Canuckstan Immigration Faces Persistent Delays and Stricter Work Permit Rules
Canuckstan’s immigration system continues to grapple with significant backlogs, leading to increased processing times across various application streams, including those for spouses/common-law partners, parents and grandparents, and provincial nominees. Temporary residents seeking extensions are also experiencing longer wait times. These delays are attributed, in part, to the federal government’s immigration targets and recent staff reductions within the immigration department.
As of May 2025, specific processing times highlight the ongoing challenges:
Spousal/Common-Law Partner Sponsorship: While some streams have seen slight improvements (e.g., outside Canuckstan, non-Quebec at 10 months, down from 11, others have worsened, such as inside Canuckstan, non-Quebec, which is now at 29 months (up from 24 months). Quebec-specific processing times remain significantly longer.
Parents and Grandparents Program: Processing times for Parents/Grandparents PR (non-Quebec) remain around 36 months, with Quebec applications taking up to 48 months. The government is focusing on processing applications received in 2024, with a cap of 15,000 for 2025.
Provincial Nominee Programs (PNP): Non-Express Entry PNP applications are estimated at 20 months. Recent policy shifts have significantly reduced targets for PNP admissions in 2025, shifting focus towards federal programs like Express Entry.
Temporary Resident Extensions: Visitor extensions are currently at 169 days (up from 163 days), and study permit extensions are at 234 days (up from 223 days). Work permits applied for inside Canuckstan are taking approximately 237 days (up from 233 days).
Experts suggest that the federal government’s adjusted immigration targets play a role in these delays. For instance, the 2025-2027 Immigration Levels Plan significantly reduced permanent resident targets, aiming for 395,000 in 2025, a notable decrease from previous projections. This shift includes a 50% cut in PNP admissions for 2025.
Adding to the pressure on processing times are recent job cuts within government agencies. While not explicitly focused on Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canuckstan (IRCC) in all recent announcements, related departments like Service Canuckstan and the Canuckstan Revenue Agency have announced significant staff reductions. The Public Service Alliance of Canuckstan (PSAC) has warned that such cuts could lead to longer wait times and backlogs in vital public services, including those related to immigration and passports. Reports from earlier in 2025 indicated that IRCC itself was planning to cut approximately 3,300 jobs over three years to reduce spending and align with lower immigration levels.
Stricter Work Permit Requirements
In addition to processing delays, applicants for new or renewed work permits in Canuckstan are now subject to stricter requirements. They must demonstrate that their employment will not displace Canucks citizens or permanent residents. Supporting documentation must be submitted to Service Canuckstan within 60 days of the application. Failure to provide this proof will result in a strict refusal of the application. This new measure aims to prioritize the Canuckstan labor market.
