Speeding up the immigration or visa process in Canada
Ayad, a Morrocan, applied for a work permit a few months ago. However, IRCC has not processed his application yet. Ayad is suffering emotionally and financially. He wonders if speeding up the immigration or visa process in Canada is an option.
Table of contents
- The magic wand for speeding up the immigration or visa process in Canada
- The quality of your application makes a difference
- Asking the officers to speed up the processing of your application
- Can Members of Parliament (MPs) speed up the processing of immigration or visa applications?
- Mandamus – unleashing the power of the Federal Court
- Let us help!
The magic wand for speeding up the immigration or visa process in Canada
While I offer some solutions here, I have to emphasize there is no magic wand to speed up the process. Regardless, you may consider a few steps to enhance the processing time of your application. Remember that IRCC is currently a mess, and many of its offices do not work at total capacity. So, no matter what you do, you may still face significant delays.
The quality of your application makes a difference
When you are applying, make sure to follow all the guidelines and offer a complete and neat package. Here are a few things you may consider to avoid delays because of the quality of your application.
- Read the IRCC guidelines and follow them carefully.
- Make sure the forms are complete and free from errors.
- Your forms and documents must not contradict your previous applications, or you could receive a procedural fairness letter (PFL).
- Do not submit low-resolution images or challenging-to-read PDF files.
- Properly sort the documents.
- Respond to the officer’s queries quickly and diligently.
- If material facts about your application change, inform the officer quickly with supporting documents (e.g., see my article about marrying while immigrating to Canada).
Asking the officers to speed up the processing of your application
You may directly ask an officer to speed up the processing of your immigration or visa application. However, consider the following:
- Only make such requests if the delays are significant.
- Include any supporting documents that could encourage the officer. For example,
- Letter of support from a healthcare provider
- Evidence of the humanitarian reasons for the request
- Support letters from family, friends, businesses, or professionals
You may submit your request via the IRCC web form. Requesting the officer’s notes is not a tool for speeding up the process of visa or immigration. However, on rare occasions, it could trigger the system or at least it could give you a better idea about the status of your application.
Can Members of Parliament (MPs) speed up the processing of immigration or visa applications?
The simple answer is no. However, some MPs have dedicated staff to follow up on the status of immigration cases. They may even communicate the humanitarian aspects of your request with the authorities. I have seen cases where an MP helped end an application’s deadlock.
Mandamus – unleashing the power of the Federal Court
The writ of mandamus /manˈdāməs/ or simply mandamus means the Federal Court orders the immigration officers to do their job. You may hire an immigration lawyer and ask them to file for a writ of mandamus. However, consider the following matters:
- Only Canadian lawyers can help you with this matter. Do not hire a paralegal or an immigration consultant.
- Your case may go through only if the delays in processing your visa or immigration application are significant.
- Hiring a lawyer and going through this process costs money and takes time.
Let us help!
As I mentioned earlier, there is no magic wand for speeding up the processing of immigration or visa application. As an immigration consultant, I can’t help you submit a writ of mandamus, but if you need help in other areas, please fill out the following form. Alternatively, you may book a consultation session with me or fill out our assessment form. Furthermore, I offer mentorship sessions for licensed practitioners.
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Al ParsaiAl Parsai, LLM, MA, RCIC-IRB
Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant
Adjunct Professor – Queen’s University – Faculty of Law
Ashton College Instructor – Immigration Consulting
Author – 88 Tips on Immigration to Canada
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