The Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) introduced a new strategy plan to improve how they handle immigration applications.
This plan aims to reduce waiting times and better manage the number of applications they receive.
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Understanding the Problem:
Currently, there’s a big problem with too many people applying for certain immigration programs in Canada. This has caused long waits, especially for programs like the Parents and Grandparents Program (PGP).
The PGP, which lets Canadian citizens bring their parents or grandparents to Canada, has a backlog of applications dating back three years.
IRCC’s New Strategy Plan:
The IRCC’s new strategy plan is to set clear targets for how many immigrants Canada wants to accept each year. For 2024, the goal is to accept 485,000 permanent residents, and for 2025 and 2026, the number is 500,000 each year.
The plan also includes managing the number of applications better. This means they will try to match the number of applications they take in with the number of immigrants they plan to accept.
For temporary visas, like work or study permits, there’s no limit on applications, which has led to delays. The Minister of Immigration, Marc Miller, says they don’t want to limit the number of international students in Canada.
Click here to know more about Canada Immigration Levels Plan 2024-2026
Technology and Improvements:
The IRCC’s New Strategy is looking to use digital tools to help process applications more efficiently. They plan to use Advanced Analytics, a kind of technology that helps automate routine tasks and speeds up the process.
This technology is already being used for some types of work permits.
The Current Situation:
IRCC’s New Strategy goal is to process 80% of all applications within a set time frame. This time frame varies depending on the type of application. For example, Express Entry applications should take no more than six months.
As of September 30, there were over 2.19 million applications, with 928,000 considered backlogged (not processed on time).
Overall Goal:
IRCC‘s new strategy is focused on reducing wait times, dealing with the application backlog, and using technology to make the immigration process smoother and more efficient for everyone.
How This Affects You:
If you’re planning to apply for Canadian immigration, this strategy could mean faster and more predictable processing times in the future.
