ImmiSignal’s live scraper of IRCC’s check-processing-times tool synced at 07:00 ET on 23 October, confirming that proof-of-citizenship requests now show an average 34-month wait – the longest this year. Standard grant-of-citizenship applications hold at 12 months, while Express Entry processing remains six to seven months depending on stream. The extension reflects IRCC’s move to divert resources toward spousal and permanent-resident backlogs, leaving certificate processing understaffed. For corporations, delayed proof certificates can hamper cross-border mobility of employees’ Canadian-born children who need passports for dependent-relocation benefits. Employers sponsoring PR under mobility programs should adjust onboarding timelines, factoring in up to four-month work-permit processing (121 days for LMIA-exempt streams) and 18-month spousal sponsorship averages. The data also underscore the value of submitting complete, upfront medicals and police checks to avoid secondary queueing. ImmiSignal cautions that IRCC may re-baseline service standards in the upcoming departmental plan. Clients should screenshot current estimates when filing to establish evidence for refund or mandamus considerations if delays exceed advertised times. HR teams are advised to brief relocating staff on biometric appointment bottlenecks and to book early slots, particularly in the Greater Toronto Area where VAC availability is tight.
Source: ImmiSignal
