Immigration Minister Announces New reforms to update Canada’s Immigration System

On September 1, Immigration Minister Sean Fraser announced the latest online services across Canada’s immigration system, envisioned to improve user experience and reduce backlogs. The pandemic highlights the requirement for the latest immigration system. From Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) processing centre in Nova Scotia, the Immigration minister announced the latest updates on how modernization is affecting operations at IRCC.

Here’s a quick glimpse into the latest developments for newcomers and future citizens.

In-Canada Candidates Exempt from Medical Examination

In a quest to minimize the wait times, the Immigration minister is exempting permanent and temporary residence candidates who are living in Canada from the immigration medical exam requirement.  This reform will apply to people who fulfill certain criteria. The announcement did not specify the criteria or when the measure would come into the effect. Canada aims to impact about 180,000 newcomers.

Immigration Applications will get 100% digital from September 23

Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada will start transitioning to 100% digital applications for permanent residence programs on September 23. Other formats will be open for people who would require accommodations. The Canadian immigration department targeted to fully implement the online application portal by end of summer 2022.

Application Status Tracker

By early next year, IRCC is planning to introduce seven more permanent and temporary residence program application status trackers similar to the one launched in the month of February for Spousal, Partner, and dependent child sponsorship. The citizenship application status tracker that was introduced for candidates in May 2021 will include access to representatives this month. By the end of 2022, IRCC will release the information on how long will it take to process an application.

Updating Canadian Citizenship

Last year August, IRCC introduced a tool that will permit certain citizenship applications to be submitted online. The tool is open to permit groups of people above the age of 18 years to apply together. Canada is planning to expand this tool to offer online applications for people under the age of 18 by the end of 2022.