Once you’ve managed to get a job offer in Canada, found a suitable immigration program to apply to and have undergone the necessary procedures for your application. You should have submitted the relevant documents with your application and you may be wondering what follows after you’ve submitted your application. Your application will be reviewed by an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officer to assess eligibility.
The main objective of the IRCC is to manage and facilitate immigration applications, and suggest suitable immigration pathways that foreign nationals can take. Whether you need help with immigration programs or protection as a refugee, the idea is to assist immigrants with settling in Canada.
What are the IRCC Processing Times?
Below is a table by Bright Path Immigration & Recruitment Services which breaks down the times for the programs mentioned in this article:
| Immigration Program | IRCC Processing Times |
|---|---|
| Express Entry | 6 months or less |
| Provincial Nomination Program (PNP) | Two processing times at play: (1) Subject to province and (2) Subject at federal government level for permanent residence |
| Visitor Visa | 8 – 40 days |
| Visitor Visa (business) | 16 – 20 days |
The backlog in Canadian immigration applications has been growing at an exponential rate of over 2.1 million in the business sector since April 29.
As a result, the escalation of backlogs are caused by temporary residence inventory, while the permanent residents applications increased to a whopping 638 persons in the same time. This has caused the IRCC to reduce the backlog for citizenship by 258 people.
According to the Canadian government, the IRCC manages over 1 million immigration applications from their inventories, while 2021 calls for the finalization of 1.7 million decisions across businesses.
While immigration data is constantly subject to change, we are looking at a total of 2.4 million applications in all IRCC inventories – 1.1 million applications in services standards and 1.3 million applications in backlog. See the data below derived from the official Canadian government website:
Further information, we suggest applicants to double-check all information, fill in all fields correctly and supply the right supporting documents before submitting their application. While fast processing times cannot always be guaranteed, you can still avoid potential delays by ensuring the completeness of your application.
At this point, let’s take a more in-depth look at suitable programs and their processing times.
Step 1: Choose the Right Immigration Program
Before we can go into the different processing times, you would need to know which program is suitable for you. With over 100 immigration pathways and visas to choose from, you can find a visa or program for your needs and circumstances. The program you choose can also serve as a major contributing factor to your application processing times. Let’s take a look at how you can obtain a visa through the following immigration options.
What is the Express Entry System?
One of the easiest routes to explore would be the Express Entry system, which is an online points-driven system that comprises three versatile programs:
- Canadian Experience Class
- Federal Skilled Program
- Federal Skilled Trades Program
But what makes the Express Entry system so popular? It is the fact that this pathway yields quick, fast results, enabling individuals to immigrate to Canada sooner rather than later. This is the main objective – speeding up the application process.
However, you can help speed up the process of your IRCC processing times by ensuring that you’ve filled out all forms correctly, and that you’ve submitted the relevant supporting documents. Failure in doing so will result in delays in processing times since your application will be sent back to you.
What is the Processing Times for Express Entry?
Because this is a fast immigration pathway, your application could take approximately six months or less, provided you’ve filled out all forms accurately and attached all supporting documents with your application. Remember, you must remain truthful when providing information of yourself. Failure in doing so will result in the refusal of your application.
What is the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP)?
The PNP is an immigration pathway where provinces or territories in Canada can nominate individuals or families who wish to live and work in Canada. Each province or territory is different and therefore the criteria and the manner in which eligibility is assessed will also vary.
Step 2: Check Your Eligibility to travel to Canada
Before you can apply to any program, you must first check if you’re eligible to do so. There’s a fine line between the two aspects of eligibility to travel to Canada and applying for a visa. While these two components go hand-in-hand, you must check if:
- Firstly, you’re eligible to apply for a visa,
- Secondly, if you’re eligible to enter Canada.
Most likely, if you meet the criteria for a visa, you’d be eligible to travel to Canada. Below are the requirements for any visa:
There are some requirements one must have when it comes to eligibility to enter Canada: You should have a valid travel passport, be in physical good health, have no criminal record, prove that you will return back to your country after your visiting period expires (if you’re a temporary visitor to Canada); and that you have enough money to support yourself or family members should they join you later.
Step 3: Make Your Application
At this point, you’ve double-checked your eligibility to travel to Canada and your eligibility for a visa, which leads you into the next step of applying. We have highlighted the steps to apply for a visa (which is the same as making your application).
However, as a reminder, we will give you a brief outline of the steps below:
- Step 1: Check if you meet the criteria to travel to Canada (program criteria and eligibility to enter Canada are important criteria)
- Step 2: Gather your documents to validate your eligibility
- Step 3: Make your application online
Note that immigrants applying to live and work in Canada will receive a comprehensive guide on how to apply for a visa, so you have nothing to worry about when it comes to applying. Before this can happen, you would be expected to answer a few questions to receive instructions tailored specifically for your situation.
Post Application: What to Expect with IRCC Processing Times
It is well-advised to arrange your biometric appointment as soon as possible. In addition to this, you want to ensure you’ve filled out your application correctly to avoid potential delays in processing times. This is of utmost importance. In the meantime, after submitting your application, you will need to be patient until you will be contacted to inform you about the way forward.
While you’re waiting on a response, the IRCC officer will be checking if you’re eligible, whether or not you have all supporting documents in place and the overall completeness of your application.
You will be contacted should anything be missing from your application, or to advise you on your next step in the process. Depending on the type of application, program or personal situation, you may be asked to undergo an interview with the country’s officials, get a medical exam and police clearance.
In the event of the refusal of your application, know that there are other immigration options available. At most, you’d be informed about why your application was rejected and how you can appeal the decision.
