IRCC’s application backlog grows beyond 2.1 million people || VO Visas

 IRCC’s application backlog grows beyond 2.1 million people || VO Visas

Immigration Canada's backlog of PR, TR, and citizenship applications grew by nearly 99,000 people in 18 days.

According to the latest Canadian government data emailed to CIC News, the immigration backlog in all sectors of business in Canada has exceeded 2.1 million as of April 29. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC)’s backlog has progressed as follows since last summer:

April 30-May 2, 2022: 2,130,385 persons

April 11-12, 2022: 2,031,589 persons

March 15 and 17, 2022: 1,844,424 persons

February 1, 2022: 1,815,628 persons

December 15, 2021: 1,813,144 persons

October 27, 2021: 1,792,404 persons

July 6, 2021: 1,447,474 persons

In the 18 days from April 11 to 29, the number of people in IRCC inventory increased by 98,796. This increase was mainly due to the stock of temporary accommodation. Over the same period, the long-term residency deficit increased by 638. IRCC reduced its naturalization numbers by 258 between April 12 and May 2.

The evolution of the backlog since the start of the pandemic

The table below shows how the IRCC population has grown since the beginning of the pandemic. Beginning in April 2020, CIC News submitted a data request to IRCC for the Canada Temporary Residence List. The table shows that the number of permanent residents has increased from 410,000 to 530,000 in the past two years. The stock of temporary shelters has doubled since last April. The stock of citizens has grown from 240,000 to 400,000. IRCC has had difficulty managing its inventory during the pandemic for several reasons, including B. Social distancing and travel restrictions imposed at the start of the pandemic.

Backlog in persons by IRCC line of business

Line of Business	Apr. 2020	Apr. 2021	Apr./May 2022
PR	410,000	550,000	530,000

TR N/A 590,000 1.2M

Citizenship 240,000 395,000 400,000

Total N/A 1.535M 2.130M

Improvements in Express Entry as all-program draws resume in early July

Despite a slight increase in the stock of permanent residents overall, IRCC has reduced its Express Entry numbers by 4,292 since mid-April.

Express Entry Program Persons as of April 11 Persons as of April 29

Canadian Experience Class 8,363 7,522

Federal Skilled Worker Program 36,281 32,883

Federal Skilled Trades Program 537 484

Total 45,181 40,889

The reduction in the fast-track registration backlog will allow IRCC to restore drawings for all projects by early July. Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) candidates have not been invited to apply for immigration since December 2020. Before the pandemic, the FSWP was the primary route for express entry. Canadian Experience Class (CEC) candidates who have not been selected since September 2021 are also scheduled to receive another invitation to apply (ITA).

IRCC has been reluctant to invite these candidates because the processing time backlog exceeds the six-month standard for the Express Entry management program. According to IRCC, the vast majority of new Express Entry applications will be processed within the six-month service standard starting in July.

The improvement in the permanent resident stock was offset by increases in other immigration categories, such as the Temporary Resident Permanent Residency (TR2PR) program, which is short-lived in 2021. At the same time, there was a slight increase across the board. For Canada's Protected, Caring, and Compassionate Persons and Families category of permanent residence.

Between April 11 and 29, there was an increase in bookings across all accommodation categories.

IRCC previously emailed CIC News that the stock of temporary resident visas and work permits has increased with the introduction of the Canada-Ukraine Emergency Travel Authorization (CUAET). CNET is a program that allows IRCC to use existing temporary residency procedures to bring Ukrainians to Canada. CUAET is not a refugee wave.

As of May 6, IRCC had received 204,227 applications for CUAET, and 91,482 were approved. According to the IRCC website, a total of 24,645 Ukrainians arrived in Canada between January 1 and May 1.

Temporary residence inventory: April 11 – 29

 

Application type	Persons as of April 11	Persons as of April 29
Study Permits	122,145	132,280
Study Permit Extensions	34,242	36,310
Temporary Resident Visas	558,498	621,451
Visitor Records	73,450	76,847
Work Permits	172,796	189,061
Work Permit Extensions	141,244	144,842
Total	1,102,375	1,200,791

 

The Government of Canada recognizes the challenges posed by the growing population of IRCC over the past two years. In late January, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced a series of measures aimed at addressing the backlog, including implementing new technology and hiring more processing staff.

Last Thursday, the Canadian Parliamentary Citizenship and Immigration Committee (CIMM) launched a study to assess the IRCC backlog, culminating in a public written report containing recommendations to improve IRCC's application processing.

 

Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration