Overview
- IRCC will now publish estimated processing times online using “forward-looking” processing times.
- This is to help applicants better predict how long it will take to process their applications.
- The updated processing times will be available for several high-volume immigration programs, including:
- Canadian Experience Class (Express Entry)
- Provincial Nominees Program (Express Entry and non-Express Entry)
- Federal Skilled Workers (Express Entry)
- Quebec Skilled Workers
- Citizenship grants
- Citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship)
- Spouse or common-law partner living inside Canada
- Spouse, common-law or conjugal partner living outside Canada
- Parents or grandparents
Reasons for the Change
- A report by the Office of the Auditor General last October recommended that IRCC change how it calculates processing times.
- The report said IRCC should provide “online information on processing times for all PR applications, taking into consideration the volume and age of applications already in the system.”
- This update is one of IRCC’s first steps to address the report’s recommendations.
- Updated service standards can be expected by the end of this year.
How Forward-Looking Processing Times Work
- IRCC will estimate processing times based on the total number of applications waiting and the number they expect to process.
- This can change depending on factors like immigration levels, processing capacity, and seasonal changes in application types.
- In the past, IRCC has used “backward-looking” processing times, based on how long it took to process 80% of applications in the previous 6 months for permanent residence, or 8-16 weeks for temporary residence.
- The backward-looking method will still be used for temporary residence applications like study permits, work permits, and visitor visas.
Mark 
Hazel