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NEWS

“IRCC Backlog Grows as Canada Plans to Cut Immigration in 2025!”

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has seen a steady rise in its application backlog over recent months. As of September 30, 2024, the backlog stood at 1,097,000 applications, a 1.73% increase from August’s 1,078,300. In July, the backlog reached 1,002,400, crossing the one-million mark for the first time in months. The total inventory now includes 2,450,600 applications, with 1,353,600 being processed within IRCC’s service standards—a 0.83% improvement over August’s 1,342,500. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration What is the backlog? An application is considered part of the backlog if it exceeds IRCC’s published processing timelines, which vary based on the type of application. For example, most Express Entry applications are expected to be processed within six months of submission. IRCC aims to process 80% of applications within these timelines, but high demand can lead to delays. Permanent Residence Applications As of September 24, IRCC had 816,000 permanent residence applications in its inventory, with 510,800 (63%) processed within service standards, leaving 305,200 in the backlog. Express Entry: 17% of applications were in the backlog, slightly better than the 20% target but higher than the 15% projection. PNP Streams Linked to Express Entry: 23% of applications were in the backlog, exceeding the 20% target. Spousal, Partner, and Child Sponsorships (outside Quebec): The backlog was at 15%, consistent with the target. Temporary Residence Applications Temporary residence applications have seen a significant backlog increase. Of the 1,411,700 applications, only 658,000 met service standards, resulting in a backlog rate of 72%, up from 49% in July. Study Permits: 36% of applications were in the backlog. Work Permits: 47% faced delays. Citizenship Applications The backlog for citizenship grants has remained steady at 17% since November 2023, aligning with IRCC’s target. IRCC’s Measures to Address the Backlog The recently announced Immigration Levels Plan (October 2024) reduced permanent resident admissions targets for the next three years while introducing temporary resident admission targets for the first time. These changes aim to reduce the growing backlog. Additionally, Canada’s Federal Court launched a Study Permit Pilot Project in October to streamline judicial review for rejected study permits, cutting the processing time from 14-18 months to under five months. Other measures include prioritizing essential worker applications and extending Post-Graduation Work Permit validity for master’s graduates from two to three years. These steps are designed to ease application processing and reduce delays. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

Citizenship, NEWS

In 2024, Canada will observe Citizenship Week.

Citizenship Week is being observed annually in Canada. Immigration Minister Marc Miller said in a statement issued by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) that this week is a chance for Canadians to consider what it means to be Canadian. The week of May 13–19 is in effect. Throughout the week, the Minister will visit “local organizations that provide assistance to newcomers by offering a range of services from official language training to finding employment” in addition to attending many citizenship ceremonies and celebrations. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration Between April 1, 2023, and March 31, 2024, Canada welcomed 393,500 new citizens, surpassing the almost 364,000 new citizens over the same time in the previous year. This month’s other events in Toronto that cater to newcomers include the yearly Newcomer Day. Anyone in Toronto can attend Nathan Phillips Square on May 23 to learn more about employment opportunities, settlement services, Canadian history, and other topics. There will also be a naturalization ceremony that day. What makes one a citizen of Canada? Many rights and liberties are afforded to Canadian residents in a multicultural society that promotes tolerance for people of many backgrounds, including gender, race, and religion. A Canadian passport, which is one of the best in the world and grants visa-free travel to more than 100 nations, is also available to citizens. They don’t need to bother about acquiring a visa or permit in order to enter or exit Canada. In addition, citizens have access to additional government benefits and are promised free healthcare (as long as they have a provincial health card). They can also vote in federal, provincial, and local elections. Last but not least, Canadian citizens pay a lot less for post-secondary education than do international students. How to apply for citizenship in Canada There are several steps involved in obtaining Canadian citizenship. First and foremost, all newly naturalized citizens must be long-term residents of Canada. You can do this by submitting an application via any of the more than 100 Canadian immigration routes. A candidate for citizenship must then fulfill the requirements for physical residency after obtaining the status of permanent resident. In particular, candidates for citizenship need to have spent a minimum of three of the previous five years, or 1,095 days, in Canada. Additionally, candidates must have at least a four-star Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) score in either French or English, which are the country’s official languages. The following can be used to illustrate this: Outcomes of an authorized third-party examination; or Transcripts or a diploma from an English- or French-speaking school or post-secondary institution; Proof that the student completed some government language programs with a CLB 4 or higher. After fulfilling these prerequisites, candidates need to ace a citizenship exam. The IRCC administers this test, which takes 20 to 30 minutes to finish and includes questions regarding geography, political process, Canadian history, and the rights and obligations of Canadian citizenship. A score of 15 out of 20 is required for passing. Ceremony for citizenship An applicant for citizenship in Canada is required to attend a citizenship ceremony upon approval. In the course of the event, candidates will Take the Oath of Citizenship; Get their citizenship certificate; Sign the Oath or Affirmation of Citizenship form; and Sing the national anthem. The ceremony can take place in person in front of a judge or through a video link provided for those unable to attend in person. Discover if You Are Eligible for Canadian Immigration

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