Canada Immigration Backlog is Shrinking: Update by IRCC as of December 2024

As of October 31, 2024 IRCC Canada has made notable progress in reducing its application backlog. The backlog now stands at 1,056,100 applications reflecting a 3.73% decline from 1,097,000 on September 30. 2024. This marks the first month over month decrease since May 2024, signaling a positive momentum in addressing delays.

The total number of applications across all IRCC inventories has also witnessed a reduction, currently at 2,406,000 compared to 2,450,600 at the end of September. Among these, 1,349,900 applications are being processed within service standards, a slight decrease from the previous month, 1,353,600.

Status of Canada Permanent Residency Applications

IRCC is actively processing 830,300 permanent residency applications with 63% (519,200) being handled within service standards. The remaining 311,100 applications are in the backlog. This category includes Express Entry Programs, Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP) aligned with Express Entry, and Family Sponsorships for spouse, partners, and children (excluding Quebec).

• The backlog for Express Entry applications has witnessed a slight rise to 19% up from 17% in September. But remains well within the service standard of 20%.
• Express entry aligned PNP applications saw a modest increase in backlog to 25% exceeding the projected 20%.
• Family sponsorship backlogs have remained steady at 15% aligning with projections.

Status of Canada Temporary Residency Applications

Temporary Residence visa applications are also seeing improvements with 1,351,600 applications in total nearly half, that is 48% or 644,900 applications are processed within service standards.

• Canada Study Permit backlog has dropped to 33% down from 36% in September.
• Canada Work permit backlogs have also seen a marginal improvement decreasing from 47% to 46%.
• Temporary Residence Status applications processed within service standards have witnessed a rise from 72% to 74%.

Status of Canada Citizenship Applications

IRCC continues to meet its targets for Canada Citizenship application processing. The backlog remains steady at 17% as of October, and changed from September, demonstrating consistent efficiency in this area since November 2023.

This overall reduction in backlogs highlights IRCC’s ongoing commitment to improving processing times and ensuring smoother pathways for applicants.

IRCC Canada’s Approach to Reducing Application Backlogs

IRCC is taking significant measures to address application backlogs and improve processing efficiency in October. The federal government introduced its Immigration Levels Plan, which includes adjusted targets for permanent and temporary resident admissions over the next three years.

By setting more manageable targets, IRCC aims to focus on clearing the existing backlog while maintaining steady immigration levels. Additionally, the department has implemented innovative solutions to streamline processes. Virtual citizenship ceremonies and enhanced online portals for checking application statuses have made the system more accessible and user friendly.

A major breakthrough came with Canada's Federal Court launching the Study Permit Pilot Project in October. The initiative aims to expedite the judicial review process for rejected Study Permit applications. Cutting wait times drastically from 14 to 18 months to under 5 months.

These measures reflect IRCC's commitment to improving efficiency and delivering a smoother experience for applicants, paving the way for more streamlined immigration process in the future

Also Explore: Latest IRCC Processing Times Updates as of November 2024

Kickstart Your Canada Immigration Journey with GetGIS

The October 2024 backlog data highlights both advancements and ongoing challenges within Canada’s immigration system. IRCC continues to adopt innovative strategies such as leveraging technology, optimizing resources, and implementing policy changes to address growing application volumes effectively. These efforts demonstrate a commitment to creating a more efficient and responsive system.

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