Good News! IRCC Backlog Drops Over 3% for the First Time in Months

As of October 31, 2024, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reported a backlog of 1,056,100 applications. This marks a 3.73% decrease compared to the 1,097,000 applications in the backlog as of September 30.

The total number of applications across all IRCC inventories stood at 2,406,000, with 1,349,900 processed within service standards. These figures represent a reduction from 2,450,600 total applications and 1,353,600 processed within standards in the previous month.

This decline is noteworthy as it is the first month-over-month decrease in the backlog since May 2024.

Understanding the Backlog

An application is categorized as part of the backlog if it exceeds IRCC's published service standards. These standards define the ideal processing timeframes for applications, with the goal of processing 80% of cases within these limits. However, when demand exceeds available processing capacity, delays may occur in specific categories.

Permanent Residence Applications

• Inventory Snapshot:
  As of October 31, there were 830,300 permanent residence applications. Of these, 519,200 (63%) were processed within service standards, leaving 311,100 in the backlog.

• Key Program Updates:

  
  
  • Express Entry: The backlog rose to 19%, up from 17% the previous month, though still below the 20% service standard threshold.
  • Express Entry-Aligned PNP: Backlog increased to 25%, surpassing the projected 20%.
  • Family Sponsorships (Spouses, Partners, Children): Steady at 15%, matching the projected backlog.

Temporary Residence Applications

• Overview:
  The inventory for temporary residence applications reached 1,351,600, with 644,900 (48%) processed within service standards.

• Program-Specific Trends:

  • Temporary Resident Status: Improved from 72% in September to 74% in October.
  • Study Permits: Backlog reduced to 33%, down from 36%.
  • Work Permits: Minor improvement, with the backlog decreasing from 47% to 46%.

Citizenship Applications

The citizenship grant backlog has remained stable since November 2023. As of October, the backlog stood at 17%, consistent with September and within the target range.

Steps Taken to Address the Backlog

IRCC is implementing several measures to reduce processing times and streamline operations:

1. Immigration Levels Plan: The government announced reduced targets for permanent and temporary resident admissions over the next three years.
2. Digital Solutions: Expansion of virtual citizenship ceremonies and online application status portals to enhance efficiency.
3. Study Permit Pilot Project: Introduced by the Federal Court, this initiative aims to expedite judicial reviews of rejected study permit applications, reducing wait times from 14-18 months to under five months.

These efforts highlight IRCC's commitment to addressing backlogs and improving service delivery for applicants.

This structured update underscores IRCC's progress in reducing application backlogs while maintaining transparency in its approach to tackling challenges.