As of August 31, 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reported a growing application backlog of 1,078,300.
The latest figures show a 7.6% rise in the backlog from July to August 2024. July had already marked a significant milestone, with the backlog exceeding one million for the first time in months. Despite IRCC's efforts to address the backlog, it currently stands at 1,078,300 out of a total of 2,420,800 applications. This leaves 1,342,500 applications meeting the service standards.
Defining the Backlog
Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) considers an application to be in backlog if it has not been processed within the department's published service standards. These standards outline the expected processing time for different types of applications, which vary depending on the pathway and nature of the request. For instance, IRCC aims to process most Express Entry applications within six months or less after receiving a completed application, while study permits typically take 60 days.
IRCC is committed to processing 80% of all applications within these service standards. The remaining 20% are usually more complex cases or those requiring additional time for other reasons.
In response to an Access to Information request (ATIP) obtained by CIC News earlier this year, IRCC indicated that it plans to review and publish updated service standards by December 31, 2024.
The Backlog
Permanent Residence Applications
As of August 31, 2024, IRCC had 805,600 total applications in its inventory for permanent residence immigration programs, including Express Entry, the Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), and family sponsorship programs for spouses, partners, and children.
Of these, 37% (300,800) were categorized as backlog.
While IRCC provides only percentage figures, we can discern from these that the Express Entry backlog stood at 16% at the end of August, slightly above the projected 15% but still within the acceptable 20% threshold set by IRCC.
The Express Entry-aligned PNP had a larger backlog, standing at 22%, compared to the projected 20%. Meanwhile, applications for spouses, partners, and children (outside Quebec) had a lower backlog than expected, with 14% classified as backlog instead of the projected 15%.
Temporary Residence Applications
The backlog for temporary residence applications has continued to grow. In August 2024, 53% of total temporary residence applications were considered backlog, up from 49% in July. This means that 738,900 out of 1,386,000 applications were currently backlogged.
The Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) backlog was particularly large, reaching 71% compared to a projected 43%. Study and work permits also showed significant backlogs, with 32% and 47% of applications, respectively, in backlog.
Citizenship Grant
Citizenship applications remain the only category that has stayed within the projected backlog limits. As of the end of August, there were 38,600 citizenship applications in backlog out of a total of 229,200, representing 17%—the same percentage as in July 2024.
How Is IRCC Addressing the Backlog?
IRCC has taken several steps to reduce the backlog, which peaked during the COVID-19 pandemic due to staffing shortages and the misallocation of resources across international offices. The department has since worked to streamline processes and expand online application systems for both permanent residence (PR) and citizenship.
Measures like virtual citizenship ceremonies and online portals for checking application status are designed to lessen administrative burdens. IRCC also plans to prioritize essential workers, aiming to address persistent labor shortages.
Another step to reduce the backlog involves limiting the number of temporary residents entering Canada. The department is considering a “soft cap” on temporary resident numbers to reduce volumes to 5% of current levels.
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