Canada needs to up its efforts to bring down processing times

The CERC has urged the Canadian government and IRCC to reduce the processing times of applications of skilled workers willing to work in Canada. The delay in processing itself is affecting Canada’s capability to resume its normal staffing levels, which is essential at this point of time.

The major delays CERC detected were with the processing delays of Canada immigration visas and work permits. This is making a huge impact on the Canadian employers who are suffering from a shortage of skilled personnel that largely comes through immigration.

CERC has also urged IRCC to expand its processing and review teams to do away with piling backlogs in visa applications.

CERC’s report also cites the need to ensure a uniform effort to be made for applications at any level of processing. While applications submitted in October 2020 and early November 2020 are being processed, many applications filed prior to that are in backlog.

The Ottawa province has been particularly affected by this scenario. CERC, along with pitching for greater transparency, raised the need for creating a Trusted Employer Program. The Program will help Canadian employers get the benefits of an efficient system of application processing. These employers are even ready to get faster access to skilled migrants by paying a premium. As of now, the processing time of TFW applications is about 4 months.

It was also recommended by the CERC for Ottawa to improve its technological abilities to facilitate tracking and accessing information on application updated to the minute.

The inputs to CERC’s inferences and recommendations came from companies and organizations that came from the sectors of:

• Manufacturing and Manufactured Products
• Technology
• Government / Health Care / Education
• Construction / Engineering Services
• Natural Resources

The report of the survey that CERC based its observations and recommendations prompted the body to call on Ottawa to waive the need for immigrants to give biometrics. This, they meant for immigrants who came from countries where VACs are currently closed due to COVID-19. Action has been taken already by the federal government on this advice.

The exemption on biometric information of TFWs that has already been implemented involves those who work in jobs in fields like:

• Agricultural & agri-food
• Truck drivers
• Healthcare

This exemption is followed now by a waiver on biometrics for Canada PR applicants.

If you are looking to Study, Work, Visit, Invest or Migrate to Canada, talk to Y-Axis, the World’s No.1 Immigration & Visa Company.

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Note:

CERC - Canadian Employee Relocation Council

IRCC – Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada

TFW – Temporary Foreign Worker