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Processing Time Permanent Residence

Canada adopts new processing times system for some PR applications

Canada adopts new processing times system for some PR applications

Some applications for PR received on or after July 31st, 2018 will now be processed faster in comparison to their historical processing times. IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada)feels that these permanent residence applications are forward-looking.

 

These new timelines will pertain to PR applications received under the following categories:

  • 1. Sponsorship of Parents and Grandparents;
  • 2. Provincial Nominee (Non-Express Entry);
  • 3. Quebec Skilled Workers;
  • 4. Start-Up Visa; and
  • 5. Humanitarian and Compassionate cases.

 

Projected processing times on the CIC website will show prospective applicants to these programs, how long their applications are expected to take (under normal conditions), specific to the day they apply. IRCC has said that it will update processing times every month. IRCC feels that this update is important to ensure that immigration processing times are as accurate as possible and to help clients better prepare to move to Canada if their application is approved.

 

Prior to this change, IRCC forecasted all Canadian permanent residence application processing times based on historical data, which meant that processing times were determined by how long it took to process 80 per cent of applications in the past year

 

The new projected processing time measurement will depend on the current number of applications waiting to be processed and how quickly IRCC expects to process 80 per cent of pending applications.

 

An applicant’s processing time generally starts the day IRCC receives a complete application and ends when a decision is made.

 

For all applications submitted by mail, the usual processing time begins when the application is received in the IRCC mailroom. If an application is made online or in-person at an approved service point, it starts when the application is submitted to the Immigration Officer.

 

IRCC aims to better serve permanent residence clients, as well as attending to temporary resident applicants looking to visit, work, or study in Canada.

 

The innovative approach reflects the Canadian Government’s commitment to transparency and faster processing of immigration applications.