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The difficulties for international students and workers who dream of studying or working in Canada are not showing any signs of slowing down. According to the latest data and updates released by Canada’s immigration agency ‘Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’ (IRCC), the wait for the decision on study permit and work permit applications still remains the same. Although the department has made claims for minor relief in some categories, applicants at the ground level are facing long waits. Especially for the youth applying from many major countries including India, this long wait for visas and permits is overshadowing their future planning, due to which there is deep concern among students and workers.
#1 What is the status of permits and visas in the new update of IRCC?
According to the recent processing time update released by the Immigration Department of Canada (IRCC), there has been no significant improvement in the waiting time for candidates applying from within and outside the country. Although the department has recorded a slight decrease of one or two weeks in some categories like study permit extension and work permit extension, the situation for new applicants remains almost the same as before. The average time for study permits and work permits for students applying from outside the country ranges from several weeks to months. The backlog of applications has slowed down the process due to strict immigration rules and annual caps continuously enforced by the Canadian government.
#1 Students and foreign workers are facing huge practical problems
Due to this long wait for visas and permits, the academic session of thousands of students who have taken admission in Canadian universities and colleges is being affected. Many students’ classes have started online or they have to postpone their joining date, due to which their budget for tuition fees and living expenses is getting disturbed. On the other hand, workers and post-graduates (PGWP) waiting for work permits are facing a livelihood crisis. Many professionals are on the verge of losing their current jobs due to delays in permit renewals or new approvals, as working without employment authorization is considered illegal under Canadian law.
#1 Impact of changes in immigration policies and strict quota system
The Canadian government has been drastically reducing the quota of international students and temporary foreign workers for some time now to control the housing crisis, rising inflation and pressure on infrastructure in the country. Under the new strategic plans of IRCC, the number of new migrants coming every year has been limited, which has a direct impact on file processing. Until immigration targets and quota limits are fully clarified, departments will remain under pressure from applications. Experts believe that the Canadian administration is now being extremely cautious on both the quality and quantity fronts, due to which the verification of documents and background check is taking more time.
#1 Expert advice: Caution in application and preparation at the right time is the only protection.
In view of all these administrative hurdles and long waiting times, immigration experts have given special advice to students and workers. Experts say that applicants should not make any kind of final ticket booking or hotel reservation until they have the official visa or permit in their hands. Also, take special care to ensure accuracy of all documents while applying so that a small discrepancy does not result in the file being rejected or additional inquiries leading to weeks and months of delay. Applicants are advised to regularly visit the official portal of IRCC to track the live status of their case.