Evaluation of the Overseas Orientation Initiatives

1. CIC should develop a strategy for the provision of overseas orientation services, aligned with relevant departmental policies and programs. This strategy should consider, among other factors:

• a definition of CIC’s objectives and expected results in providing overseas orientation as a complement to services offered in Canada;
• a determination of what immigration categories and statuses (family configuration) will receive overseas in-person orientation and why;
• guidelines for how to prioritize locations for the delivery of orientation services within targeted immigration categories;
• a determination of what and how information will be provided to each of the immigration categories prior to departure; and
• a consideration of the cost of services and value for money.

CIC will develop a strategy for the delivery of overseas orientation services. Elements of the strategy will include:

• defining overseas orientation services and CIC’s objectives and expected client outcomes in providing these services, as well as how to track these outcomes;
• determining how to prioritize the outreach of overseas in-person orientation services in each immigration category, based on evidence;
• establishing guidelines for prioritizing locations for service delivery within the targeted categories;
• identifying what and how information will be provided to different categories prior to departure, including the use of the web and other technologies to ensure availability of information for Canada-bound immigrants unable to access in-person services; and
• examining the cost of services and value for money, as well as determining the source of funds for the costs of overseas orientation.

The development of the strategy and decisions regarding the above elements will build on:

• CIC’s experience in piloting different approaches to overseas orientation;
• experience with the Immigration – Contribution Accountability Measurement System (iCAMS) in Canada, and the Tracking of Overseas Orientation Session Graduates (TOSG, which currently tracks CIIP client outcomes) to track client outcomes;
• work already undertaken to identify the primary needs of each immigration category, the recommendation that a higher percentage of refugees should be served by in-person, and CIC’s goal to have more economic immigrants land job-ready in Canada;
• Research and Evaluation will develop a methodology to track the impact of overseas orientation services on clients; and
• CIC and wider Government of Canada experience in using web-based resources, to aid in disseminating settlement, labour market and other integration information to a broader client base.