Canada has implemented a fresh approach for determining processing durations for certain applications. A recent statement from Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) outlines that the department will now disclose projected processing times online through forward-looking processing times.
This initiative aims to assist applicants in anticipating the timeframe required to process their applications accurately.
The updated processing times will be available for several high-volume immigration programs including:
- Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry)
- Provincial Nominees Program (Express Entry and non-Express Entry)
- Federal Skilled Workers (Express Entry)
- Quebec Skilled Workers
- citizenship grants
- citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)
- spouse or common-law partner living inside Canada
- spouse, common-law or conjugal partner living outside Canada
- parents or grandparents
Changing the methodology for calculating processing times was identified as essential in a report by the Office of the Auditor General last October. The report made several suggestions concerning how IRCC calculates application processing times and communicates them to clients.
In particular, the report emphasized the need for “online information on processing times [to] be provided for all PR applications, taking into consideration the volume, and age, of applications already in inventory.”
This adjustment to processing time calculations represents one of IRCC’s initial actions in response to many of the report’s recommendations. Revised service standards are anticipated to be in place by the end of this year.
Service standards denote the timeframe that IRCC considers reasonable for issuing a final decision on an application. The service standard varies depending on the type of application. For instance, spousal sponsorship applications have a service standard of 12 months, while a permanent residence application through an Express Entry program should not exceed six months.
How do forward-looking processing times work?
Forward-looking processing times represent a shift in how IRCC estimates the time required to reach a final decision on an application. Instead of relying solely on historical data, this method considers both the current volume of applications in the queue and the department’s anticipated processing capacity.
The calculation takes into account various factors, including available admission spaces outlined in the annual Immigration Levels Plan, processing capabilities, and seasonal fluctuations in the types of applications received.
Historically, IRCC has determined processing times by analyzing the duration of previous applications. This method, known as backward processing times, typically involves assessing how long it took to process 80% of applications in the preceding six months for permanent residence programs, and within 8 or 16 weeks for temporary residence programs.
While forward-looking processing times will be the new norm for estimating processing durations for most applications, the traditional backward method will continue to be used for temporary residence applications such as study permits, work permits, and visitor visas.
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