Maple News reports that the Federal Court of Canada has ruled that the Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) took an unreasonably long time to process a permanent residence application submitted by two Syrian nationals, Ms. Ghufran Almutadi and Mr. Abdulrhman Taskia. The court decision highlights growing concerns over prolonged immigration processing times—delays that continue to burden applicants navigating Canada’s immigration system.
The couple, who initially left Syria due to concerns over political persecution, relocated to Saudi Arabia—though they never acquired citizenship there. Fearing instability after Mr. Taskia faced severe financial setbacks in 2015, they fled to Canada in 2016 and applied for refugee protection. They were granted protected person status later that year and promptly submitted a permanent residence application.
Their process, however, ground to a halt after completing their medical exams in May 2018. For years, despite following up with the authorities twice between 2017 and 2021, they received no updates, explanations, or decisions from the IRCC. Frustrated and anxious, they brought the matter before the Federal Court in early 2020, requesting a court order to compel the IRCC to finalize their application within seven days. They also sought legal costs totaling $7,500.
During litigation, IRCC disclosed that the primary cause for delay was an ongoing security screening related to Mr. Taskia’s familial connection to members of the Muslim Brotherhood—a fact he willingly disclosed, explaining it as part of his and his wife’s fear of returning to Syria. The agency defended its delay by citing the complexity of the security review, as well as disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, and emphasized its dependence on intelligence agencies like CSIS.
The court, however, was not satisfied with these justifications. It assessed whether IRCC’s nearly four-year delay was proportionate and reasonable. The judges considered the distress suffered by the couple, the impact of the long wait on their lives in Canada, and standard processing timelines for similar applications. Ultimately, the Court sided with the applicants, criticizing IRCC for inaction and lack of transparency.
This case brings renewed focus to the need for reform within Canada’s immigration system. While national security remains a legitimate concern, applicants are increasingly subject to lengthy, unexplained delays, eroding trust in the system and placing serious emotional and financial stress on vulnerable newcomers.
Maple News will continue to monitor developments related to processing timelines and the broader implications of this ruling for immigration applicants across Canada.