IRCC’s Growing Backlog and New Reduction Plans for 2025

 

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has been grappling with an ever-increasing backlog of applications, with recent data revealing over a million unprocessed requests. As of September 30, 2024, the backlog soared to 1,097,000 applications, marking a 1.73% increase from August. Despite processing a total of 1,353,600 applications within IRCC’s service standards, progress is slow in curbing the backlog.

IRCC identifies applications as backlogged if they lie beyond their service standards, which dictate suitable processing timelines for each application type. These standards vary per application pathway. For instance, the agency strives to process the majority of Express Entry applications within six months. However, growing demand may make it challenging to maintain these timelines, thereby lengthening processing periods for certain categories.

As of late September, IRCC’s permanent residency inventory stood at 816,000 applications, with 510,800 processed within service standards. The remaining 305,200 applications fell into the backlog. Breakdowns show that 17% of Express Entry applications are delayed, slightly better than the 20% target but higher than the 15% projection. Meanwhile, Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications experienced a 23% backlog, against a 20% projection. The backlog for family sponsorship (spouses, partners, and children outside Quebec) was aligned with the projected 15%.

The temporary resident status backlog is particularly concerning, with 72% of 1,411,700 applications delayed. Study permits alone see a backlog of 36%, while work permits hit 47%.

In attempts to mitigate the backlog, IRCC has introduced several measures following the Immigration Levels Plan announcement on October 24, which outlined reduced targets for permanent resident admissions over the next three years. Interestingly, this plan also marks the first to include temporary resident targets, which could alleviate the current backlog. Moreover, an October Study Permit Pilot Project aims to expedite judicial reviews for rejected study permits, curtailing the review period from 14-18 months to under five months. IRCC is also prioritizing essential workers’ applications and extended post-graduation work permits for master’s graduates from two to three years.

In conclusion, while IRCC grapples with a growing backlog, its multifaceted approach demonstrates a commitment to improving processing times and curbing application delays. These measures, alongside newly set targets, are crucial steps towards achieving streamlined immigration procedures in Canada.

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