IRCC, previously known as CIC, is responsible for Canada’s immigration and citizenship activities. It promotes the entrance of immigrants, protects refugees, and provides programs to help newcomers settle in Canada. The department also administers one of the world’s most generous refugee protection and family reunification programs. Its activities are guided by various acts of Parliament and supported by a number of regulations.
The agency’s international operations are run by a network of embassies and consulates. These offices are strategically located throughout the world and act as case processing centers for visa applications for students, workers, visitors, and refugees. In addition, the embassy and consulates serve as liaison points between Canada and other nations.
In 2022, IRCC has processed an unprecedented amount of work permit applications and is on track to process even more in the coming months. It is also working hard to finalize a record number of permanent residence applications. IRCC also expects to make progress in 2023 on a number of other fronts, including immigration, refugee protection, and citizenship.
During the pandemic, many IRCC employees worked from home and were unable to process their workloads. This resulted in significant delays and backlogs, particularly in the field. In fact, some permanent residence applications were sitting for months before they could be processed.
Once you receive your assessment notice, IRCC will provide you with medical forms and instructions for completing your IME. You can have the IME done in your home country or at a designated location depending on your situation. You must follow the instructions carefully to ensure that your application is complete and accurate.
You can contact IRCC to ask for an update on the status of your application. Unless it is outside of standard processing times, the agency will respond to your request in writing. In most cases, IRCC will send a pretty generic response, but sometimes their replies can shed some light on the status of your application.
If you are a provincial nominee and have not received your permanent residence passport by the time your nomination certificate expires, you can apply to IRCC for an extension. You will need to pass health, security, and criminal checks before you can receive your passport.
IRCC Delay After Biometrics
They will be able to handle your study permit application after they get your biometrics. If you match the eligibility requirements, they will process most Student Direct Stream applications within 20 calendar days of receiving your biometrics. If your application does not match the requirements for the Student Direct Stream, it will be considered as a standard study permit. This will not result in faster processing.
If your application is approved, they will send you:
- A port of entry letter of introduction: This is not a study permit. You must produce this letter to the officer when you arrive in Canada.
- an electronic travel authorization (eTA) or a visitor (temporary resident) visa, depending on which you need to enter Canada
IRCC Super Visa
IRCC is continuing to process applications under all economic immigration pathways, including the Employer-driven Provincial Nominee Program (EPP). The EMPP has been particularly busy since it introduced a Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) in March to help Ukrainians relocate to Canada following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As a result, the number of EMPP applications has surged and swelled the IRCC’s backlog.
The Canadian government has taken notice of the issue and created a task force to make recommendations for improving Canada’s immigration system. This task force will look for long-term and short-term solutions, including increasing the capacity of IRCC to process applications. It will also explore other ways to address the issue, including streamlining processing times and using technology to make processes more efficient.
The new changes are aimed at improving the Super Visa program, which allows parents and grandparents to stay in Canada for up to five years. These reforms will also allow them to purchase private health insurance in their home countries, which can be more affordable than coverage offered by Canadian companies. They will also be able to renew their visas and request two-year extensions. The reforms will take effect on July 4 and are expected to save families thousands of dollars.
IRCC Processing Time Delay
As Canada continues to see record-high immigration levels, the processing time for applications has increased significantly. As a result, many applicants have experienced delays that exceed expectations and have become frustrated with the lack of clarity on when their applications will be processed. To help ease the frustration, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made some changes to keep processing times low over the long term.
The government’s new strategy includes reducing processing times, increasing the number of people working on applications, and increasing transparency with the public. IRCC has also introduced technology-based solutions to streamline the process and reduce processing times. It also plans to publish monthly data on processing times so that applicants can understand what’s happening behind the scenes.
While some immigration services will continue through the strike, IRCC warns that there will be limited capacity and delays are expected. This will include delays in processing applications currently being prioritized. Applicants should contact their local IRCC office if they are concerned about their application status or have questions. IRCC has advised clients to reschedule or cancel in-person appointments, and clients with interviews at a Canadian consulate abroad should contact the embassy for advice. Citizenship events and passport services outside of Canada will also experience delays but will resume as soon as the labor disruption ends.
Depending on their situation, applicants may be able to take legal action to challenge unreasonable delay in processing their application. However, this option can be costly and stressful and is typically reserved for cases where the applicant has exhausted all other remedies. For example, an applicant who is waiting double or triple the average processing time posted by IRCC may benefit from applying to the Federal Court for a writ of mandamus.
If you are experiencing an excessive delay in the processing of your application, it is important to be patient and remember that this is a normal part of the immigration process. In addition to waiting, it is also important to remain positive and keep up to date with the latest news on IRCC’s website.