Good News: Faster Canada Visa Approvals Despite Growing Demand

Canada visa application backlog decreases despite high demand

Despite the surging demand, it seems like the Canada visa application process is picking up pace. Let’s have a closer look at how the backlog scenario is changing and what this means for prospective applicants.

Understanding the Backlog Situation

When it comes to applying for a visa to Canada, timing is everything.

The IRCC (Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada) defines a backlog as the number of applications that have not been reviewed and finalized within the standard service time.

This backlog can sometimes delay your plans, but recent numbers bring in a wave of good news.

According to recent data, as of July 31, there were 802,600 pending applications, which is a significant decrease from 820,000 backlogged cases in May.

This improvement is notable especially since the summer season is a popular time for people to apply for various visas including study and work permits.

How IRCC Measures Service Standards

The IRCC sets a specific timeframe, known as the “service standard”, within which they aim to process different types of applications.

The goal is to address around 80% of the total applications within this timeframe, assuming the backlog does not exceed 20%. Here are a couple of examples:

• Express Entry for Permanent Residency: Expected to take around six months.
• Study Permit Application: Ideally takes about 60 days.

In the previous year, the IRCC managed to process an impressive number of over 5.2 million applications across various categories.

Status Check: Permanent Residence Applications

The scenario with Permanent Residence (PR) applications is gradually improving.

Currently, the IRCC has around 631,500 applications in its inventory, out of which 46% (or 290,500) are pending, showing a decrease in the backlog compared to May.

The PR application backlog is divided into three main categories by the IRCC:

1. Federal High Skilled Workers: Earlier expected to have a 20% backlog by July 2023, the actual number is now at 16%.
2. Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP): The backlog remains at 30%, which is slightly above the target of 20% and an 8% increase compared to estimates.
3. Family Applications (Spouses, Partners, and Children): The backlog is at 18%, which is a 2% decrease from May and lower than the projected 24%.

Citizenship Application Trends

The Citizenship application sector also shows positive trends. Currently, of the 296,900 applications in hand, 67,900 (or 23%) are considered as backlogged.

This represents a 4% improvement from May, aligning well with the IRCC’s previous predictions.

In the coming months, despite a potential slight increase to 26% in backlog during August and September, the situation seems to be on a progressive path.

Conclusion: What This Means for You

If you are considering applying for a visa to Canada, now might be a good time. The decrease in backlog indicates that the IRCC is working effectively to streamline the application process, thereby reducing the waiting time.

Remember, these statistics are continually changing, and keeping an eye on the updates can give you a better understanding of when to submit your application.

We hope this detailed analysis aids in your visa application process to Canada. Best of luck with your plans.