CIMM – Status of Operations, Programs and Services – May 12, 2022

Key Messages

• Within Canada, processing continues for all programs with 100% of IRCC offices and service providers open, however, with capacity limits. The vast majority of staff continue to work remotely.
• Overseas, 98% of our missions are open, 97% of our Visa Application Centres (VACs) are open and offering biometrics collection and 98% of panel physicians’ clinics are open to the public and offering Immigration Medical Exams.
• Despite challenges, IRCC continues to make great strides, including making close to 507,000 final decisions for permanent residence applications in 2021, thanks to a combination of remote and on-site delivery and processing innovations.

Supplementary Messages

Status of IRCC offices and service providers in Canada

• All IRCC offices and service providers are open, however, are limited to up to 30% in-person capacity for both employees and clients.
• Of more than 500 service providers under the Settlement Program, critical in-person services for vulnerable newcomer populations continue to remain open (e.g., setting up medical appointments, mental health or gender-based violence supports). Where public health measures allow, some in-person services have resumed, while other services remain remote.

Status of IRCC offices and service providers abroad

• Overseas, most IRCC offices and service providers are open, however, some have limited in-person capacity due to local restrictions or Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) recommendations.
• As of April 11, 2022, 59 of 60 (98%) missions are open, Kyiv being the only mission closed.
• As of April 11, 2022, 157 of 162 (97%) VACs are open to the public offering biometrics collection, among other services. This includes 35 VACs that are fully open, while 122 are able to offer partial services only (reduced hours and/or limited services).
• As VACs reopen to full capacity, IRCC continues to closely monitor client behaviour, inventory backlogs, capacity, and local restrictions to ensure resumption of good quality and prompt client service.
• A partially opened VACs is open to the public, however, local COVID-19 restrictions have required VACs to reduce their hours and services. While this means biometric enrolment appointments are reduced, IRCC monitors partially opened VACs to the same extent as fully opened VACs and if capacity issues are identified, IRCC works with the contractor to increase appointment slots.
• The vast majority of panel physicians’ clinics are now open to the public, with (563 out of 577 or 98%) currently offering Immigration Medical Exams.
• Office closures and restrictions are assessed regularly. IRCC continues to follow public health guidance and our top priority continues to be the health and safety of Canadians, employees and our clients.

Business Resumption

• The pandemic presented challenges to the Department to receive and process applications submitted by mail, conduct in-person services such as client interviews, biometrics collection, validation of supporting and identity documents to support the finalization of applications. Some of those services cannot be done remotely, and those services have resumed.
• IRCC has modernized its operations to ensure the majority of work can be done remotely by employees and that clients can access services without having to come physically to one of our offices, when possible.
• For example, clients can now access many services and information remotely through the IRCC website, web forms, and tools such as MyAccount.
• On May 10, 2021, IRCC launched the Citizenship Case Status Tracker to support Citizenship clients in finding information on their application status. Since its launch, IRCC has seen an uptake in registrations of 450,000 new accounts and recorded 10 million logins.
• On February 3, 2022, IRCC introduced a new Permanent Residence Case Tracker for family class permanent residence applicants in the spouse, partner and dependent child categories, allowing them to easily track the status of their application information online. IRCC plans to launch additional application status tools for other lines of business in the future, which responds to client demand for easier access to case status information.
• Our business resumption strategy ensures engagement with clients, employees, unions, the Occupational Health and Safety Committee, service providers and other stakeholders such as Global Affairs Canada that is responsible for safety in the workplace at Canadian diplomatic missions abroad.
• IRCC has developed a protocol for the resumption of visits to some service providers based on local risk according to our pandemic monitoring system. The Department will move toward a model in which administration will be done virtually and relationship building can increasingly be done in person.

If pressed:

• No known cases of COVID-19 have been caused through transmission at an IRCC office.