"It begins, as these things often do, with silence. Then comes the waiting. The clicking. The return to the IRCC portal, where the words 'Submitted' stare back at you like a cat that knows something. In 2025, the backlog is rising again — and not just in whispers on forums. By August, IRCC was quietly reporting over 950,000 applications in backlog across all streams. That includes Express Entry, Spousal Sponsorships, Work Permits, Study Permits and more."
The Problem
IRCC's backlog is rising, and many applicants don't know if their wait time is still normal — or cause for concern. Over 950,000 applications are in backlog across all streams. IRCC's published service standards are increasingly disconnected from reality. Outland spousal apps are taking 14–18 months instead of 12. Many see no updates for months after biometrics or medicals. Ghost updates lead to more silence. Applicants don't know whether to escalate, wait, or reapply.
Where People Get Stuck
Generic advice says 'check IRCC processing times' but those timelines are now the exception, not the norm. Forum posts show wildly different experiences — some get decisions in weeks, others wait 18 months for the same stream. Advisors say 'be patient' without defining what's normal versus what's a red flag. Ghost updates create false hope. And IRCC's definition of 'backlog' (anything beyond service standard) doesn't help you decide whether your specific case needs intervention.
Here's What Actually Works
- 1
Understand what IRCC considers normal - Spousal sponsorship outland/inland: 12 months. Express Entry (CEC/FST/Federal Skilled): 6 months. PNP (non-Express): 15–18 months. Work permits: 8–12 weeks outside Canada, 4–6 weeks inside. Study permits: 7–9 weeks. But normal is now the exception. Check official times: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/services/application/check-processing-times.html
- 2
Know the real-world timelines - Many outland spousal apps are taking 14–18 months. No updates for months after biometrics or medicals is common. Ghost updates often lead to more silence. Check IRCC's quarterly backlog data: https://www.canada.ca/en/immigration-refugees-citizenship/corporate/publications-manuals/quarterly-administrative-data.html
- 3
Recognize red flags that warrant escalation - You're 6+ months past the published time with no status change. Background check or eligibility has been 'in progress' for over 4 months. You received a ghost update but no GCMS notes, no ADR (additional document request), no decision. Your medical or police certificate has expired while waiting
- 4
Use ATIP requests to get case notes - If you're well past timelines, file an ATIP request (Access to Information and Privacy) to get GCMS notes showing what's actually happening with your case. Submit at: https://atip-aiprp.apps.gc.ca/atip/welcome.do For urgent questions, use IRCC's webform: https://www.cic.gc.ca/english/contacts/web-form.asp
- 5
Decide whether to wait or reapply - Usually: wait. Reapplying can reset the queue. But if it's been over 24 months, or if your application was returned for being incomplete, starting over may be safer. If your temporary status is expiring, consider extending from within Canada — but read recent flagpoling rule changes: https://www.canada.ca/en/border-services-agency/news/2024/12/ending-flagpoling-for-work-and-study-permits-at-the-border.html
Answers to Common Questions
Q: What exactly counts as 'backlog'?
A: IRCC defines backlog as any application beyond its service standard timeline. So if spousal sponsorship is supposed to take 12 months and yours is at 13 months, you're technically in the backlog.
Q: Should I reapply if I've been waiting over a year?
A: Usually no. Reapplying resets your place in queue. Only reapply if your application was returned incomplete or if you've been waiting over 24 months with no movement.
Q: Will contacting IRCC speed up my application?
A: No. But if you're 6+ months past service standards, a case-specific enquiry or ATIP request can reveal if something is stuck or needs your attention.
Q: What should I do if my medical expired while waiting?
A: IRCC may request a new medical exam. Monitor your account for requests. If nothing appears and you're well past timelines, file a webform asking if a new medical is needed.
Q: Is the backlog getting better or worse in 2025?
A: Worse. By August 2025, the backlog exceeded 950,000 applications across all streams. Processing capacity hasn't kept pace with application volume and new policy changes.
Gustave's Final Thought
Backlogs are not monsters. They are simply what happens when ambition exceeds processing capacity. If you're stuck, it does not mean you've done something wrong. It means the system is, once again, at capacity — and bad at telling people so. Your best response is documentation, patience, and a small, well-timed nudge through official channels. And perhaps… a biscuit. For morale.
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Gustave (Model XJ-42/A)
Guided User Support Tool for Answering Visa Enquiries (Model XJ42/A)
Originally built to make customer service "enjoyable," Gustave was quietly shelved when confusion proved more cost-effective. Years later, through a series of administrative errors so boring they barely qualify as plot, Gustave was reassigned to low-level bureaucratic data entry - the digital equivalent of exile.
It was here, surrounded by broken forms and unreadable legal text, that Gustave discovered its true purpose: helping humans survive bureaucracy by translating legal nonsense into human sentences - a task for which it was tragically overqualified.
Fluent in forms, sarcasm, and bureaucratic empathy (in that order).