x
(403) 452-9515
Ackah Business Immigration Law – Personal and Corporate Immigration
Contact us

Contact Information

1 (403) 452-9515

1 (800) 932-1190

Book a Consultation

More Options...

Canada's Immigration Backlog Grows to 2.1 Million

Blog posted on by Evelyn Ackah in Immigration

Canada's Immigration Backlog Grows to 2.1 Million

Canada's immigration backlog has grown to over 2.1 million applications and increased by 98,796 people between April 11 and April 29, an increase from 1.8 million in March. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) reports that much of the increase is due to temporary and permanent resident applications.

  • In April 2021, the government created a new pathway to permanent residency for 90,000 essential temporary workers and international graduates called the TR to PR pathway.
  • The applications for temporary resident visas and work permits increased significantly when the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) temporary residency pathway to Canada was introduced in March 2022.

An email statement sent to CTVNews.ca said.

...the backlogs are partly due to closures at various processing offices and visa application centres during COVID-19. Those closures led to longer processing times for applicants, and in part were due to our growing inventory and the number of applications received by IRCC every year.

Despite considerable efforts, we know that some applicants have experienced considerable wait times with the processing of their applications, and we continue to work as hard as possible to reduce processing times.

- Rémi Larivière
IRCC Media Relations Advisor

Canada's Efforts to Reduce the Immigration Backlog

The immigration backlog was improving in March of 2022. Canada's federal government has taken steps to reduce the immigration backlog:

  • IRCC has reduced the Express Entry backlog by 4,292 persons since mid-April and plans to resume federal Express Entry draws in July.
  • IRCC received an additional $85 million to reduce wait times for new applications and reduce application inventory backlogs. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said the funds would be mainly used to hire more staff.
  • Ottawa committed $2.1 billion over five years in its 2022 budget to support the processing and settlement of new permanent residents to Canada, plus $317.6 million in new funding.
  • IRCC expanded the use of advanced data analytics to help IRCC officers sort and process temporary resident visa applications and to improve client service and processes.
  • IRCC has begun introducing new technologies to modernize the immigration system expedite application processing and reduce processing times.

In March, the Honourable Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, said of the immigration delays:

I know that processing delays have been incredibly frustrating for many individuals. Helping clients come to Canada quickly, with predictable processing times and efficient communication with IRCC, remains a top priority for me. Immigration benefits all Canadians—it helps grow our economy and strengthens our communities across the country. Many people are choosing Canada as the place to visit and build their future, and to ensure that we stay competitive, we have introduced concrete measures to make sure those who want to come to Canada have the client experience they deserve.

Canada Remains A Top Destination For Immigrants

Canada ranks fourth in the world for immigrant-friendly policies and is a top destination for foreign workers. Calgary, Toronto and Vancouver consistently rank in the top 10 most livable cities in the world.

Book A Consultation

Do You Want To Move To Canada? Contact Ackah Law Today

An experienced immigration lawyer can save you time and stress - and prevent costly mistakes and missed deadlines. With 50+ years of immigration experience, our immigration legal team can identify and resolve potential problems BEFORE they happen.

Contact Ackah Law today to discuss your situation at 403-452‑9515.



Evelyn L. Ackah, BA, LL.B.

Founder/Managing Lawyer

Ms. Ackah is passionate about immigration law because it focuses on people and relationships, which are at the core of her personal values. Starting her legal career as a corporate/commercial ...

More About Evelyn L. Ackah, BA, LL.B.

Common Mistakes On Canada Immigration Applications - And How To Avoid Them

Immigrating to Canada is a dream for many people around the world. However, the process can be complex and daunting, and there are many common mistakes that can be made along the way. ...

Read More

Immigration Fraud: Potentially 700 International Students Facing Deportation from Canada

Many Indian foreign students were exploited by a fraudulent Indian immigration consultant who issued fraudulent letters of acceptance to Canadian Universities. Nearly 700 international ...

Read More

Episode 64: How To Protect Yourself From Immigration Fraud and Scams

Calgary immigration lawyer Evelyn Ackah discusses how to protect yourself from immigration fraud and scams. As a Canadian immigration lawyer for over 20 years and founder of Ackah ...

Read More

IRCC Workers Return To Work As Federal Strike Ends

Canada's government and the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) announced that a tentative agreement was reached on May 1 and that approximately 120,000 employees and IRCC ...

Read More

March is Immigration Fraud Prevention Month: Immigration Fraud Happens to Businesses Too!

BOOK YOUR FREE CASE EVALUATION March is Canada Immigration Fraud Prevention Month. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) works to raise awareness about the different ...

Read More

Canada Welcomes Record Breaking Over 430,000 Immigrants in 2022

BOOK YOUR FREE CASE EVALUATION Canada announced on Tuesday, January 3 that it welcomed 431,645 new permanent residents in 2022. Immigration Minister Sean Fraser said in a news ...

Read More

I've been meaning to send you a note with a big thank you again for all your assistance in obtaining my TN with NCS although it wasn't easy but was a game changer for my business and life. They have evolved over the last year into a fantastic account with lot's ahead over the next year as well.

Norman R.

View All Testimonials