A private analysis by an immigration consultant has revealed that the processing period for Canadian immigrant visa has been cut down over the last few years. The report stated that the wait time for the processing of visa applications has reduced to twenty-six months in 2009 from fifty months in 2005. The reason behind the overall cut is federal government’s decision to lure skilled to enter the country that it needs.

The dive in the processing period owe to the new federal legislation, which was being implemented in the year 2008. The legislation facilitated speedier handling of the visa applications from overseas workers, especially those who are skilled in designated occupations like nurse, chef, steamfitter and more than thirty others included in the Canadian skilled occupations list. Visa applicants with experience in the above mentioned occupations were the first choices for Canada who would be given visas over the overseas workers who do not have experience in the occupations.

In the year 2009, a total of 14,917 applicants were issued with Canadian visas. The report also stated that Canadian skilled worker petitions are at present being processed in 7 months, whereas, earlier the wait period for the visa category happened to be more than 5 years. This means skilled overseas workers are getting quite a satisfactory service from the immigration department of Canada. However, there is contrasting progress in the visa processing in categories like family. But, a spokesperson for the country’s immigration minister has said that processing time for family reunification has also been cut down in particular regions of Canada since the year 2004!