CIMM – Question Period Note - 2022 International AIDS Conference – November 29, 2022

Date: 15 Sep. 2022
Classification:
Department: IRCC

Issue:

How Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada assisted AIDS conference organizers to ensure a successful event.

Proposed Response:

• We understand the disappointment experienced by organizers and participants of the AIDS conference, resulting from delays in the processing of visa applications.
• With an increasing number of events being organized in Canada each year, we want to ensure that all events are successful and are able to take place with full participation.
• As a result, IRCC has seen incredible growth in application volumes and we are taking measures to improve processing times and address backlogs. These include hiring an additional 1,250 staff, modernizing our processes, and updating aging technology.

Responsive on reports of bias in the treatment of applications:

• The Government of Canada is committed and adheres to a fair and non-discriminatory application of immigration law. All applications from around the world are assessed against the same criteria.
• As part of our commitment to anti-racism, equity and inclusion, we are looking closely at those criteria through the lens of how they impact racialized applicants, to ensure our programs and policies are fair, equitable and culturally sensitive.

Contact:
(Name) (Arial 14)
Director General, (Branch)
Tel. No.:
Cell. No.:

Approved By:
(Name) (Arial 14)
Assistant Deputy Minister, (Sector)
Tel. No.:

Background:

• IRCC took exceptional steps and put in place various mechanisms to meet organizer and client needs.
  • IRCC has worked closely with the organizers since they registered the event with us on October 22, 2021 to ensure immigration requirements and application timelines were understood, so processing and admission for participants could progress smoothly.
  • IRCC requested that organizers provide a list of VIPs - whose presence was critical to the event- which was updated weekly and provided to our processing offices.
  • IRCC create a trouble-shooting mechanism for organizers to send ad-hoc requests for applications that required facilitation, for example, issues relating to passport submission to the VAC, visa printing at alternate missions due to last minute travel by the applicant, etc.
• IRCC received 2,720 temporary resident visitor (TRV) applications identified with the AIDS conference special event code. IRCC finalized 93% of these applications prior to the conference.
• Officers assessed applications for this conference with a facilitative lens while still respecting and applying the Immigration Refugee Protection Regulations and current Program Delivery Instructions.
• IRCC expedited the processing of these applications: All high profile cases and lists of delegates submitted by the organisers (several hundred cases) were flagged to processing offices for expedited processing. Processing of TRV cases identified with the special event code for the conference were prioritized.
• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) took every measure available to expedite as much as possible the processing of applications and the facilitation of travel for this event. In fact, IRCC processed over 93% of applications received before the start of the conference.

The conference organizers registered the event with IRCC on October 22, 2021, and the Department provided specific details on the application process and reinforced the importance that all attendees apply as early as possible for their visas and eTAs.

IRCC worked closely with the event organizers who shared lists of invited attendees to maximize the assistance that the Department could offer.

These lists were in turn shared with our processing offices abroad where the visa applications of the attendees were assessed in a timely manner.

Visa applications are assessed on a case-by-case basis based on the information presented by the applicant. The onus is on the applicant to satisfy the officer that they meet the requirements for a temporary resident visa (TRV). All applicants are given the opportunity to present their case by providing documentary evidence and any other relevant information to support their application. A decision is made only after all factors have been considered. Unless the officer is satisfied that the applicant is a genuine visitor, a TRV cannot be issued.

When a visa officer refuses an application, it is because the officer is not satisfied that the applicant meets the requirements set out in Canada’s immigration law. Individuals who apply to come to Canada as temporary residents must show they are not inadmissible and must satisfy the visa officer that they:

• are in good health and do not pose a health risk;
• do not have a criminal record;
• do not pose a threat to Canada’s security;
• have a valid passport or travel document;
• have enough money to support themselves and their family members (if applicable) while in Canada;
• have sufficient ties to their home country;
• will leave Canada when their visa expires; and
• meet all other requirements of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.

Applicants can re-apply if their visa is refused however, they should make sure they understand IRCC’s visa requirements and only re-apply if they have addressed the reason(s) why their application was refused and they submit new information/documents to satisfy the officer that their previous circumstances have changed and that they now meet the visa requirements.