PROGRESS ON CLEARING IMMIGRATION BACKLOG
Immigration law
27 Mar
Applications are deemed part of the backlog at IRCC if not processed within the published service standards, which represent the reasonable timeline for application processing, and the backlog has been steadily decreasing in recent months.
To provide additional context, here is an overview of the total immigration backlog as of the last day of each of the past six months:
MONTH | BACKLOG | CHANGES MADE |
September
2024 | 1,097,000 | +1.73% |
October
2024 | 1,056,100 | -3.73% |
November
2024 | 1,006,500 | -4.70% |
December
2024 | 942,300 | -6.38% |
January,
2025 | 892,100 | -5.33% |
February,
2025 | 821,200 | -7.95% |
As of February 28, IRCC has a whopping 2,029,400 applications sitting in its inbox. But do not worry, they have managed to tackle 1,208,200 of them within the promised time frame.
EXPRESS ENTRY:
The department does not provide exact numbers but mentioned that 25% of Express Entry applications were in the backlog, which is higher than their target of 20%. For Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) applications through Express Entry, the backlog jumped to 36% by the end of February 2025, up from 30% the month before.
Therefore, as of February 28, 2025, IRCC had a total of 842,600 applications in its inventory for permanent residence immigration programs, including the Express Entry program, Express Entry-aligned Provincial Nominee Program streams, and family sponsorship programs.
VISITOR VISA:
Out of 947,200 applications in the system, only 532,700 were handled within the expected timeline, leaving 414,500 in the backlog. When broken down by program, visitor visas have the largest share of applications still waiting to be processed.
When broken down by program, visitor visas make up the largest portion of the backlog.
FAMILY SPONSORSHIP:
Meanwhile, the family sponsorship backlog is still within the expected range. By the end of February 2025, it was at 14%, a slight decrease from 15% the month before.
STUDY PERMITS:
For study permits, the backlog stayed the same as last month at 45%, though the expected backlog dropped to 24%. On the other hand, the percentage of work permits in the backlog has been decreasing quickly, showing that IRCC is focusing on these applications. By February 28, only 34% of work permit applications were still in the backlog, the lowest since July 2023.
CITIZENSHIP:
Like last month, citizenship applications are still within the expected backlog range. Citizenship has the smallest backlog, with just 239,600 applications in total. Out of these, 196,900 (or 82%) were processed on time, leaving only 18% in the backlog.
IRCC is working to reduce the backlog by setting caps on certain immigration programs, like study permit applications, to help manage the number of applications more effectively.
The Immigration Levels Plan 2025-27, released on October 24, 2024, outlines a decrease in permanent residence (PR) admission targets for the next three years. Lower immigration targets can help the department manage application inventories more effectively.
By the end of February, 56% of temporary residency applications, including work permits, study permits, and visitor visas, were processed on time.
At RRM Law, we can help by providing expert legal advice and support throughout the immigration process. They can assist with navigating complex immigration rules, preparing and submitting applications, handling any legal challenges, and ensuring that all documentation meets the necessary requirements. Whether you're applying for permanent residence, temporary visas, or facing delays, RRM Law can offer guidance to improve your chances of success and manage your immigration case efficiently.
Speak to an experienced Immigration Lawyer today at 905-798-3776.