June 9, 2011

Federal Skilled Worker Backlog

Posted by admin - Bellissimo Law Group PC

Q. I have a friend who submitted a FSW application in March 2008 and her application has already been processed. However, I submitted my application in December, 2007 and my application is still pending. How is it possible that she received a result before I did? What are current processing times?

A. Response I read from Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC):

There are approximately 335,000 people in the pre-February 28, 2008 FSW backlog. As of December 2010, 80% of pre-C50 applications (applications received before February 27, 2008) are being processed within 62 months, a decrease of a peak of 68 months in 2007. The number of applicants in the pre-C50 backlog also represents a decrease of over 48% in just over two years from when the first set of Ministerial Instructions were introduced. To date, the FSW backlog reduction has surpassed previous projections set by the department.

As of December 2010, there are approximately 165,000 people in the MI1 (cases received between Feb 28, 2008 and June 25, 2010) inventory. Processing times are currently seventeen months for these cases.

There are approximately 8,000 people in the MI2 (cases received on or after June 26, 2010) inventory. There currently exists insufficient data for processing times for these cases, however, the Centralized Intake Office (CIO) is now completing eligibility reviews in a matter of weeks. The first permanent resident visa under MI2 was also recently issued in Lima within 5.5 months of receipt at the CIO.

At this time, Federal Skilled Worker applications from Haiti are not being processed. All efforts continue to be given to Family Class, Dependents of Refugees and Québec Special Measures cases from Haiti. In the coming months, the Mexico City visa office will begin processing all applications from Haiti in the economic categories, including Quebec Skilled Workers, provincial nominees and Federal Skilled Workers.