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The current approval time for residency applications is 49 months. I'm sure it's less for straight-up worker visas, though. EDIT: I was not sufficiently preci

The current approval time for residency applications is 49 months. I'm sure it's less for straight-up worker visas, though. EDIT: I was not sufficiently precise. I'm not speaking of Express Entry / skills-based applications here. If you have a high score in the CRS system, you are eligible for other programs which may be much faster.

angst_ridden 6y ago
Er, correction, that's the time to get to review for a residency applications. I'm not sure how long it takes once the application gets into review.
trhway 6y ago
> 49 months wow. A decade ago Canada specifically targeted H1Bs promising 6 months special fast trek instead of the typical 18 back then. Interesting why such a change since then - too many applicants and/or budget cuts? Edit in response to the comment below: i'm talking about permanent residency - the points, etc - not just work visa.
- angst_ridden 6y ago
  This isn't for work visas, which I imagine is probably much easier. This is for unrestricted residency.
- chx 6y ago
  This is not true, do not believe OP, Express Entry review is eight months.
- wenc 6y ago
  Express Entry is about permanent residency, not work visa.
peterburkimsher 6y ago
49 months for Canada? Oh no, I guess I'll never be able to settle down, marry, and have kids. Canada was my backup option if NZ doesn't work out.
- angst_ridden 6y ago
  Again, if you apply for a work visa, it's probably faster. If, instead, you go directly for a permanent residency application, it's slower and more difficult. There are accelerated programs (like the Québec Investor program) that can get you through certain hurdles much faster, but they're not cheap. And even then, that preliminary process can take a couple of years, after which you get thrown into the 49-month Federal queue.
  - smnrchrds 6y ago
    It's nowhere near that. It was like that back in 2008-ish when there was a backlog hundreds of thousands of people long. It has not been like that since Express Entry was fully implemented. Check the processing times here for yourself: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/se... https://moving2canada.com/express-entry-report-2019-processing-time/ https://moving2canada.com/express-entry-report-2019-processi...
    - angst_ridden 6y ago
      It is for non-Express Entry applications. Those of us too old for CRS-score based applications, or who are not looking for jobs evidently get put into a different queue.
      - smnrchrds 6y ago
        The longest queue is still up to 15-19 months long. There may be some expired streams that are taking longer than that, but none of the current immigration streams are supposed to take anywhere near that long.
        angst_ridden 6y ago
        I can only speak from personal experience. I've been in the process since 2015, and have had confirmation that I can't expect resolution for up to another 30 months.
chx 6y ago
This is not true, Express Entry is eight months.
- deleted 6y ago
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- deleted 6y ago
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ResearchAtPlay 6y ago
According to IRCC, 80% of Express Entry applications for permanent residency are approved on less than 6 months [1]. There are many different residency programs, some of which take longer than others, but the Express Entry program is probably the default option for most HN readers. [1] https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/se... economic immigration > skilled worker (federal) > I haven't applied yet
- Matthias247 6y ago
  I can confirm it was about 6 month - before Covid. Since then some parts of the government slowed down, and processing might take much longer. For a step that should typically have taken up to 6 weeks I had to wait 4 month. But since things normalize it might now be getting better again.
  - kingofpandora 6y ago
    I know PRs can enter Canada right now but you don't get your PR until you land, so is it possible for new immigrants to come at the moment with the restrictions on entry?
    - Matthias247 6y ago
      Sorry, I don't know. I guess your best bet is trying to contact the immigration offices - but it might be hard to reach anyone since things are so overloaded.
blaser-waffle 6y ago
USA-ian in Canada. I do IT (network engineering) remotely for a US/global F500. It is pretty straight-up for worker visas, honestly. Permanent Residency (PR) only matters if you want to stay. There are short term (2) year work permits available, Express Entry permits if you're young-ish and have skills and degrees. There is also the NAFTA "TN visa" which is just for US/CAN/MEX which is basically one you apply for at the border if you have a valid job offer. It's good for 3 years, can be renewed an unlimited number of times, but it's not a path to PR. As in, you'll have to move to another visa and then follow the steps to get PR that way... but it's quick and easy, and is a decent idea if you don't want to live here forever but do want to do something different for a while. You could also go to school or marry a local. There are also a few other more obscure work permits, like Provincial Nomination -- the province needs jobs filled, often in rural areas, so they'll sponsor for somethings. Often these are surprising, as in I knew someone who got sponsored to be a barber in rural AB. There are also "investor" visas -- aka buying your way in at around 400k -- and a start-up visa, though that requires funding from a handful of approved start-up/VC related groups in Canada. I know tons of folks with a PR, all of whom came in different ways, but I don't know any who did the start-up visa :/ Also keep in mind that the CAD is tied heavily to oil prices, and that salaries in STEM are just, all around, not as high as the US. I'm in AB, and compared to the 2 states that I used to live in the most (VA and WA) the taxes are crazy high -- but they're the lowest in Canada. Investing rules (the dreaded PFIC) and cross-border taxes are also a PITA, and are ones that never really came up when I lived other places overseas. I could go back to NoVA or Greater Seattle and get a 30-50k USD pay raise... and if the US wasn't under the thumb of Trump, I'd seriously consider it.

