Good afternoon.
First, I'll address the processing times and the injustices they cause. These times are very long and unfair. For example, some files that were submitted to a particular program in 2019 may still not be processed in 2022, whereas others submitted in 2022 are being processed this year. The result is thus unfairness in processing for reasons of which I'm unaware.
That leads us to our second topic, the guidelines. According to those guidelines, 80% of files are processed in accordance with IRCC's posted service standard. Consequently, we have no idea of the outcomes of the remaining 20% of files or of the related processing times standard. That represents one in five files, which is not trivial. Files are not processed in accordance with the first-come, first-served rule. Furthermore, the 80% of files that are processed in accordance with the standard are not processed fairly either. The last person to submit a file may receive a response before someone who filed an application a year earlier.
These delays have major consequences for applicants and all associated stakeholders, including educational institutions and employers.
Consider the permanent resident cards, for example. Delays in receiving cards are extremely long once applicants have been admitted to Canada as permanent residents. In many instances, cards aren't received by every member of a single family at the same time because they aren't sent out at the same time. As a result, children may receive their cards whereas the parents have not, and vice versa. In addition, no service standard is posted regarding these cards. Consequently, applicants become captive in Canada. They can't leave in the event of a family emergency until they receive that necessary plastic rectangle.
Now let's consider processing times for work permit applications, which run to approximately six months. That figure varies, but the delays have consequences. Individuals can readily file work permit applications when they already hold a valid permit but may ultimately lose it if their application is denied. As a result of the length of processing times, applicants awaiting a response may wind up with an expired work permit and must then request that their status be restored. However, between six and nine months may elapse before they receive a response to an application for restoration of status. In the meantime, applicants can't work, access RAMQ, Quebec's health insurance plan, or receive care, apart from psychosocial support if they are in distress. This causes genuine situations of vulnerability that are entirely attributable to delays in the processing system. The system thus simply renders vulnerable people who previously were not. As immigration lawyers, we witness this situation every day.
Now we come to the issue of position changes within a single business. As we all know, we are experiencing labour shortages. However, certain employees who, in some instances, could be promoted or change positions within the same business are currently unable to do so. They must abide by processing times of five or six months, sometimes even much longer. This precludes immediate promotions and substantial pay increases within a single business.
Student visas and study permits are also a problem. When students receive their letters of admission to an educational institution, usually in February, they file their applications for a Quebec acceptance certificate, the CAQ. Approximately four weeks later, they receive their CAQ, which arrives in March or April. They file their study permit application…