2022 was the fastest year on record for processing PR and visa applications

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regularly takes steps to improve and modernize the immigration system. Unfortunately, during the pandemic, there were significant delays in processing applications, and the consequences are still visible today.

Still, Minister of Immigration Sean Fraser notes the significant progress made in 2022. Canada has managed to reduce the backlog of applications on record.

Successes in 2022

Since August, the number of applications in the queue has dropped by half a million. By the end of November, 4.8 million applications had been processed, almost twice as many as during the same period in 2021.

To achieve this success, IRCC digitized applications, hired and trained new staff, streamlined processing, and used automation technology. The goal now is to have 80% of applications processed on time.

For example, applications for family sponsorship programs are now processed within 12 months, and applications submitted through the Express Entry system are processed within 6 months. In addition, there has been a 99% reduction in the number of unprocessed applications for permanent resident card renewals.

As of November 30, 2022, more than 670,000 applications for study permits had been processed. Most of them are now processed in 60 days. There were even more processed applications for work permits, about 700,000. Also in November alone, more than 260,000 visitor visas were processed.

Canada is also expecting a record number of new citizens in 2022 and 2023. From April to November, 251,000 citizenship applications were approved. 70% of them are processed on time.

By the way, the founder of the Immigrant.Today project Alex Pavlenko also acquired Canadian citizenship at the end of 2022. And in December, many of our clients began to receive visas, which had previously been delayed.

Immigration in the future

Canada is interested in immigration because it is a way to combat labour shortages, especially in sectors such as healthcare, manufacturing, transportation, and technology.

For 2022, IRCC has taken several measures that will help increase the number of workers in the future:

• the spouses and partners of those candidates who have obtained a work visa to Canada, regardless of their qualifications, will also be issued a work permit;
• international students in Canada who have received a study permit will be able to work up to 40 hours per week not only during the holidays but also during the study year;
• foreigners whose work permits expire before December 31, 2022, will be able to extend it for another 18 months or get a new one;
• immigration pathways for refugees are being developed, the Economic Mobility Pathways program for qualified asylum seekers is being expanded;
• refugees can get a work permit in Canada within a month;
• foreign physicians working in Canada got a new opportunity to obtain permanent residency by simplifying work experience requirements;
• accelerated methods for recognizing foreign medical degrees are being developed;
• 16 occupations became eligible for Express Entry after Canada transitioned to the new NOC occupational classification;
• starting in 2023, Canada will hold targeted Express Entry draws to invite candidates based on their education, work experience, and language skills.

It's a good time to think about immigrating to Canada in 2023. Book a consultation with our licensed professional to evaluate your chances of moving, find the best immigration option for you, and complete the paperwork.