Canada: IRCC Timing Shift
IRCC updated processing times for PR cards, visitor visas, super visas and study permits on March 20, reported the overall backlog below one million while permanent‑resident backlogs hit record highs, and announced Super Visa income rules will expand to two prior tax years effective March 31. The changes create mixed signals—some queues have improved while others (PR) are worsening and sponsors must prepare two‑year income documentation for Super Visas. (x.com) (x.com)
IRCC’s publicly posted inventory for the period ending January 31, 2026 shows 2,092,000 applications in IRCC’s queues, with 1,101,700 processed within service standards and a remaining backlog of 990,300. (canada.ca) (cicnews.com) Permanent‑residence pressure deepened in that snapshot: IRCC recorded 995,500 PR applications in inventory and processed 460,200 (46%) within service standards, leaving 535,300 PR files classified as backlog—the highest PR backlog recorded in IRCC’s published format. (cicnews.com) (immigrationnewscanada.ca) The month‑to‑month drivers were uneven: temporary‑residence backlog fell by about 33,200 applications while permanent‑residence backlog rose by roughly 7,800; IRCC data and industry trackers show study‑permit backlogs jumped about 14% even as work‑permit backlogs declined near 8%. (immigrationnewscanada.ca) (cicnews.com) Processing‑time movement was not uniform by visa office or product: industry trackers reported visitor‑visa decision windows ranging from under three weeks in some posts to more than 16 weeks at other posts, while third‑party summaries logged measurable reductions in PR‑card and super‑visa estimates in IRCC’s March updates. (visaverge.com) (immigration2canada.com) IRCC’s March 20 notice expanding Super‑Visa income assessment options clarifies two operational changes: sponsors may meet the Minimum Necessary Income by showing either of the two taxation years preceding application, and IRCC will permit adding the visiting parent/grandparent’s income to meet any shortfall; the policy applies to files submitted on or after March 31, 2026 and to applications already in processing. (canada.ca) Documentary consequences are concrete—IRCC expects evidence that sponsors meet MNI and, in practice, most applicants will provide Canada Revenue Agency Notices of Assessment (NOAs) or co‑signer proof for one of the two prior taxation years; Canadian legal advisories are already recommending gathering two years of NOAs and co‑signer documentation for pending Super‑Visa files. (lawyerinfo.ca) (immigration2canada.com)
