Nigerians applying for Canadian study permits, visitor visas and super visas are facing longer estimated processing times following the latest update by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada.
The processing time for study permits submitted from Nigeria increased from nine weeks to 10 weeks as of September 16.
The estimated processing time for visitor visas also increased from 84 days to 87 days, while the estimate for super visa applications rose from 44 days to 46 days.
However, the processing time for work permits submitted from Nigeria remained unchanged at 10 weeks.
The figures are contained in IRCC’s latest temporary-residence processing-time update, which is revised weekly.
IRCC says its processing times are estimates and should not be regarded as fixed deadlines or guarantees. Individual applications can take either longer or shorter depending on factors including application volume, case complexity and the availability of processing capacity.
For study permits, applicants in Canada also saw an increase, with the estimate rising from seven to eight weeks.
The estimates for applicants in India, Pakistan, the United States and the Philippines remained unchanged.
Visitor visa processing times also recorded mixed changes across the countries covered by the update.
Nigeria’s estimate increased by three days to 87 days, while Pakistan’s rose from 73 to 75 days.
India recorded a reduction from 31 to 29 days, while the estimate for applicants in the United States fell from 18 to 16 days. The Philippines recorded an increase from 19 to 21 days.
Super visa processing times also varied.
Nigeria’s estimate increased to 46 days from 44, while the United States recorded a sharp increase from 66 to 116 days.
The estimate for applicants in the Philippines rose from 64 to 90 days, while Pakistan recorded a significant reduction from 132 to 95 days.
IRCC says processing times are different from service standards.
While processing times are estimates of how long an application may take to be finalised, service standards are targets for how quickly the department aims to process applications under normal circumstances.
The department also warns that an application may require additional documents, an interview, medical examination, police certificate or further checks, potentially extending the processing period.
Temporary-residence processing estimates are updated weekly, meaning the current figures are subject to change.
Nigerian applicants are therefore advised to check IRCC’s processing-time tool regularly for the latest estimate applicable to their application.
The next update is expected around September 23.
