The Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) published the details of a new temporary public policy on June 29, 2023. This policy has been designed to expedite the processing of visitor visa and super visa applications. It is worth noting that this public policy came into effect with the signature of Immigration Minister Sean Fraser on February 28, 2023, and will remain valid until December 31, 2023.
According to the latest available data, IRCC is currently managing approximately 2.25 million immigration and visa applications. Out of these applications, around 1.3 million are temporary resident visa applications which include study permits, visitor visas, super visas, and work permits.
IRCC Visa Backlog Policy
The new temporary policy implemented by IRCC aims to address the growing backlog of visitor visa and super visa applications in order to enhance Canada’s appeal to visitors, families, and business people. Presently, this policy only applies to visitor visa or super visa applications submitted on or before January 16, 2023.
Under this new policy, a visa officer may not assess whether a foreign national will leave Canada by the end of their authorized period of stay while processing an application for a visitor visa or super visa. By eliminating this additional task of assessing departure plans, processing time can be significantly reduced which in turn contributes towards clearing the backlog at a faster pace. It is important to highlight that this particular reason for refusal – whether an individual will depart Canada within the authorized timeframe – has long been one of the most common grounds for denying visitor visas.
Moreover, this new policy specifically tailored for visitor visas also grants a waiver on the requirement for a foreign national not to be inadmissible for financial reasons. This exemption addresses another common refusal reason where applicants are deemed ineligible due to insufficient funds to support their stay in Canada.
By facilitating the processing of existing applications in the inventory and reducing eligibility standards, Canada aims to start fresh and restore pre-pandemic processing timelines while maintaining its global competitiveness.
How the Automation Tools Process Temporary Visa Application
In order to streamline and expedite the processing of temporary resident applications, the Canadian immigration department has adopted automated processing for administrative tasks. Advanced analytics and other automated technologies have been employed by the department to enhance the processing efficiency of certain temporary applications.
It is important to note that these automated tools are solely utilized for sorting and processing applications, and they do not make refusal decisions or provide recommendations for refusals. According to reliable sources, Canadian immigration currently employs automated processing for visitor visas, visitor record extensions, and recently also for study permits using similar automation tools.
In the past, concerns were raised regarding the use of ‘CHINOOK’, an automated tool used for application processing, with some claiming that it refused visa applications autonomously. Nevertheless, both the Immigration Department and Immigration Minister Sean Fraser have repeatedly clarified that final approval or refusal decisions are always made by immigration officers.
So how exactly do these automation tools process temporary visa applications? When an application is submitted, the tool initially sorts it based on key eligibility conditions. If deemed eligible, the program then forwards it to an officer who thoroughly assesses eligibility and makes the ultimate decision on approval or refusal.
To sort applications efficiently, machine learning algorithms are utilized along with data from previous IRCC applications. These automated tools aid in eliminating repetitive and clerical tasks associated with evaluating each application, resulting in faster processing times and more efficient distribution of decisions.
To ensure a smooth visa application process via automation, there are several steps applicants can take:
- Make sure to submit a complete application.
- Include all necessary information on all forms.
- Provide any required supporting documentation in advance.
- If your application contains anything unexpected or unusual, consider providing a detailed letter of explanation.
- Make your application and explanation letter as clear and concise as possible.
By following these guidelines, applicants can increase the likelihood of their application being deemed eligible by the new automated tool implemented by IRCC.
Conclusion
The new temporary public policy introduced by IRCC aims to expedite the processing of visitor visas and super visa applications. By utilizing automated processing tools, administrative tasks can be streamlined and efficiency can be improved. While automation aids in sorting and processing applications, final approval or refusal decisions are still made by immigration officers.
To ensure a smooth application process, it is important for applicants to submit complete and well-documented applications while adhering to the guidelines provided by IRCC.
Need Help With Canada Immigration?