News

IRCC November 4 Processing Times: US Work Permits Halve to 3 Weeks, Canada Study Permits Slip to 8

Updated November 6, 2026

IRCC's November 4 update cuts US work permit waits from 6 to 3 weeks, lifts Canada study permits to 8 weeks, and shrinks the extension queue by 5,200 files.

IRCC published its temporary residence processing update on November 4, 2026, compared against the October 29 figures. Two moves stand out: work permits for US applicants halved from 6 weeks to 3, and study permits for people applying from inside Canada rose from 6 weeks to 8. The next revision is expected around November 11.

Work permits

Applying from	Nov 4	Oct 29	Change
Canada (in-Canada)	16 weeks	16 weeks	No change
India	10 weeks	10 weeks	No change
Pakistan	9 weeks	9 weeks	No change
Nigeria	10 weeks	10 weeks	No change
United States	3 weeks	6 weeks	−3 weeks
Philippines	9 weeks	9 weeks	No change

Service standard: 120 days for in-Canada submissions (initial and extensions); 60 days for outside-Canada submissions.

Study permits

Applying from	Nov 4	Oct 29	Change
Canada	8 weeks	6 weeks	+2 weeks
India	8 weeks	8 weeks	No change
Pakistan	5 weeks	6 weeks	−1 week
Nigeria	11 weeks	10 weeks	+1 week
United States	4 weeks	4 weeks	No change
Philippines	6 weeks	6 weeks	No change

The in-Canada jump is the biggest study permit move this cycle. Nigeria now has the longest study permit estimate on the list at 11 weeks.

Visitor visas and super visas

Visitor visa, applying from	Nov 4	Oct 29	Change
Canada	12 days	12 days	No change
India	32 days	31 days	+1 day
Pakistan	58 days	59 days	−1 day
Nigeria	103 days	105 days	−2 days
United States	18 days	18 days	No change
Philippines	24 days	25 days	−1 day

Service standard: 14 days for outside-Canada submissions.

Super visa, applying from	Nov 4	Oct 29	Change
India	85 days	82 days	+3 days
Pakistan	101 days	99 days	+2 days
Nigeria	33 days	30 days	+3 days
United States	75 days	74 days	+1 day
Philippines	109 days	106 days	+3 days

Service standard: 112 days. Every super visa estimate crept up a little this cycle, and the Philippines is now within 3 days of the standard.

Extensions and the backlog

Extension type (as of Oct 31)	Current	Previous
Work permit extension	10 weeks	11 weeks
Study permit extension	6 weeks	6 weeks
Visitor record	310 days	321 days

The work permit extension queue shrank to 191,100 applications (−4,800) and the study permit extension queue to 25,500 (−400), 5,200 fewer files in total since the last update. IRCC also finalized 2,076,745 temporary residence applications between January and August 2026, with 365,425 still awaiting decisions on August 31.

What this means for you

If you're applying for a US work permit: 3 weeks is the shortest estimate on the list. If your paperwork is ready, there is little reason to wait.

If you're applying for a study permit from inside Canada: budget 8 weeks, not the 6 you may have seen two weeks ago, and check your program start date against that.

If you're extending a work permit: the 10-week estimate is a small improvement, but keep your proof of submission and apply well before expiry. See our work permit guide.

If you're applying for a study permit from Nigeria: 11 weeks is the longest on the list. See our study permit guide.

If you're planning a super visa for parents: estimates are creeping up. Our super visa guide covers the requirements.

These estimates change roughly weekly. Recheck IRCC's official processing times tool the day you submit, not the day you start preparing.

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Sources

Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute immigration advice. Always verify information with official IRCC sources and consult a Regulated Canadian Immigration Consultant (RCIC) or licensed immigration lawyer for advice specific to your situation.

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IRCC October 14 Processing Times: Pakistan Study Permits Hit a Four-Month High, Philippines Super Visa Jumps 13 Days

IRCC's October 14 update shows in-Canada work permits at 15 weeks, Pakistan study permits at their slowest in four months, and a 13-day jump in Philippines super visas.

Oct 21, 2026·5 min

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IRCC September 22 Processing Times: US Super Visa Wait Plunges 50 Days, Canada Work Permits Rise for the First Time Since June

IRCC's September 22 update shows Canada's in-Canada work permit wait rising for the first time in months, while the US super visa estimate drops by 50 days.

Sep 25, 2026·6 min

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IRCC September 16 Processing Times: Wait Times Rise Almost Everywhere, Super Visas Hit Hardest

IRCC's September 16 update shows work permits up a week for US applicants, study permits up a week for Canada and Nigeria, and super visa waits climbing sharply for the US and Philippines.

