IRCC has released an internal memo stating that processing periods for the Canadian economic immigration stream will be substantially lengthier and that there will be no draws until July 2022. After hearing this news, many prospective immigrants lost hope of entering Canada through Express Entry.
In a recent virtual conference, Canada’s Immigration Minister Sean Fraser provided a new ray of hope for all the applicants awaiting the next FSW draw.
He proposed initiatives to reform and modernize Canada’s immigration system resulting in reduced processing times, expanded data analytics for visa applications, and a strengthened digital application platform to fasten the overall immigration process.
In the coming months, Canada will update the online processing times tool to provide IRCC clients with more up-to-date estimates of how long it will take to process applications, according to Fraser.
He also announced that in the first quarter of 2022, Canada plans to make 147,000 PR final decisions, more than doubling the number from the same period in 2021. In February 2022, Canada will launch a new Permanent Residence Application Tracker for spouses and dependents, letting applicants check their online application status.
In the minister’s mandate letter, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged Fraser to shorten processing times. By the end of 2022, Fraser claims, the budget will allow Canada to resume processing service standards for study permits, work permits, and permanent residence card renewals. Canada aims to minimize its time to process proof of citizenship and visitor visas.
Additionally, in a recent press release, the IRCC stated using advanced data analytics to expedite Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) applications. The system does not decline or propose application denials; according to the IRCC, only immigration officers have the authority to do so. It was initially implemented in 2018 and enabled an 87 percent faster assessment of applications.
