In April, IRCC released news that several applications, currently awaiting processing, are currently backlogged. There are approximately 2 million pending applications. This amount increased from 1.8 million in March 2022 period. Thousands of applicants have been waiting for their applications to be processed and unfortunately, the main cause or one of the main causes for this enormous backlog is due to the COVID-19 Pandemic where IRCC had to put a halt to all of its processing by closing offices, canceling in-person appointments and citizenship ceremonies, et cetera.
Another cause for this backlog was temporary policies that were released in 2021. The first of them was in April, 2021, the TR to PR Pathway that allowed 90,000 essential workers and international students to commence the steps to become permanent residents in Canada via a special one-time policy. In September 2021, there were 40,000 Afghan refugees allowed to come to Canada and the newest policy is regarding the Ukrainian war, allowing Ukrainian citizens to relocate to Canada as a result of the current conditions in that country. IRCC has promised to reduce the backlog and hopefully return to regular processing times for each immigration category between now and 2023.
Regarding the Federal Skilled Worker and Canadian Experience Class programs that are set to resume in July 2022, IRCC has advised that the processing time for these applications will return to the normal six-month processing period.
Please get in touch with us. Should you have any questions in relation to processing times for your specific immigration category, and we will advise you accordingly.