quebec Business, Federal Self-Employed is likewise facing delays of almost five years.
9. Atlantic Immigration Pilot
Current processing time: 6 months
Since late 2022, the Atlantic Immigration Pilot has continued to process applications every six months. This program is still doing better than the majority of other economic categories.
10. Startup Visa Program
Current processing time: 37 months
Unchanged since the end of 2022. Startup Visa applicants suffer severe 3+ year waits. The extended timeline demonstrates the difficulties in processing nominations from businesses.
Key Takeaways: Economic Immigration
Average wait times for Federal Skilled Workers and PNPs are six to eight months; backlogs for Quebec and Federal Business or Self-Employed are still slightly higher. The pilot program for Atlantic immigration expects quick six-month processing. overall, economic categories have recently shown lackluster improvement.
Economic programs, except AIP, are significantly delayed; in particular, Quebec and Federal Business Pathways are delayed by more than five years. Some categories saw a slight decrease in backlogs, but the majority still had significant backlogs.
Canada Temporary Residence Processing Times
There were a few significant changes to the timeline for applicants for temporary residence in January 2024 compared to late 2022. Let’s analyze the modifications.
1. Visitor Visas Outside Canada
- India: 32 days
- Nigeria: 121 days
- United States: 30 days
- Pakistan: 65 days
- Philippines: 16 days
The majority of nations had slight increases or decreases in processing times of a few days, however, Nigeria and the US saw more notable increases in processing times of more than two weeks starting in late December 2022. Wait times for visas vary greatly by nation.
2. Visitor Visas Inside Canada
- Online applications: 17 days
- Paper applications: 33 days
Over the previous month, there was a minor increase in online processing of 4 days. The IRCC no longer provides data on paper applications.
3. Parent or Grandparent Super Visas
- India: 58 days
- Nigeria: 91 days
- US: 126 days
- Pakistan: 137 days
- Philippines: 157 days
Get the most up-to-date information on visa-sponsored jobs, prospective pathways to permanent residency, work permits, and visa application processes with us on Newsnowgh.com.