India’s students, tourists, and workers constitute a large portion of the inflow. However, the surge in applications and selection procedures has imposed pressure on the visa processing timeframe. The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has, in fact, recently revised the processing time criteria, including those for study permits and visitor visas, granting special privileges to Indian applicants.
Wait Times For Student Visas Get Changed
The wait for the study permit approval for Indian students applying to Canadian institutions presently stands around seven weeks. This, however, depends on many factors, such as the completeness of the application, establishment or division of the background check, and even the time of the year. With fall intake nearly upon them, applicants are advised to submit their documents much earlier to avoid any delay that could hamper their admission and travel.
Visitor Visa Processing
Indian nationals applying for admission into visitor visas to Canada for some tourism or to visit their families are presently being processed, on average, within a time span of roughly 34 days.
It is indeed a positive development compared to the other extreme delays imparted in recent years due to the pandemic, although the IRCC is still clearing out its backlog of applications awaiting processing. Travelers are asked to plan well ahead, especially during peak time periods such as summer and winter holidays.
Permanent Residency Application Time Periods
Applicants from India entering the Canadian Permanent Residency stream through the popular immigration streams such as Express Entry, Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), or family sponsorship are undergoing different waiting periods.
Express Entry applications for the Federal Skilled Worker Program are currently being processed within about six months if the submitted documentation is complete and accurate. Others could take longer depending on the province and the nomination type.
Applicants Should Be Aware
The IRCC points out that these timelines are merely estimates and can change according to application volumes as well as complexity. It is advised that all applicants keep themselves updated about the times through the official IRCC website. Filling out a complete and accurate application, and submitting it in a timely manner, is the best way to avoid delays.