IRCC's Online Processing Times for 2024: What to expect and How to plan ahead

The Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) regularly updates its processing times for various immigration applications. Staying informed about these updates is crucial for anyone planning to immigrate to Canada or extend their stay. This article provides a comprehensive overview of the latest IRCC processing times, effective August 2024. Understanding these timelines can help you manage expectations and better plan your immigration journey.

Table of Contents

1. Overview of IRCC Processing Time
2. IRCC Visa processing updates
3. Family Sponsorship Processing Times
4. Economic Immigration Processing Times
5. Temporary Residency Processing Times
6. Conclusion
7. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Overview of IRCC Processing Time

In 2024, IRCC began offering monthly updates for processing times related to citizenship, family sponsorship, and economic immigration categories. Weekly updates are also provided for temporary residency and business immigration applications, as well as for Permanent Resident (PR) cards. These updates provide applicants with an estimated timeline for their application processing and are crucial for managing expectations.

Key Highlights:

• Citizenship and PR Cards: Monthly updates.
• Temporary Residency and Business Immigration: Weekly updates.
• Consistency in Communication: Regular updates improve transparency and applicant experience.

IRCC Visa processing updates

PR Cards (Updated Weekly):

• New PR Card: 26 days, reduced by 2 days since August 20.
• PR Card Renewals: 72 days, stable since July 30 but reduced by 3 days since June 25.

Citizenship (Updated Monthly):

• Citizenship Grant: 7 months, reduced by 1 month since June 3.
• Citizenship Certificate (Proof of Citizenship): 3 months, no change.
• Renunciation of Citizenship: 13 months, no change.
• Search for Citizenship Records: 13 months, no change.

Also Read : IRCC Work Permit Extension

Family Sponsorship application processing timeline

Family sponsorship processing times vary based on location and are updated monthly. Several factors affect these times, including the number of applications received and the resources allocated by IRCC.

Key Processing Times:

Spouse or Common-law Partner:

• Outside Canada (outside Quebec): 10 months, no change.
• Outside Canada (Quebec): 35 months, increased by 3 months.
• Inside Canada (outside Quebec): 11 months, no change.
• Inside Canada (Quebec): 24 months, reduced by 4 months.

Parents or Grandparents:

• Outside Quebec: 24 months, no change.
• Quebec: 48 months, no change.

Economic Immigration Processing time estimator

IRCC provides both monthly and weekly updates for economic immigration categories, ensuring transparency and up-to-date information for applicants.

Express Entry:

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC): 5 months, no change.
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): 5 months, no change.
• Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP): No updates since March 1, 2023.
• Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) via Express Entry: 6 months, no change.

Non-Express Entry:

• Non-Express Entry PNP: 11 months, no change.
• Quebec Skilled Workers (QSW): 9 months, no change.
• Quebec Business Class: 46 months, no change.
• Federal Self-Employed: 47 months, reduced by 3 months.
• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): 7 months, no change.
• Start-Up Visa: 38 months, reduced by 1 month.

Temporary Residency Processing Times

Temporary residency processing times are updated weekly. They provide a clear picture of how long it takes to process various applications but do not include biometric processing times.

Visitor Visa Processing Times (Varies by Country):

• India: 70 days, increased by 7 days.
• Nigeria: 175 days, increased by 4 days.
• United States: 39 days, increased by 5 days.
• Pakistan: 40 days, reduced by 7 days.
• Philippines: 26 days, no change.

Study Permits and Work Permits:

• Study Permit Outside Canada (Nigeria): 7 weeks, increased by 1 week.
• Work Permit Outside Canada (India): 22 weeks, increased by 2 weeks.
• Work Permit Inside Canada (Online): 119 days, increased by 2 days.

Conclusion

Understanding IRCC's updated processing times is crucial for applicants looking to move to Canada or extend their stay. Regular updates provide transparency and help applicants plan effectively. With processing times subject to change, staying informed is essential to navigating the Canadian immigration process successfully. Always consult the IRCC website or a qualified immigration professional for the most current information.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1. What are the current processing times for new PR cards?

Ans. As of August 2024, new PR cards take approximately 26 days to process.

Q2. How long does it take to renew a PR card?

Ans. The current processing time for renewing a PR card is 72 days.

Q3. What is the processing time for citizenship applications?

Ans. The processing time for citizenship grants is 7 months.

Q4. How long does it take to process a spouse sponsorship from outside Canada?

Ans. The processing time is approximately 10 months for applications outside Quebec.

Q5. What is the processing time for the Canadian Experience Class under Express Entry?

Ans. The processing time is currently 5 months.

Q6. How long does it take to process a visitor visa for applicants from India?

Ans. The processing time for visitor visas from India is 70 days.

Q7. How often are IRCC processing times updated?

Ans. Processing times are updated monthly for most categories and weekly for temporary residency and business immigration applications.