Canada has been one of the most preferential nations when it comes to migration especially from the southeast region of the world as its economy is mainly supported by the immigration industry for the past number of decades providing a number of immigration pathways for people belonging to different sectors meeting the demand of its labor market whether the requirement is for white-collar jobs or more physical labor work. People can migrate to Canada opting for any of the various methods of immigration.
Every year, the Canada Government defines a target of immigration to achieve for the next year. However, due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it was unable to achieve its target of welcoming new permanent residents in 2019, and thereby, a lot of backlash has been faced by Justin Trudeaus’ Canadian Government on account of the rising backlog of immigration files in the process. At the beginning of the pandemic, the Canadian Government shifted its priorities and focused on processing the applications of in-Canada residents. On account of which, last year, it was able to achieve its target of 4,01,000 new permanent residents by December 2021. This target was achieved by mainly focusing on the inland Canadian experience class (CEC) applications and newly introduced ‘Temporary Resident to Permanent Resident Pathway’ (TR to PR pathway).
As of December 15, 2021, the total backlog of immigration applications in process with IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) was 18,13,144. It rose by 1% from October 2021 backlog which was 17,91,936. The detailed bifurcation of the applications in the process has been stated below:
Permanent residence backlog grand total
| Immigration category | Persons as of December 15 |
| Economic Class | 234,770 |
| Family Class | 105,298 |
| Humanitarian and Compassionate/Public Policy | 27,520 |
| Permit Holders Class | 24 |
| Protected Persons | 157,658 |
| Grand total | 525,270 |
Temporary residence backlog grand total
| TR Category | Persons as of December 15 |
| Study Permit | 122,476 |
| Study Permit extension | 24,461 |
| Temporary Resident Permit | 6,726 |
| Temporary Resident Visa | 403,752 |
| Visitor Record extension | 60,499 |
| Work Permit | 78,080 |
| Work Permit extension | 123,880 |
| Grand Total | 819,874 |
Family Class backlog
| PR Category | Persons as of December 15 |
| Children & Other Family Class | 8,848 |
| FCH-Family relations – H&C | 3,465 |
| Parents and Grandparents | 38,122 |
| Spouses & Partners | 54,863 |
| Total Family Class | 105,298 |
Humanitarian and Compassionate/Public Policy backlog
| PR Category | Persons as of December 15 |
| HC & PH class-ADM Dependant Person Overseas | 70 |
| Humanitarian & Compassionate Straight | 17,532 |
| Humanitarian & Compassionate with Risk or Discrimination | 8,701 |
| Public Policy Without RAP | 1,217 |
| Total Humanitarian & Compassionate / Public Policy | 27,520 |
Economic Class backlog
| Immigration category | Persons as of December 15 |
| Agri-Food Pilot Program | 747 |
| Atlantic Immigration Pilot Programs | 2,998 |
| Canadian Experience Class (EE) | 24,675 |
| Canadian Experience Class (No EE) | 55 |
| Caring For Children Program | 12,539 |
| Federal Self Employed | 4,999 |
| Federal Skilled Workers (C-50) | 223 |
| Federal Skilled Workers (EE) | 54,529 |
| Federal Skilled Workers (Pre C-50) | 24 |
| High Medical Needs Program | 29 |
| Live-in Caregiver Program | 1,780 |
| Provincial/Territorial Nominees (EE) | 39,325 |
| Provincial/Territorial Nominees (No EE) | 27,421 |
| Quebec Entrepreneur | 462 |
| Quebec Investor | 14,610 |
| Quebec Self Employed | 85 |
| Quebec Skilled Workers | 27,048 |
| Rural and Northern Immigration Pilot | 992 |
| Skilled Trades (EE) | 805 |
| Skilled Trades (No EE) | 9 |
| Start-up Business | 1,264 |
| TR to PR | 20,151 |
| Total Economic Class | 234,770 |
Permit Holders Class backlog
| PR Category | Persons as of December 15 |
| Permit Holders Class | 24 |
| Total Permit Holders Class | 24 |
Protected Persons backlog
| PR Category | Persons as of December 15 |
| Blended Visa Office-Referred | 42 |
| Dependants Abroad of Protected Persons | 23,708 |
| Federal Government-assisted Refugees | 40,603 |
| Privately Sponsored Refugees | 72,436 |
| Protected Persons Landed In Canada | 19,718 |
| Quebec Government-assisted Refugees | 1,151 |
| Total Protected Persons | 157,658 |
Data source: https://www.cicnews.com/2022/01/canadas-immigration-backlog-now-over-1-8-million-applications-0120775.html#gs.l4t524
The data shows that the maximum number of pending cases belong to outside Canada applicants which include Federal skilled workers, Provincial/Territorial Nominees (EE), Provincial/Territorial Nominees (No EE), Parents, and Grandparents, Spouses & Partners, apart from study and worker visa applications.
Above that, the Canadian Government has acted coldly in the past two years by not providing any statement as to when they will be able to clear the backlog of pending applications or resume ‘All program’ or ‘FSW’ draws or opting a strategy such as replying via email to the applicants or telling them at which stage their file is being processed, to reduce the panic and backlash against them.
It is inhumane to not respond and take quick actions to thousands of pleas as a number of people have not been able to meet their families living in Canada and a lot of money to show for funds has been stuck of applicants whose files are under process from past three years and so on.
It is high time that the Canada Government comes up with quick strategies to handle this situation and act upon it besides communicating clearly with the public about their plans to clear out this huge backlog at the earliest as all people stuck in this are not machines but humans whose lives are being affected by their actions.