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Canada, long known for its openness toward migrants, is facing an immigration crisis. In 2025, delays in processing work permit renewals have led thousands of migrants to lose their legal status, forcing them into uncertainty and financial distress.
A Dream Turned into Uncertainty
For many migrants, Canada symbolizes opportunity. However, mounting bureaucratic backlogs have shattered their dreams. Individuals who have contributed to the economy are now unable to legally work, access healthcare, or enroll their children in school.
Take Devi Acharya, a mother who moved to Canada in 2022. Her family built a life in British Columbia, but everything unraveled when their work permits expired amid delayed Labor Market Impact Assessments (LMIAs). Facing healthcare barriers, Devi suffered a miscarriage but couldn’t afford medical treatment. Her five-year-old son has been barred from attending school.
"Two years ago, we dreamed of making Canada home," Devi shared. "Now, it's shattering."
Unfortunately, Devi’s story is far from unique.
Why Are Work Permit Delays Happening?
The crisis stems from a perfect storm of rising application numbers, evolving immigration policies, and overburdened government departments. Processing times for LMIAs—essential for foreign workers—have skyrocketed from 58 business days in 2023 to 165 business days in 2025. Some applicants have waited over a year without a response.
Key Reasons Behind the Backlog:
- Surge in applications: Increased demand for work permits and permanent residency has overwhelmed systems.
- Changing immigration policies: Stricter rules have slowed down processing times.
- Bureaucratic overload: Government agencies tasked with handling applications are struggling with unprecedented delays.
- Policy misalignment: Official guidelines allowing migrants to work while awaiting decisions are proving impractical due to extended LMIA processing times.
Canada’s Shifting Immigration Policies
Canada has long balanced economic needs with humanitarian values in its immigration approach. However, recent concerns over housing shortages, healthcare wait times, and job competition have fueled calls to curb immigration.
Prime Minister Mark Carney’s government is set to cap immigration levels ahead of the April 2025 election, aiming to reduce the migrant population by encouraging voluntary departures. Critics argue that this approach unfairly forces migrants out by allowing them to lose their legal status.
Efforts to regularize undocumented migrants—particularly those in essential sectors—have been significantly scaled back, leaving many without a clear path forward.
What Losing Legal Status Means for Migrants
The consequences of falling out of legal status are severe:
- Economic hardship: Without a valid work permit, many migrants take under-the-table jobs, increasing their risk of exploitation.
- Healthcare struggles: Migrants without status lose access to Canada’s universal healthcare system.
- Education barriers: Children of affected families face difficulties enrolling in school.
- Mental health concerns: Financial stress and uncertainty lead to anxiety and depression among affected individuals.
Canada’s undocumented migrant population is growing as more people lose status due to bureaucratic delays.
What’s Being Done to Address the Crisis?
While the Canadian government acknowledges the issue, solutions remain unclear. Authorities promise faster processing times within six months, but immigration advocates demand immediate action.
Proposed Solutions:
- Automatic extensions for work permits while applications are processed.
- Increased staffing to accelerate approvals.
- Clearer immigration policies to reduce confusion and delays.
- Expanded pathways for migrants to secure long-term status.
Prime Minister Carney’s immigration cap proposal remains controversial. Some argue it is necessary to ease pressure on public resources, while others fear it could harm Canada’s reputation as a welcoming nation.
As the crisis deepens, thousands of migrants remain in limbo, waiting for action from policymakers.
