Canadian immigration applications are facing extreme delays, with some programs now having processing times of up to 50 years. This has left applicants and lawyers shocked and concerned about the viability of the system.
One such case is Olha Kushko, who arrived in Ottawa from Kyiv in 2023 under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel. Families applying for permanent residency under various streams are experiencing significant waits, ranging from 12 to 600 months.
The humanitarian and compassionate stream is seeing delays of up to 108 months for caregivers, 228 months for the agri-food stream, and a staggering 420 months for entrepreneurs under the startup visa stream. Lawyers are alarmed by these unprecedented processing times and fear potential mass cancellations of applications if new border security bills are passed.
Kushko, who applied under the humanitarian program in June, is concerned about the impact on her family, especially her youngest son, who has autism. The estimated wait time has now extended far beyond what was initially expected.
Other applicants under the humanitarian stream are also worried about the delays and the potential implications. Lawyers are demanding clarity and transparency from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) as applicants face uncertainty about their future in Canada.
The government’s decision to publish these extended processing times has raised questions about its commitment to humanitarian principles. There are concerns that applications may be canceled en masse if certain legislative measures are enacted.
IRCC has defended the accuracy of the processing time forecasts, attributing the delays to the volume of applications and changing admission targets. The department emphasized that decisions regarding potential cancellations would not be made unilaterally and are part of efforts to restore balance to the immigration system.