ARCHIVED – Operational Bulletins 077 – September 19, 2008

Processing Canadian Experience Class Applications

This Operational Bulletin has expired.

Background

The Canadian Experience Class (CEC) becomes effective September 17, 2008. This is a prescribed class of persons who may become permanent residents on the basis of their Canadian experience. They must intend to reside in a province or territory other than Quebec and must have maintained temporary resident status during their qualifying period of work experience as well as during any period of full-time study or training in Canada.

For detailed information on the requirements of this class, please consult OP 25 and the amended Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations [R87.1].

Instructions

All applications for CEC will be processed by the visa office in Buffalo. However, if an applicant is no longer residing in Canada, they must apply for CEC at the Canadian visa office that serves their country of nationality or residence, as per R11.

Information on the processing of applications for CEC can be found in OP 25, Section 8.

Lock-in Date

Lock-in occurs only when a properly completed application has been submitted (see OP 1, Section 5.24 (PDF, 597.29KB)), whether it is submitted in Buffalo or at another visa office.

CAIPS Coding

Two new CAIPS Immigration Categories (IMMCAT) and corresponding CEC screens have been created for this class and will be in operation on September 17, 2008.

• CE1: CEC Temporary Foreign Worker
• CE2: CEC Foreign Student

References

• Manual Chapter – Canadian Experience Class (OP 25)
• Application guide and forms
• Regulations

Appendix A

See the appendix for a letter informing the applicant that their file is being transferred to Buffalo.

Questions

Questions about this operational bulletin should be sent to: OMC-Immigration@cic.gc.ca.

Appendix A

File number:

Dear Madam or Sir,

We have received your application for permanent residence in Canada under the Canadian Experience Class on [date of application].

We have created a file with the file number shown above. You must quote this file number in any future correspondence. A receipt for application fees submitted is also enclosed. The application-received date will be the date your application was made at this office.

At this time, all applications under the Canadian Experience Class are being processed at the visa office in Buffalo, United States of America. As a result, we have transferred your file to that office. The visa office in Buffalo will advise you once they have received your file and will inform you of the next steps in processing as well as the anticipated processing times and any change in file number (if applicable).

Please allow 60 days from the date of this letter for the Buffalo visa office to acknowledge receipt of your application. Should you not receive a letter from Buffalo within this time, you may contact them at the following address:

Consulate General of Canada
Immigration Regional Program Centre
3000 HSBC Center
Buffalo, New York
14203-2884, U.S.A.

Immigration fax: (716) 852-2477

E-mail: buffalo-im-enquiry@international.gc.ca