angst_ridden 6y ago

Er, correction, that's the time to get to review for a residency applications. I'm not sure how long it takes once the application gets into review.

trhway 6y ago

> 49 months wow. A decade ago Canada specifically targeted H1Bs promising 6 months special fast trek instead of the typical 18 back then. Interesting why such a change since then - too many applicants and/or budget cuts? Edit in response to the comment below: i'm talking about permanent residency - the points, etc - not just work visa.

angst_ridden 6y ago
This isn't for work visas, which I imagine is probably much easier. This is for unrestricted residency.
chx 6y ago
This is not true, do not believe OP, Express Entry review is eight months.
wenc 6y ago
Express Entry is about permanent residency, not work visa.

peterburkimsher 6y ago

49 months for Canada? Oh no, I guess I'll never be able to settle down, marry, and have kids. Canada was my backup option if NZ doesn't work out.

angst_ridden 6y ago
Again, if you apply for a work visa, it's probably faster. If, instead, you go directly for a permanent residency application, it's slower and more difficult. There are accelerated programs (like the Québec Investor program) that can get you through certain hurdles much faster, but they're not cheap. And even then, that preliminary process can take a couple of years, after which you get thrown into the 49-month Federal queue.
- smnrchrds 6y ago
  It's nowhere near that. It was like that back in 2008-ish when there was a backlog hundreds of thousands of people long. It has not been like that since Express Entry was fully implemented. Check the processing times here for yourself: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/se... https://moving2canada.com/express-entry-report-2019-processing-time/ https://moving2canada.com/express-entry-report-2019-processi...
  - angst_ridden 6y ago
    It is for non-Express Entry applications. Those of us too old for CRS-score based applications, or who are not looking for jobs evidently get put into a different queue.
    - smnrchrds 6y ago
      The longest queue is still up to 15-19 months long. There may be some expired streams that are taking longer than that, but none of the current immigration streams are supposed to take anywhere near that long.
      - angst_ridden 6y ago
        I can only speak from personal experience. I've been in the process since 2015, and have had confirmation that I can't expect resolution for up to another 30 months.

chx 6y ago

This is not true, Express Entry is eight months.

deleted 6y ago
[deleted]
deleted 6y ago
[deleted]

ResearchAtPlay 6y ago

According to IRCC, 80% of Express Entry applications for permanent residency are approved on less than 6 months [1]. There are many different residency programs, some of which take longer than others, but the Express Entry program is probably the default option for most HN readers. [1] https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/se... economic immigration > skilled worker (federal) > I haven't applied yet

Matthias247 6y ago
I can confirm it was about 6 month - before Covid. Since then some parts of the government slowed down, and processing might take much longer. For a step that should typically have taken up to 6 weeks I had to wait 4 month. But since things normalize it might now be getting better again.
- kingofpandora 6y ago
  I know PRs can enter Canada right now but you don't get your PR until you land, so is it possible for new immigrants to come at the moment with the restrictions on entry?
  - Matthias247 6y ago
    Sorry, I don't know. I guess your best bet is trying to contact the immigration offices - but it might be hard to reach anyone since things are so overloaded.

blaser-waffle 6y ago

USA-ian in Canada. I do IT (network engineering) remotely for a US/global F500. It is pretty straight-up for worker visas, honestly. Permanent Residency (PR) only matters if you want to stay. There are short term (2) year work permits available, Express Entry permits if you're young-ish and have skills and degrees. There is also the NAFTA "TN visa" which is just for US/CAN/MEX which is basically one you apply for at the border if you have a valid job offer. It's good for 3 years, can be renewed an unlimited number of times, but it's not a path to PR. As in, you'll have to move to another visa and then follow the steps to get PR that way... but it's quick and easy, and is a decent idea if you don't want to live here forever but do want to do something different for a while. You could also go to school or marry a local. There are also a few other more obscure work permits, like Provincial Nomination -- the province needs jobs filled, often in rural areas, so they'll sponsor for somethings. Often these are surprising, as in I knew someone who got sponsored to be a barber in rural AB. There are also "investor" visas -- aka buying your way in at around 400k -- and a start-up visa, though that requires funding from a handful of approved start-up/VC related groups in Canada. I know tons of folks with a PR, all of whom came in different ways, but I don't know any who did the start-up visa :/ Also keep in mind that the CAD is tied heavily to oil prices, and that salaries in STEM are just, all around, not as high as the US. I'm in AB, and compared to the 2 states that I used to live in the most (VA and WA) the taxes are crazy high -- but they're the lowest in Canada. Investing rules (the dreaded PFIC) and cross-border taxes are also a PITA, and are ones that never really came up when I lived other places overseas. I could go back to NoVA or Greater Seattle and get a 30-50k USD pay raise... and if the US wasn't under the thumb of Trump, I'd seriously consider it.