Canadian immigration minister has announced new updates to modernize immigration system

As a step towards this modernization, Canadian immigration minister Sean Fraser on September 1, 2022 has announced new online services across immigration system, helping to improve client experience and reduce the backlogs.

New Immigration Measures Announced

Here are the highlights of the key immigration updates announced by Minister Fraser:

• Updating online processing times tool, so even more applications can be tracked in real time to reduce the backlogs.
• Modernizing citizenship program by making it easier for people to apply for their citizenship
• Transitioning to 100 percent digital applications for most of the PR programs, with alternative formats available for the people who need accommodations
• Expanding the online application portal for clients across our permanent residence streams
• To reduce the wait times, exempting permanent and temporary residence applicants already in Canada from the immigration medical exam requirement

Reducing processing times

To help further decrease the application processing times, and building on the recruitment of 1,250 new employees to handle the backlogs and rise processing capacity, the Minister to exempt permanent and temporary residence applicants who are already in Canada and fulfil certain parameters from the immigration medical examination requirement.

Streamlining this process in the weeks to come will benefit around 180,000 applicants by helping them save time and money on the medical examination process and decreasing processing time on their applications.

Also read- Canadian Immigration Minister Joined Task Force to give update on application backlog & System

Family Reunification

By modernizing the services and adding support wherever required, the Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) have now returned to the pre-pandemic service standard of 12 months for all new spousal sponsorship applications.

Expanding online applications for permanent residence

The IRCC is also taking steps to improve how it deliver services to applicants for the permanent residence programs. On 1 September 2022, Minister announced that as per earlier commitment, access to the online application portal for clients has now been expanded to the majority of PR applicants. The IRCC will begin transitioning to 100% digital applications for most of the PR programs on September 23, with alternative formats available for people requiring accommodations.

Providing better information to clients

In February 2022, IRCC also introduced a new application status tracker that allowed PR applicants, sponsors and their representatives in the spouse, partner and dependent child categories to more effortlessly check their application status online.

By spring 2023, IRCC will have expanded this application status tracker to include seven more PR and temporary residence programs. It also launched a citizenship-application status tracker for clients in May 2021, which will be expanded to include access to representatives this month.

Beginning this fall, IRCC will publish forward-looking estimations of how long it will take to process an application, enhancing predictability for applicants.

Modernizing the citizenship program

In August 2021, IRCC launched a new tool that allows most citizenship applications to be submitted online. The tool is open to candidates age 18 and over, and has now expanded to allow groups of adults to apply together. IRCC wish to expand this tool to offer online applications for minors (i.e. under the age of 18) by the end of the year.

The IRCC has confirmed that it will keep finding ways to modernize and digitalize its immigration system, giving applicants the experience they expect, and strengthening Canada as a destination of choice around the globe.

With constantly easing immigration program and rising demand for skilled professionals in the maple leaf country, it’s the perfect time to apply for Canadian Permanent Residency (PR) Visa.

To know more or apply for Canadian PR visa this year, you may contact vastly experienced Canada immigration expert at Visas Avenue. You may call VA Canada migration expert on Toll-Free No. 78-18-000-777 or you can drop us an e-mail at info@visasavenue.com.

- Rajneesh Kumar