H&C Humanitarian Ground with/or Without Failed refugee claim

[sting 000]

Won't hold many opinions here. If IRCC is still back-to-back 5k and 8k CEC draws, which don't make any sense - you won't know where they'll skew with any program. Hopefully, sense prevails within H&C and applications aren't cancelled like that.

They are skewing PNP quotas to draw EE obviously, when Province and territories have not received full PNP allocations for 2026 based on immigration level plan and they are begging for it right now, possibility IRCC may use those remaining quota for backup to excite CEC draws.

 

[nousername3]

Sent my fingerprints after BIL and since then phone says we are processing your background check (submitted prints in October), how long till this background check will be done approx?

Also, do you guys able to check your application status using application status tab on canada ca?
When I put all the information it says application is not found, or either they didn't start processing it yet, however, when I'm on the phone with IRCC they say it's in progress

 

[ma'iingan]

Source please?

https://gazette.gc.ca/rp-pr/p1/2025/2025-12-20/html/notice-avis-eng.html

 

[octvo25]

Saw this on a forum, and it's very interesting. Pasting it here to see everyone's thoughts?

Important Discussion! Hello everyone, I hope to start a discussion on observation from today's processing timelines refresh on IRCC's website. I am someone who works and deals with statistics and data for living and I build models, but IRCC's processing is leaving me confused. Here are my observations, and if you have any suggestions please do comment as I am trying to make sense.
As of December 2025 IRCC stated the following number of applications pending for the following months:
October 2019 - 400 pending
October 2020 - 500 pending
October 2021 - 700 pending
October 2022 - 1,300 pending
October 2023 - 3,700 pending
October 2024 - 20,300 pending
October 2025 - 43,900 pending
When I look at most recent data refreshed as of today 14th Jan on IRCC's site, the numbers show:
October 2019 - 400 pending (no change)
October 2020 - 500 pending (no change)
October 2021 - 700 pending (no change)
October 2022 - 1,300 pending (no change)
October 2023 - 4,000 pending (change of +300)
October 2024 - 21,900 pending (change of +600)
October 2025 - 45,200 pending (change of +1,300)
Questions - How can these the number of pending applications increase, but only for 2023 to 2025?
If it's increasing due to family violence/domestic violence but why isn't years before 2023 increasing?
Are the numbers before 2023 incorrect or non existent? I have thought of everything but unsure. What are you all your thoughts? (I have been documenting these numbers)

 

[WellWell2021]

Applied Oct 2021..aip in July 2025..second stage in Niagara …decision made on portal Dec 1..portal 1 request from Montreal dec17 …portal 2 Dec 19…and finally ecopr Dec 26 …

Hi ! Congratulations for your permanent residence ! Do you have any idea why your application took so long? Did you receive your AIP from Vancouver ?

 

[Nik1983]

Saw this on a forum, and it's very interesting. Pasting it here to see everyone's thoughts?

I was shocked too, why you are possibly on a queue and 1300 is suddenly been added ahead of you

 

[canuck78]

My parents are seniors and they got PR status more than three years ago under H and C category I’m wondering if they are eligible for claiming citizenship ?
Anyone here went through the same path

Yes if they meet the requirements

 

[wiener]

I was shocked too, why you are possibly on a queue and 1300 is suddenly been added ahead of you

I am closely monitoring the inventory every month and I did notice that 1300 files were added to backlog ahead of most people who applied in 2024. No one knows what are these files. Hopefully, it is prioritization strategy for some files like BIOC and applicants from certain countries.

 

[WellWell2021]

I am closely monitoring the inventory every month and I did notice that 1300 files were added to backlog ahead of most people who applied in 2024. No one knows what are these files. Hopefully, it is prioritization strategy for some files like BIOC and applicants from certain countries.

I really think that processing times for Humanitarian and Compassionate applications do not really matter (like the majority of İRCC applications processing times) . The system is inconsistent and completely irrational...I say this all the time people should never trust IRCC and its bureaucrats ! They have no problem misleading people, just to later justify the use of Bill C-12, which could be used to reduce the number of applications or even cancel the whole program.
I am sure that 2026 will bring major changes to immigration. I dont want to call these changes bad for immigrants, but they will be shocking for everyone, both foreigners and Canadians.. IRCC will probably face an administrative and legal crisis that has never existed before, and it will eventually lead to changes in immigration law

 

[Nik1983]

Hi everyone,

is it common not to receive an AOR for H&c application after 4 months of submission? owing to the fact that processing times has now increased dramatically, does this mean a technical issue or incomplete profile?

 

[canuck78]

Hi everyone,

is it common not to receive an AOR for H&c application after 4 months of submission? owing to the fact that processing times has now increased dramatically, does this mean a technical issue or incomplete profile?

No very normal to take that long

 

[canuck78]

I really think that processing times for Humanitarian and Compassionate applications do not really matter (like the majority of İRCC applications processing times) . The system is inconsistent and completely irrational...I say this all the time people should never trust IRCC and its bureaucrats ! They have no problem misleading people, just to later justify the use of Bill C-12, which could be used to reduce the number of applications or even cancel the whole program.
I am sure that 2026 will bring major changes to immigration. I dont want to call these changes bad for immigrants, but they will be shocking for everyone, both foreigners and Canadians.. IRCC will probably face an administrative and legal crisis that has never existed before, and it will eventually lead to changes in immigration law

Agree that there will be major changes but disagree that most Canadians will oppose these changes. There was a clear mandate to bring immigration back to reasonable levels. The current government is not even being honest about the actual PR numbers this year counting one-time programs so they can say they are reducing the number of PRs accepted in the next 2 years. The H&C program became extremely generous and deviated from its original purpose to be a pathway for truly exceptional cases.

 

[FNU]

I am closely monitoring the inventory every month and I did notice that 1300 files were added to backlog ahead of most people who applied in 2024. No one knows what are these files. Hopefully, it is prioritization strategy for some files like BIOC and applicants from certain countries.

I am closely monitoring the inventory every month and I did notice that 1300 files were added to backlog ahead of most people who applied in 2024. No one knows what are these files. Hopefully, it is prioritization strategy for some files like BIOC and applicants from certain countries.

Yes, with the latest update on processing time, they added 300 more applications in front of me as well. # of months left is still same. It doesn’t really matter for me anyway because they said my application is non routine but I am really exhausted from my situation.