I never really could understand why IRCC doesn't use FIFO. That's the fairest process. Currently we have people waiting who had put their applications in 2021 while those applying in 2023 are getting oath invites. It's outrageous.I was of the opinion that it was good or bad luck that determined if our applications were processed quickly or we would be subject to year long plus waits. I’m learning now that the IRCC uses AI they call advanced analytics to categorize and prioritize processing probably to get the most number of apps processed in the shortest time. AI does not decide apps but it may see an app that meets all requirements as less easy to process than another and put it into a slow lane that ultimately results in little or no backlog reduction and years long waits for the applicant. This isn’t fair with few exceptions applications should be processed in FIFO order. It’s the only way to reduce the backlogs and treat all applicants humanely. If the selective processing continues many will wait well beyond normal processing of 21 months.
It seems to me that IRCC's incentives are misaligned. Their KPIs include applications processed within 12 months and they like to say that we process 80% of applications within 12 months of receiving them. The problem with this KPI is that once 12 months are exceeded an application already becomes part of the backlog and has damaged their KPIs. So they don't process it quickly anymore. They move onto newer ones in order to keep their metrics looking good while those in backlog languish.