At Heron Law Offices, we are proud to share that our principal lawyer, Will Tao, was recently featured in a Canadian Press article titled: “Immigration lawyers say rising number of CSIS security screenings causing delays”, published on August 6, 2025.
This national news story highlights the growing backlog in immigration applications caused by increasing Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) security screening requests, and features commentary from leading Canadian immigration lawyers, including Will Tao.
According to the article, CSIS received more than 538,000 immigration security screening requests in 2024 — a dramatic increase from prior years. These requests affect individuals applying for permanent residence, refugee protection, temporary visas, and Canadian citizenship, and the resulting delays are leaving many applicants in long-term limbo.
Immigration Lawyer Will Tao on Security Screening Delays
Will Tao shared insight on how these delays are disproportionately affecting individuals from specific countries:
“The ones that were getting security-screened more closely were from countries that I would classify as having some sort of geopolitical proximity to a concern of Canada,” Tao said.
Countries flagged in the article include Jordan, Ukraine, Russia, China, Iran, and India, where visa applicants are now experiencing more intensive scrutiny.
“The goalposts have shifted,” Tao continued. “We know this because we have applicants, for example, who were permanent residents in Canada years ago, or who had visas for many, many years coming and going for some up to 15, 20, 30 years, suddenly being caught in and swept up into this.”
What This Means for Immigration Applicants
These CSIS screening delays are affecting thousands of individuals who are otherwise eligible for Canadian citizenship or permanent residence, including many who have already passed previous security checks. The lack of clear timelines or meaningful updates can cause emotional distress, legal uncertainty, and lost opportunities for applicants and their families.
At Heron Law Offices, we have seen a sharp rise in clients contacting us since early 2024 for assistance with security screening delays and mandamus applications to compel action from IRCC or CSIS.
How a Lawyer Can Help With Security Screening Delays
If your application is stuck in immigration security screening and you’ve been waiting for months or over a year without movement, you may have legal options.
We regularly assist clients with:
- Reviewing procedural fairness in CSIS and IRCC screening delays
- Filing mandamus applications in Federal Court
- Communicating with IRCC and CBSA to seek updates
- Advising on the impact of geopolitical factors and risk profiles
- Preparing supporting documents to demonstrate admissibility and good character
