In a recent announcement, the immigration department released IRCC’s new approach for calculating application processing times. According to this, the department will start providing applicants with projected processing times for their applications. They will now use forward-looking processing times.

This will enable applicants to understand how long they might have to wait for their application to be processed. This will create transparency in the immigration process. 

IRCC’s New Approach for Calculating Application Processing Times

Notably, the new processing times will be for prominent immigration programs with a high volume of applications. These are:

  • Canadian Experience Class under Express Entry
  • Provincial Nominees Program (Express Entry and non-Express Entry)
  • Federal Skilled Workers under Express Entry
  • Quebec Skilled Workers
  • Citizenship grants
  • Citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)
  • Spouse or common-law partner living in Canada
  • Spouse, common-law, or conjugal partner living outside of Canada
  • Parents or Grandparents

The Office of the Auditor General recommended changing the calculation of processing times in a report released in October. The report outlined various suggestions concerning IRCC’s methodology of calculating and communicating application processing time with clients.  

In particular, the report outlined that IRCC must provide details of online processing time for all PR applications, considering the volume and age of applications already present in the inventory.

IRCC’s new approach for calculating application processing times is the department’s first step to addressing many of the recommendations mentioned in the report. The enhanced service standards of the applications are expected to be released by the end of 2024.

The application service standard is the time IRCC takes to issue a final decision on an application. Each program’s application has a different service standard. For instance, IRCC’s service standard for spousal sponsorship applications is 12 months. On the other hand, it has a service standard of six months for a permanent residence application through an Express Entry program.

Understanding the functioning of forward-looking processing times.

According to the immigration department, the forward-looking processing times will help estimate the time IRCC will take to give a final decision on an application. This will be on the basis of the total number of applications in the row and the total number of applications it anticipates to process.

IRCC further noted that it could vary based on different factors such as available admission spaces, immigration levels plan to target, processing capacity, and term changes based on application types.

Previously, the department used to calculate the processing times based on the time taken by previous applications to issue a final decision.

 This means that it was based on backward processing times. This means how much time it has taken to process around 80% of applications previously. It was six months for PR applications and 8-16 weeks for TR applications.

This method will remain in effect for temporary residence applications such as work permits, visitor visas, and study permits.

Should You Reapply to IRCC After this Announcement?

IRCC stated that if you have already submitted an application for any of the programs using the new processing time method, there is no need to reapply. It added that if you have already applied, you are already near the front of the line.

According to the IRCC, applications will be processed in the order they were received. If you have applied previously, your application will be processed before the newer submissions.

In most situations, you will get a final decision within the new forward-looking processing time.

Are you interested in immigrating to Canada but have concerns about the process and pathways? Feel free to connect with our experienced immigration experts for help at NavaImmigration. You can also send us an email at [email protected]