Statistical view on processing times at Canadian visa office in Damascus

Reports from CIC regarding applications for permanent residence at visa office in Damascus

Federal Skilled Workers

"Damascus currently has 18 times its 2011 FSW visa target in its C-50 inventory, which even with large target increases would lead to processing times of several years. Processing times for most C-50 cases in Damascus will greatly exceed the 6-12 months envisioned by the Minister.

The situation is deteriorating; last year we had 3.4 times the 2010 target in our inventory. 91.8% of Damascus' C-50 applications are from Iranians; this is compared to 59% of pre-C- 50 applications. The demographic situation of far more educated youth than the country can employ (two thirds of the population are under 30 years old) will mean a steady intake of applications." "We anticipate seeing many more applications with Arranged Employment Offers, which will necessitate close scrutiny."

Quebec Skilled Workers and Business

"In 2011, Damascus expects to actively process towards finalization cases received before mid-February 2010. Business and skilled worker case inventories are processed together according to date received. We have received no complaints regarding this practice. The Quebec Priority queue was incorporated into our processing without any problems. Inventory: 3485 cases (7582 persons) Yearly intake: 2374 in 2010 (2271 in 2009, 1403 in 2008). Quebec cases have a slightly different profile from Federal cases, being 64% Iranian, 26% Lebanese, and 5% Syrian."

Provincial Nominees

"Processing time for most new applicants will fall to under 12 months. Processing of the entire inventory will eliminate the separate track temporarily maintained for PEI cases. This will reduce the level of complexity when communicating processing times."

Federal Investors

"We are currently reviewing applications received prior to October 2007. In our inventory, 13% of the principal applicants are over 60 years old and 43.6% are over 50 years old. This business line is largely becoming a de facto retiree movement. Inventory: 1657 cases (5947 persons)" "Refusal rate: 31.8% in 2010 - many of these files were refused for not complying with the simplified application (SAP) request to submit the rest of their documents. There were more Federal Investor withdrawals in the first 6 months of 2010 than in all of 2009. For the year, there was a 39% withdrawal rate, to which we can add cases that were refused at paperscreening for non-compliance with SAP, as these are de facto abandoned cases (making the rate 55.8%). 29% of withdrawals submitted an application under another category, the likelihood of this scenario was increased if the applicant had an immigration consultant."

Self-Employed and Entrepreneurs

We are currently reviewing applications received prior to August 2004 for Self- Employed and prior to September 2004 for Entrepreneurs. Inventory: 712 cases (2514 persons)" "Times will only increase. Interestingly, these business lines do not have an increased incidence of JRs (Judicial Reviews) or ATIP (Access to Information) requests (one Mandamus JR ongoing). Refusal rate: 14% in 2010 and a 32% withdrawal rate because of long processing times."

Source: Lexbase