Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada Updates and Trends: July 2024
In July 2024, IRCC implemented several significant changes and updates that Canadian Immigration Lawyers and Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultants (RCICs) should be aware of to better serve their clients.
Key Updates
IRCC Processing Times
As part of its ongoing commitment to transparency, IRCC began providing monthly updates on average processing times for various immigration categories, including citizenship and family sponsorships. The latest processing times as of July 24, 2024, indicate [1]:
Citizenship Grant: 7 months (down by 1 month since June)
New PR Card: 42 days (down by 34 days since June 25)
Spousal Sponsorship (outside Canada): 10 months (no change)
These updates are crucial for applicants to set realistic expectations regarding their applications.
Express Entry Draws
In July 2024, IRCC conducted a record-breaking nine Express Entry draws. Here are the details of each draw:
July 2, 2024: Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) draw with 920 ITAs and a minimum CRS score of 739.
July 4, 2024: Trade occupations draw with 1,800 ITAs and a minimum CRS score of 436.
July 5, 2024: Healthcare occupations draw with 3,750 ITAs and a minimum CRS score of 445.
July 8, 2024: French proficiency draw with 3,200 ITAs and a minimum CRS score of 420.
July 16, 2024: PNP draw with 1,391 ITAs and a minimum CRS score of 670.
July 17, 2024: Canadian Experience Class (CEC) draw with 6,300 ITAs and a minimum CRS score of 515.
July 18, 2024: French language proficiency draw with 1,800 ITAs and a minimum CRS score of 400.
July 30, 2024: PNP draw with 964 ITAs and a minimum CRS score of 686.
July 31, 2024: CEC draw with 5,000 ITAs and a minimum CRS score of 510.
For more detailed information on each round, including historical data and specific criteria, you can visit the official IRCC Express Entry rounds of invitations page.
Wildfire Response Measures
IRCC introduced two temporary public policies in response to the 2024 wildfires:
A policy for foreign nationals in Canada affected by wildfires. [3]
A policy to facilitate entry for foreign emergency services personnel supporting wildfire response efforts. [4]
These measures aim to provide flexibility for those impacted by the wildfires and to expedite the entry of essential personnel.
Resettlement Assistance Program Survey
On July 10, 2024, IRCC launched an online survey targeting refugee clients of the Resettlement Assistance Program. This initiative seeks to gather feedback to improve services for resettled refugees. [5]
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