Canada immigration backlog for grandparents and parents to worsen

Canada, 19th October: Canada immigration backlog for parents and grandparents is likely to become worse in the coming times.

Canada missing annual targets in grandparents and parents category--Around 150,000 parents and grandparents are awaiting their turn to come to Canada while Canada seems reluctant to act fast. This is due to the fact that Canada is allowing lesser number of such immigrants into the nation each year.

As per the figures for the year 2010, the number of parents and grandparents accepted into Canada was 15,324 while it is being argued that it could easily have allowed around 18,000. No wonder, this is an issue of serious concern for many aspiring senior immigrants as well as their families awaiting their arrival in Canada.

The annual target of immigration levels for parents and grandparents category for the year 2010 was between 15,000 and 18,000.

However, the nation accepted just 15,324 Canada visa applicants under this category. Lower number of applicants being accepted by Canada immigration department-CIC(Citizenship and Immigration Canada) is resulting in increasing the backlog for the applications to be processed in parents and grandparents category.

The backlog in 2010 was 150,965 Canada visa applications while in March 2011, this increased to 165,000. And if the same trend continues, the backlog may hit 200,000 by the end of this year.

Canada giving preference to economic immigrants--Government of Canada is missing targets set for processing of Canada visa applications each year in not just the grandparents and parents category but several other categories too. Take, for instance, the category of non-economic Canada immigrants.

The official figures by Canada immigration department show that the government admitted even lesser number of immigrants than the annual targets. However, it seems too willing to allow higher number of economic immigrants. The number of Canada immigrants under economic immigration category was 280,681, exceeding even its annual maximum limit of 265,000.

Govt. assures to reduce backlog—Meanwhile, Canada immigration minister Jason Kenney has affirmed that the backlog is an important concern and the government is looking forward to allow increased number of immigrants under parents and grandparents category in the current year. An action plan will be initiating following stakeholder consultations to expedite family reunification in Canada.