Dear Mr Brown,

I am just looking for an update regarding the backlog for permits and visas. I applied four months ago for a study permit, and I have yet to receive a response. I am also wondering if the delays are just for Jamaica. Thank you.

—TF

Dear TF:

Backlog

As of August 18, 2022, the Canadian Government was still processing 163,600 study permits for international post-secondary students. This has led to a lot of frustration for potential international students who have not received a response as to whether their study permits have been approved. Issues of missing orientation and perhaps the entire academic year, changing flights, accommodation, and additional financial strain create anxiety about the process. Some study permit applications have been processing since January 2022, whereas the average processing time is supposed to be 12 weeks. The backlog and delays are not exclusive to Jamaica.

IRCC response

Critics of the IRCC have emphasised that there was no communication to applicants regarding the backlog and delayed processing times to allow applicants to make informed decisions. In response to the matter, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) will be increasing staff and modernising its systems to increase processing capacity. The IRCC recently announced that the department will hire up to 1,250 new employees by the end of fall to increase processing capacity and tackle the backlogs in the short term.

Top source country for international students

According to the IRCC, a total of 23,950 study permits were authorised in the first two months of 2022 — and more than half were issued to students from India. India makes up one-third of international students, making it the top source country students. India has a population of 1.4 billion, with a growing middle class who can afford to send their children abroad. Studying in Canada is a popular endeavour because people who are already in Canada studying or working have an advantage in applying for permanent residence. According to the IRCC, 25 per cent of the total number of permanent residents in 2019 were from India.

Please visit JAMAICA2CANADA.COM for additional information on Canadian Permanent Residence programs, including Express Entry, The Study & Work program, Visas or Appeals, etc.

Antonn Brown, BA, (Hons), LLB, MSc, RCIC, is an immigration counsel and an accredited Canadian education agent of JAMAICA2CANADA.COM—a Canadian immigration & education firm in Kingston. Send questions/comments to documents.jamaica2canada@gmail.com