Backlogs reduced for a faster Immigration System

Standing Committee has supported the steps taken by CIC to reduce the backlogs

Few months back, Citizenship Immigration Canada (CIC) had announced to return back the applications made by the Immigrants prior to March 2008 along with the processing fee. The step was criticized by all corners and it was termed to be “unfair” on the part of applicants by many. Millions of money had to be refunded back to the applicants.

Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration has compiled a report on “immigration backlogs” which supports the step by measuring its good effects.

Immigration Minister, Jason Kenney has said, I think we can all agree that backlogs are unfair to applicants, harmful to Canada’s ability to attract the best and brightest from around the word.

He also expresses that such a backlog can hold back the economic and job growth too. He has also thanked the standing committee for compiling such a report.

the findings of Standing Committee

• Committee reports that backlogs have occurred because numbers of applications accepted were much more than they could be processed on a yearly basis.
• The surplus of every year resulted into a huge backlog which was difficult to process otherwise.
• The backlogs affected the other categories too.
• Even now the Government should take adequate measures to ensure that number of applications do not exceed much ahead of number of admissions.
• Steps should be taken to deal with the existing backlogs too.
• The backlogs in the areas of federal skilled worker, immigrant investor and other categories should be watched.

Steps taken by the Government

• Backlog of Applications made prior to 2008, under Federal Skilled worker category will be reduced by 50% in the days to come.
• The efficiency of Immigrant Investor program is being reviewed and the existing applications are considered accordingly.
• Under the program of “Action Plan for Faster Family Reunification”, the applications for parents and Grandparents will be paused for some time now.
• Online consultations in various areas have been made available to the applicants.

The Government has assured that they take the issue of “Immigration” with utmost seriousness; so that the applicants do not have to wait and suffer for long, after all these immigrants have a major role to play in the various economic sectors of the country. Stagnation in the immigration process is not only a loss to the immigrants but also to the nation.