Impact of COVID-19 on IRCC Operations
Classification: Unclassified
Branch/Agency: IRCC
Proposed Response:
- The COVID-19 outbreak has had a significant impact on the department’s entire processing network, both in Canada and overseas. As such, Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is focusing on the delivery of critical services across our operational footprint.
- The Department continues to serve its clients; however, has shifted to alternative service delivery methods and light-touch processes to protect the health and safety of both clients and staff.
- IRCC is applying flexibility to ensure that their clients are not penalized as a result of changes to services, while maintaining program integrity.
- The Department is continually re-evaluating based on the changing context of the outbreak and will continue to adapt as needed.
- IRCC has activated its Situation Centre and executive Crisis Management Team to coordinate impacts on operations domestically and internationally.
Background:
Inside Canada
All staff have been advised to work from home where feasible as of March 16, 2020, while ensuring mission critical services continue.
Domestic offices have shifted to email, telephone, or online intake and telephone interviews.
Domestic offices and case processing centres are operating at limited capacity with a focus on delivering critical services.
The Client Support Centre, which provides telephone and email support to clients in Canada, has shifted to e-mail only enquiries until April 2nd.
Settlement Service Provider Organizations are delivering essential services only, including refugee resettlement services and case management for vulnerable clients.
Outside Canada
IRCC has reduced all overseas offices to essential services only, limiting processing due to significantly reduced capacity and prioritization of urgent cases (with the exception of Hong Kong, which is engaged in business resumption planning).
The following missions are closed: Manila, Beirut, and Algiers.
Visa Application Centres are accepting online applications only, and in-person services are by appointment only.
Visa Application Centres are closed in over 35 countries.
The situation globally is rapidly evolving with more and more closures of VACs and offices daily.
Temporary Residence programming
Most of the global network is at critical services only, and the priority is urgent cases.
Permanent Residence programming
Most of the global network is at critical services only, and the priority is urgent cases.
In-person permanent resident landings are cancelled until April 13, 2020. The Department is exploring alternate options for service delivery.
Refugees
Asylum claimants appointments are cancelled until April 13, 2020. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada has introduced interim procedures to intake in-Canada claims for refugee protection via email.
Resettlement movements for Government Assisted Refugees and Privately Sponsored Refugees have been suspended until the end of April. Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship Canada will continue to consider requests from the United Nations Refugee Agency to resettle individuals in need of urgent protection. However, given that the United Nations Refugee Agency and the International Organization for Migration have temporarily suspended resettlement departures for refugees overseas, and with the limited ability to secure flights to Canada, it is expected that the volume of these cases would be very low.
Citizenship
Citizenship tests, hearings, ceremonies, and itinerant services are cancelled until April 13, 2020.
IRCC continues to process urgent Citizenship Proof applications.
Passport
Passport services are restricted to urgent only.
Contacts:
Prepared by:
Approved by: Harpreet Kochhar, ADM Operations