Improved estimates for Canadian immigration processing
Better estimates of Canadian immigration application processing times as of July 31, 2018
How Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) estimates immigration processing times has been changed, hopefully for the better.
“We understand how frustrating it can be when applications take longer than expected. That’s why we have made changes to improve the experience for some permanent resident clients. Now, clients will have a more accurate idea of how long processing of their immigration application may take for several permanent resident business lines,” according to an IRCC press release.
IRCC is now using an improved method to better estimate how long some new permanent residence applications will take based on several factors, including the number of current applications waiting to be processed and the volume of admissions allowed each year under the multi-year immigration levels plan. The processing times are projected, and tell applicants how long we expect most applications to take under normal circumstances if submitted today.
“This update is an important one to ensure our immigration processing times are as accurate as possible and to help clients better prepare to move to Canada if their application is approved,” says Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Ahmed Hussen.
Previously, all PR application processing times were only historical and showed how long it took to process 80 per cent of applications in the past year.
The new projected processing times will apply to applications received on or after July 31, 2018, in these business lines:
- Sponsoring a family member
- Parents and Grandparents
- Economic Class
- Provincial Nominees (Non-Express Entry)
- Skilled Workers (Quebec)
- Start-Up Visa
- Humanitarian and compassionate cases
Don’t withdraw your application and reapply
IRCC warns that for clients who have already applied, withdrawing an application and re-applying will not result in faster processing times. Any application processing already complete would become null and void and clients would have to submit a new application. For some types of applications, such as Express Entry and Parents and Grandparents, a client who withdraws their application runs the risk of not receiving a subsequent invitation to apply or invitation to sponsor.