IRCC Processing Times: December 2024

IRCC Processing Times: December 2024:

As Canada continues to be a top destination for immigrants, understanding the current processing times for various immigration applications is crucial.

Whether you’re looking to gain citizenship, renew your PR card, or apply for temporary residency, the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) updates these times regularly to reflect their current workload and efficiency.

Here’s an in-depth look at the latest IRCC processing times as of December 17, 2024, to help you plan your move to Canada more effectively.

Why These Updates Matter:

• Plan Your Move: Knowing how long your application might take can help in planning your relocation or career moves.
• Avoid Surprises: With the fluctuation in processing times, staying informed can prevent unexpected delays in your immigration journey.
• Maximize Your Application: Understanding these timelines allows you to prepare your documents and complete your application with enough time to spare.

Tracking Changes Since 2021: At Immigration News Canada (INC), we’ve been meticulously tracking these processing times to keep our readers informed.

Our updates include monthly reviews for citizenship, family sponsorship, and economic immigration, with weekly updates for temporary residency, PR cards, and business immigration.

These insights reflect not just the time frames but also IRCC’s capacity to handle applications amidst varying volumes.

Interpreting Processing Times

Remember, these times are based on 80% of applications, meaning your experience might differ.

Factors like completeness of documentation, the complexity of your case, or additional security checks can influence how long your application takes.

Here’s a detailed breakdown for each category:

Citizenship Processing Times (Monthly Updates)

• Citizenship Grant: Now taking 7 months to process, unchanged from the last update.
• Citizenship Certificate: Reduced to 3 months, 1 month down when to compared to previous monthly update.
• Renunciation of Citizenship: No change, still at 16 months from last month’s update.
• Search of Citizenship Records: At 11 months, no change from previous update.

Note: IRCC is currently sending acknowledgment of receipt (AOR) letters for applications submitted during the week of December 4, 2024.

Permanent Resident (PR) Card Updates (Weekly)

• New PR Card: 21 days, a reduction of 2 days
• PR Card Renewal: 37 days, reduced by 3 days.

Family Sponsorship Processing Times (Monthly Updates)

• Spouse/Common-Law Partner (Outside Canada, except Quebec): No change at 10 months when compared to previous monthly update.
• Spouse/Common-Law Partner (Outside Canada, for Quebec): Up to 36 months, unchanged from last update.
• Spouse/Common-Law Partner (Inside Canada, except Quebec): Same at 12 months as compared to last month’s update.
• Spouse/Common-Law Partner (Inside Canada, for Quebec): Stable at 27 months as was in November’s update.
• Parents/Grandparents (except Quebec): No change, still at 24 months from last monthly update.
• Parents/Grandparents (for Quebec): Remains at 48 months as was in November.

Economic Immigration (Monthly and Weekly Updates)

• Canadian Experience Class (CEC): Steady at 5 months.
• Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP): Also 5 months, no change.
• Provincial Nominee Program (Express Entry): Still 6 months.
• Provincial Nominee Program (without Express Entry): Up to 13 months.
• Quebec Skilled Workers (QSW): Continues to be at 11 months.
• Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP): Steady at 8 months.
• Federal Self-employed persons: No change, at 48 months.
• Quebec Business Class: Increases to 71 months as compared to 58 months reported in November’s update.
• Start-up Visa: Steady at 40 months.

Temporary Residency Processing Times (Weekly Updates)

• Visitor Visa (From Outside Canada):
  • India: 109 days, reduced by 2 days.
  • United States: 27 days, increased by 1 day.
  • Nigeria: 170 days, down by 2 days.
  • Pakistan: 32 days, reduced by 1 day.
  • Philippines: 21 days, unchanged.
• Visitor Visa (Inside Canada):
  • Online: Increases to 42 days.
  • Visitor Extension: 145 days, increased by 13 days.
• Super Visa:
  • India: 137, increased by 1 day.
  • United States: 137, reduced by 3 days.
  • Nigeria: 49 days, down by 14 days.
  • Pakistan: 92, reduced by 62 days since last week.
  • Philippines: 106, increased by 1 day since last week.
• Study Permit (From Outside Canada):
  • India: 4 weeks, unchanged.
  • United States: 11 weeks, increased by 1 week.
  • Nigeria: 8 weeks, no change.
  • Pakistan: 10, a drop of 1 week.
  • Philippines: Continues to be 4 weeks.
• Study permit from inside Canada: 9 weeks, reduced by 1 week.
  • Study permit extension: 161 days, increased by 1 day on weekly basis.
• Work Permit (Outside Canada):
  • India: 18 weeks, no change.
  • United States: 15 weeks, reduced by 1 week.
  • Nigeria: 22 weeks, reduced by 1 week.
  • Pakistan: 14 weeks, increased by 2 weeks since last weekly update.
  • Philippines: Unchanged at 4 weeks.
• Work Permit From Inside Canada including extension: 170, a drop of 1 day.
• Other Programs:
  • Seasonal Agriculture Worker Program (SAWP): 8 days.
  • International Experience Canada: 6 weeks.
  • Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): Immediate at 5 minutes.

For the most accurate and up-to-date information, always check the official IRCC website.

This guide aims to keep you informed, ensuring your immigration plans remain on course.

Remember, these are average times, and your specific application might take more or less time to process.