Sep 18, 2026·6 min

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Disclaimer: This is not immigration advice. Cutoffs move draw to draw — always verify with official IRCC sources and consult an RCIC or licensed immigration lawyer.

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News

IRCC November 4 Processing Times: US Work Permits Halve to 3 Weeks, Canada Study Permits Slip to 8

Updated November 6, 2026

IRCC's November 4 update cuts US work permit waits from 6 to 3 weeks, lifts Canada study permits to 8 weeks, and shrinks the extension queue by 5,200 files.

Work permits

Applying from	Nov 4	Oct 29	Change
Canada (in-Canada)	16 weeks	16 weeks	No change
India	10 weeks	10 weeks	No change
Pakistan	9 weeks	9 weeks	No change
Nigeria	10 weeks	10 weeks	No change
United States	3 weeks	6 weeks	−3 weeks
Philippines	9 weeks	9 weeks	No change

Service standard: 120 days for in-Canada submissions (initial and extensions); 60 days for outside-Canada submissions.

Study permits

Applying from	Nov 4	Oct 29	Change
Canada	8 weeks	6 weeks	+2 weeks
India	8 weeks	8 weeks	No change
Pakistan	5 weeks	6 weeks	−1 week
Nigeria	11 weeks	10 weeks	+1 week
United States	4 weeks	4 weeks	No change
Philippines	6 weeks	6 weeks	No change

The in-Canada jump is the biggest study permit move this cycle. Nigeria now has the longest study permit estimate on the list at 11 weeks.

Visitor visas and super visas

Visitor visa, applying from	Nov 4	Oct 29	Change
Canada	12 days	12 days	No change
India	32 days	31 days	+1 day
Pakistan	58 days	59 days	−1 day
Nigeria	103 days	105 days	−2 days
United States	18 days	18 days	No change
Philippines	24 days	25 days	−1 day

Service standard: 14 days for outside-Canada submissions.

Super visa, applying from	Nov 4	Oct 29	Change
India	85 days	82 days	+3 days
Pakistan	101 days	99 days	+2 days
Nigeria	33 days	30 days	+3 days
United States	75 days	74 days	+1 day
Philippines	109 days	106 days	+3 days

Service standard: 112 days. Every super visa estimate crept up a little this cycle, and the Philippines is now within 3 days of the standard.

Extensions and the backlog

Extension type (as of Oct 31)	Current	Previous
Work permit extension	10 weeks	11 weeks
Study permit extension	6 weeks	6 weeks
Visitor record	310 days	321 days

What this means for you

If you're applying for a US work permit: 3 weeks is the shortest estimate on the list. If your paperwork is ready, there is little reason to wait.

If you're applying for a study permit from inside Canada: budget 8 weeks, not the 6 you may have seen two weeks ago, and check your program start date against that.

If you're extending a work permit: the 10-week estimate is a small improvement, but keep your proof of submission and apply well before expiry. See our work permit guide.

If you're applying for a study permit from Nigeria: 11 weeks is the longest on the list. See our study permit guide.

If you're planning a super visa for parents: estimates are creeping up. Our super visa guide covers the requirements.

These estimates change roughly weekly. Recheck IRCC's official processing times tool the day you submit, not the day you start preparing.

Tracking Express Entry instead? CRS Calculator | All Express Entry Draws

Sources

Super Visa 2026 checklist

Get the Super Visa document checklist and the current minimum income (LICO) thresholds, sent to your inbox.

No account needed · Unsubscribe anytime.

Keep reading

News

IRCC October 14 Processing Times: Pakistan Study Permits Hit a Four-Month High, Philippines Super Visa Jumps 13 Days

IRCC's October 14 update shows in-Canada work permits at 15 weeks, Pakistan study permits at their slowest in four months, and a 13-day jump in Philippines super visas.

Oct 21, 2026·5 min

Read

News

IRCC September 22 Processing Times: US Super Visa Wait Plunges 50 Days, Canada Work Permits Rise for the First Time Since June

IRCC's September 22 update shows Canada's in-Canada work permit wait rising for the first time in months, while the US super visa estimate drops by 50 days.

Sep 25, 2026·6 min

Read

News

IRCC September 16 Processing Times: Wait Times Rise Almost Everywhere, Super Visas Hit Hardest

IRCC's September 16 update shows work permits up a week for US applicants, study permits up a week for Canada and Nigeria, and super visa waits climbing sharply for the US and Philippines.

Sep 18, 2026·6 min

Read

Disclaimer: This is not immigration advice. Cutoffs move draw to draw — always verify with official IRCC sources and consult an RCIC or licensed immigration lawyer.