Canada's immigration backlog has grown to over 2.1 million applications and increased by 98,796 people between April 11 and April 29, an increase from 1.8 million in March. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reports that much of the increase is due to temporary and permanent resident applications.
- In April 2021, the government created a new pathway to permanent residency for 90,000 essential temporary workers and international graduates called the TR to PR pathway.
- The applications for temporary resident visas and work permits increased significantly when the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) temporary residency pathway to Canada was introduced in March 2022.
An email statement sent to CTVNews.ca said.
...the backlogs are partly due to closures at various processing offices and visa application centres during COVID-19. Those closures led to longer processing times for applicants, and in part were due to our growing inventory and the number of applications received by IRCC every year.
Despite considerable efforts, we know that some applicants have experienced considerable wait times with the processing of their applications, and we continue to work as hard as possible to reduce processing times.
- Rémi Larivière
IRCC Media Relations Advisor
Canada's Efforts to Reduce the Immigration Backlog
The immigration backlog was improving in March of 2022. Canada's federal government has taken steps to reduce the immigration backlog:
- IRCC has reduced the Express Entry backlog by 4,292 persons since mid-April and plans to resume federal Express Entry draws in July.
- IRCC received an additional $85 million to reduce wait times for new applications and reduce application inventory backlogs. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said the funds would be mainly used to hire more staff.
- Ottawa committed $2.1 billion over five years in its 2022 budget to support the processing and settlement of new permanent residents to Canada, plus $317.6 million in new funding.
- IRCC expanded the use of advanced data analytics to help IRCC officers sort and process temporary resident visa applications and to improve client service and processes.
- IRCC has begun introducing new technologies to modernize the immigration system expedite application processing and reduce processing times.
In March, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said of the immigration delays:
I know that processing delays have been incredibly frustrating for many individuals. Helping clients come to Canada quickly, with predictable processing times and efficient communication with IRCC, remains a top priority for me. Immigration benefits all Canadians—it helps grow our economy and strengthens our communities across the country. Many people are choosing Canada as the place to visit and build their future, and to ensure that we stay competitive, we have introduced concrete measures to make sure those who want to come to Canada have the client experience they deserve.
Canada Remains A Top Destination For Immigrants
Canada ranks fourth in the world for immigrant-friendly policies and is a top destination for foreign workers. Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver consistently rank in the top 10 most livable cities in the world.
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