ARCHIVED – Notice – Update on Fee Returns for Federal Skilled Worker applicants affected by the backlog elimination

October 18, 2013

Over the past year, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) has been returning fees paid to the Department for Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) applications terminated as a result of the Government of Canada’s Jobs, Growth and Long-Term Prosperity Act.

If you applied before February 27, 2008, and have not heard from CIC about whether a decision based on FSW program selection criteria (*see below) was made on your application, you may be affected by this law.

If you fall under this category, CIC needs to verify your contact information is up to date so that your fee return will reach you at your current address. Please note that interest will not be paid on the fees.

Please confirm your latest contact details by sending CIC this form (PDF, 1.52MB). Communicating with us electronically is the best and easiest way to have your fee return processed.

Due to the large number of affected applicants, the fee return process may take some time. We expect most people will receive their fees back within six months, but there may be possible delays in cases where applicants are located in countries with international banking restrictions. We appreciate your patience.

Your FSW application has been terminated by operation of law if:

  • you applied before February 27, 2008, and
  • a decision based on FSW program selection criteria* was not made on your application by an immigration officer before March 29, 2012.

(*A “FSW program selection criteria” decision means that a CIC officer has determined that you have accumulated enough points to qualify for the program, based on factors such as your language skills, education and work experience.)

If you remain interested in immigrating to Canada, you may be eligible under other immigration programs. To find out more about the requirements and steps to apply in each category, please see Immigrating to Canada.

For more information, please see these Frequently Asked Questions - archived.

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