Why Is the Canada Visa Taking So Long?

You’ve been waiting. Maybe weeks, maybe months, maybe you’ve lost track of time. But that Canada visa you were hoping for still hasn’t arrived. So, what’s the hold-up? The frustration is palpable, especially when life plans hang in the balance—relocations, jobs, or even educational opportunities. You’re left in limbo, refreshing your email inbox obsessively, scouring forums for answers, but none seems to make sense.

But here’s the kicker: delays are more common than you might think, and they stem from a variety of complex reasons that most applicants aren’t aware of. These reasons go beyond the typical “too many applications” excuse that we often hear. The process involves layers of bureaucracy, thorough security checks, and evolving immigration policies, each of which contributes to the long processing times.

Let’s peel back the layers on this phenomenon.

The Overflowing Backlog

Canada is one of the top destinations for immigrants worldwide, with its reputation for high living standards, solid healthcare, and diverse job opportunities. But this popularity comes with a price—the immigration system is overwhelmed. According to 2023 estimates, the Canadian visa offices are juggling millions of applications yearly. As of August, there were over 700,000 pending visa applications. This massive influx of people all vying for a place within Canada’s borders inevitably leads to a bottleneck in processing.

To make matters worse, this surge in applications wasn’t entirely anticipated. Even though immigration numbers were already high before, the global pandemic created an unprecedented backlog. Applications were stalled, offices closed or went remote, and now they’re catching up—at a snail’s pace.

Changing Immigration Policies

Canada’s immigration policies are continually evolving to adapt to its economic and social needs. However, these changes, while often well-intentioned, lead to delays as immigration officers need to be updated, retrained, and realigned with new directives. For instance, the government’s recent moves to prioritize applications from certain countries or economic sectors can slow down others’ processes.

Take 2022 as an example: Canada introduced specific measures to prioritize healthcare workers' visas amid a shortage of professionals due to the pandemic. While good news for healthcare professionals, it resulted in slower processing times for those applying for other categories, such as skilled workers in IT or engineering.

Security Checks: More Thorough Than Ever

In a post-9/11 world, security concerns have made immigration checks much more rigorous. Every applicant undergoes a comprehensive background check involving collaboration between several international security agencies, including INTERPOL. This process ensures that Canada remains safe from potential threats, but it also adds weeks, sometimes months, to visa processing times.

If your visa application hits a red flag in one of these checks, even if it’s for something trivial—like a name similarity to someone on a watchlist—it can lead to delays without notice or explanation.

Your Application Completeness

Here’s an often overlooked but crucial point: the completeness of your application can significantly affect your processing time. Missing documents, incorrectly filled forms, or failure to meet specific criteria can all push your application further down the pile. The government prioritizes complete, flawless applications, so any mistakes can lead to substantial delays as they contact you for additional information.

Pro tip: Double, triple-check your documents. Even something as small as an unchecked box can cause significant delays. Make sure everything is 100% correct before hitting that ‘submit’ button.

Biometrics and Medicals: Another Layer

Depending on the type of visa you’re applying for, you may be required to submit biometrics and undergo a medical examination. This step, while necessary for maintaining national health and security, can add another few weeks to the process. The results from biometrics and medical exams must be reviewed and cleared before your visa can be processed.

Unfortunately, these external service providers also have their processing times, and any delay on their part will delay your application.

Embassy-Specific Delays

Not all embassies or consulates are created equal. Processing times vary drastically depending on the country you’re applying from. Some countries have fewer resources, underfunded offices, or are dealing with higher volumes of applications, which contributes to the delay.

For example, if you’re applying for a Canada visa from India, where there’s a high number of applications, expect longer wait times compared to someone applying from a country with fewer applicants, like Sweden.

Real Case Example: The 2023 Surge

In 2023, the Canadian government announced plans to welcome up to 500,000 new immigrants per year by 2025. This ambitious target inevitably led to a surge in visa applications. The surge, combined with the pre-existing backlog, meant that even applicants who would typically have received their visas within a few months were now waiting almost twice as long.

One applicant, John, applied for a work visa in January 2023 and expected to have it by April, based on past processing times. However, by July, he was still waiting. When he finally got a response in September, the delay had been due to an unexpectedly high number of applications at the embassy where he applied. John’s story isn’t unique—it’s becoming increasingly common for applicants to wait much longer than the estimated processing times listed on official websites.

The Path Forward: What Can You Do?

So, if you’re waiting on a Canada visa, what can you do to speed things up or at least get a better understanding of your situation? Here are some tips:

• Track your application status: Use Canada’s online visa status tool to track where your application stands.
• Contact the visa office: If your application is delayed beyond the normal timeframe, try contacting the visa office for clarification. However, keep in mind that responses may take a while due to high demand.
• Ensure completeness: As mentioned before, a complete and accurate application is your best shot at avoiding delays.
• Be patient: Sometimes, the only thing you can do is wait. It’s frustrating, but given the current backlog, it’s the unfortunate reality for many applicants.