Canada- PSAC strike affecting few IRCC Immigration Services finally ends

Services being maintained by IRCC

These IRCC services remain available, which means, you can still:

• apply online
• mail applications to IRCC
• use your online accounts
• access some emergency services

Moreover, below services offered by non-governmental organizations are still available:

• settlement services from IRCC partner organizations
• health care through the Interim Federal Health Program
• visa application centres outside of Canada

Services partially or fully interrupted

Most Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) services, i.e. most Government of Canada services, were impacted. You should expect delays with the following as IRCC return to service standards:

• Access to Information Act requests: Applicants can expect longer processing times for Access to Information Act requests. 

• Biometrics: If you were not able to give your biometrics within 30 days due to the PSAC strike, you are now being given 60 days to complete this step. You do not have to contact IRCC for an extension, and you don’t require new biometric instruction letter to make another appointment. Bring your original biometric instruction letter to your new appointment to show evidence of payment.

         Outside of Canada biometrics collection 

         Visa application centres outside of Canada are open. You can still give your biometrics at given places.

• Citizenship events: Citizenship events will be rearranged. Some urgent applications may still be processed.
• Consular citizenship and passport services: You may get delays with citizenship or passport services outside of Canada. You can still access your passport applications and submitted documents. 

• Contacting IRCC:

         Client Support Centre response times

         The IRCC Client Support Centre is facing service delays. You can anticipat onger response times.

         Social media

         IRCC is unable to answer your social media enquiries during the labour disruption.

         IRCC web form response times

         You should anticipate longer response times when using the IRCC web form.

• Extending your stay in Canada: You can apply online to extend your stay in Canada during the mentioned labour disruption. 

• Grants and contributions services: IRCC will respond to urgent requests from funded recipients, but please anticipate delays with IRCC response times. Funded recipients will still get their first advance payment of 2023–2024. 

• Immigration-related appointments: In-person appointments may be rearranged.

         If you are in Canada: Clients with immigration-related appointments in Canada will be contacted to rearrange or cancel appointments.

         If you are outside Canada: Foreign interviews are proceeding as planned, unless advised otherwise by the IRCC office abroad.

• Passport services:

         Resumption of full passport services

         IRCC have recommenced processing of domestic passport applications. If you didn’t apply during the PSAC strike, you can now. 

• Processing applications: There was limited capability during the PSAC strike, so delays in processing are likely. This includes delays for applications presently being prioritized.

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To know more and apply for immigration to Canada through best visa program in 2023, you may contact Visas Avenue trusted Visa Advisor and expert on Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar