Is Your Canadian PR Application Safe from Bill C-12?

Published: October 21, 2025 | By: Tiffany Chia

Imagine opening your IRCC account and seeing “50 years to process”!??!?!

It feels like a computer mistake — but it is real!

In 2025, many people are waiting a very long time for Canadian permanent residence. Some programs show waiting times of 9 to 50 years.

Now a new rule called Bill C-12 is in Parliament. It gives the Immigration Minister power to cancel, stop, or change big groups of applications.

The big question is:👉 Is your Canadian PR application safe under Bill C-12?

If your program’s wait time is more than 5 years, the answer may be no.

It’s time to check your situation and plan your next step.

⚖️ What Is Bill C-12 and Why It Matters

Bill C-12, announced on October 8, 2025, says it will make Canada’s immigration system faster and fairer.

But hidden inside the law are very big powers for the Minister.

The Minister could:

✅ Stop or cancel many applications at one time if there are too many.

✅ Move spots from one program to another without asking Parliament.

✅ Create new rules for who can apply without a full public vote.

The government says this will help “fix delays.” But many immigration lawyers worry that Bill C-12 could be used to delete old files instead.

⏳ The 2025 Backlog Crisis — The Numbers Don’t Lie

IRCC’s own report shows record waiting times.

Here are the current numbers:

Program	Estimated Wait Time
Humanitarian & Compassionate (H&C)	12 to 600 months (up to 50 years)
Start-Up Visa (Entrepreneur)	Up to 420 months (35 years)
Agri-Food Stream	Up to 228 months (19 years)
Caregiver Pathway	Up to 108 months (9 years)

IRCC said these are not mistakes. 

They show there are too many people waiting and not enough spots in Canada’s yearly quota.

This is why the government says it needs Bill C-12.

📜 Lessons from the Past — Canada Has Done This Before

This is not the first time Canada has cancelled old immigration files.

2012 — Federal Skilled Worker Program (Bill C-38)

• About 280 000 applications made before 2008 were cancelled all at once.

• People got their money back but lost years of waiting.

• Anyone without a decision by March 29, 2012 had their file closed.

  
  

2014 — Investor and Entrepreneur Programs

• About 59 000 applications were cancelled when new programs started.

• There were no protections for old applicants (meaning their old files could not continue under old rules).

  
  

👉 Lesson: When waiting times become too long, Canada has used new laws to erase files. Bill C-12 could make that happen again.

🚨 Programs Most at Risk Under Bill C-12

🔴 Humanitarian & Compassionate (H&C)

• Wait time: Up to 50 years

• At risk because: Too many people waiting and very few accepted each year

🔴 Start-Up Visa Program

• Wait time: 35 years

• At risk because: This program is for new business ideas. After 35 years, the idea is definitely no longer new.

  
  

🔴 Agri-Food Stream

• Wait time: 19 years

• At risk because: Farms need workers now, not after almost 20 years.

🔴 Caregiver Pathway

• Wait time: 9 years

• At risk because: Families are separated for many years, which goes against the goal of the program

  .

💡 In short: These are not just long waits — these programs are no longer working as planned. If your file is in one of them, hoping is not a plan.

🧩 What Bill C-12 Means for You (Even If You Did Everything Right)

You may have filled out your forms perfectly, sent all the right papers, and paid all fees. But Bill C-12 can still affect you. It is not about your personal mistake — it is about government policy.

Protect yourself by:

✅ Keep your status legal — renew your work or study permit early.

✅ Check Bill C-12 news — look at Parl.ca or the IRCC newsroom each month.

✅ Save everything — receipts, letters, emails, and application numbers.

✅ Make a backup plan — maybe Express Entry, a provincial program, or family sponsorship.

✅ Consult a licensed immigration consultant if your wait time is 50 years or more.

💡 Expert Tips from 1to1 Immigration

✔️ Stay calm but plan early. Bill C-12 is not law yet, but change is coming.

✔️ Send a complete application — missing papers cause delays.

✔️ Apply for a Bridging Open Work Permit (BOWP) to stay in Canada legally while you wait.

✔️ Check if you can apply through another faster program.

✔️ Tell your family or employer about possible delays so they can plan too.

❓ 10 Simple FAQs About Bill C-12 and the Backlog

1️⃣ What is Bill C-12? 

A new rule in 2025 that gives the Minister power to manage or cancel applications.

2️⃣ Can Bill C-12 cancel old files?

 Yes, if it becomes law.

3️⃣ Has this happened before? 

Yes, in 2012 and 2014. Thousands of files were cancelled.

4️⃣ Why are wait times so long? 

Too many people applied, not enough spaces.

5️⃣ Which programs have the longest wait?

H&C (50 yrs), Start-Up Visa (35 yrs), Agri-Food (19 yrs), Caregiver (9 yrs).

6️⃣ Can I change to another program? 

Yes, if you qualify. But get advice before you cancel your old one.

7️⃣ Will Bill C-12 affect Express Entry or Family Sponsorship? 

Probably not now, but rules can change.

8️⃣ Will IRCC give me a refund if my file is cancelled? 

Yes, usually, but it takes time and you lose your place.

9️⃣ Can a lawyer stop a mass cancellation? 

It’s very hard; courts can’t undo new laws.

🔟 Where can I see updates?

IRCC newsroom.

📌 Key Takeaways

🔹 IRCC’s backlog shows waiting times of 9 to 50 years for some PR programs

🔹 Bill C-12 could allow the Minister to cancel submitted PR applications with huge backlog.

🔹 Canada has done this before (2012 and 2014).

🔹 At-risk programs: H&C, Start-Up Visa, Agri-Food, Caregiver.

🔹 If your wait is 5 years or more, your file could be at risk.

🔹 Don’t just wait — make a plan now.

📣 Your Next Step — Don’t Wait Until It’s Too Late

If your immigration program shows a wait of more than 5 years, your application may be at risk under Bill C-12. You need personal help, not online guesses.

👉 Book a 30-minute consultation with 1to1 Immigration to:

• Check your current file and risk level

• Find safer and faster ways to apply

• Keep your legal status in Canada while waiting

📍 Contact Us Now — because waiting could cost you your future.

✍️ About the Author

This article was written by Tiffany Chia, RCIC #R512971, founder of 1to1 Immigration Inc. in Vancouver, Canada.

Tiffany is an immigrant from Singapore who moved to Canada more than 10 years ago. She started 1to1 Immigration in January 2015 to be the immigration partner she wished she had — someone who understands how stressful and confusing the process can be.

Since then, she has helped hundreds of families and professionals with their Express Entry, spousal sponsorship, and study-permit applications.

⚠️ Disclaimer

Processing times and policies can change at any time. Information is current as of October 2025.Please check the official IRCC website for the latest updates.This blog is for information only and is not legal advice.