Processing times for Canadian immigration applications have reached unprecedented lengths, with wait times extending up to 50 years for certain permanent residency programs. This has left applicants and legal representatives astonished, deeming the system unviable.
Olha Kushko, who relocated to Ottawa with her family from Kyiv in 2023 under the Canada-Ukraine Authorization for Emergency Travel (CUAET) following Russia’s invasion, expressed disbelief at the prolonged processing times. Families applying for permanent residence under Canada’s humanitarian and compassionate stream are facing extensive delays, ranging from 12 to 600 months, as per the recent immigration minister’s May 2025 “transition binder.”
Various economic immigration programs also cite lengthy waits, such as up to 108 months for the caregivers pathway, up to 228 months for the agri-food stream, and up to 420 months for entrepreneurs under the startup visa stream. Legal professionals highlight these unprecedented processing times published by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), expressing concerns over potential mass application cancellations should the government enact stringent new border legislation.
Individuals like Kushko, who applied under the humanitarian and compassionate program, are uncertain about their future. The program allows individuals ineligible for other immigration streams to seek permanent residency based on factors like hardship and the welfare of children. The online processing time checker by IRCC indicates lengthy wait times for applicants under the humanitarian stream, with thousands ahead in the queue.
Kushko, whose youngest son has autism, faces added stress as their work permits are set to expire soon. The uncertainty of returning to Ukraine amid the ongoing conflict adds to her apprehension. Other applicants under the humanitarian stream share similar concerns, questioning if Canada is veering away from its humanitarian ethos.
Legal practitioners are demanding clarity and transparency from IRCC, expressing dismay at the prolonged processing times. Speculations arise about potential application cancellations if the government implements new border security legislation. IRCC defends its decision to publish these extended wait times, attributing them to changes in admission targets over the past year.
The government assures that decisions regarding processing times and applications would not be made unilaterally, emphasizing a commitment to restoring balance in the immigration system. However, uncertainties loom over the future of applicants and the efficacy of Canada’s immigration processes.