In a decisive move to address the burgeoning challenges faced by immigration and passport services in Canada, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the establishment of a task force on June 25. The primary objective of this task force is to evaluate and elevate service standards in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), streamline passport applications, and optimize operations at Canada’s airports.
At the time of its inception, IRCC was grappling with an alarming backlog of 2.4 million individuals awaiting the processing of their applications, a situation that Prime Minister Trudeau found “unacceptable.” In response, the task force was formed to bring about substantial improvements.
Since its inception in June, this task force, comprising a consortium of federal ministers, has been convening weekly meetings to identify critical service gaps and areas in need of enhancement.
The IRCC backlog has escalated to approximately 2.7 million individuals, largely exacerbated by the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Processing times have been adversely affected, leading to a lack of clarity for applicants.
To offer applicants a more transparent view of processing timelines, the updated IRCC processing time tool now specifies the anticipated processing duration for each IRCC line of business. Despite challenges, the Immigration Minister, Sean Fraser, expressed optimism in June 2022 that with additional staffing and investments in technology and digitization, most service standards can be met by the end of 2022. This suggests that new applicants can look forward to defined processing timelines, such as 60 days, 6 months, or 12 months, rather than the previously uncertain waiting period.
As a result of the easing of pandemic-related travel restrictions, Service Canada has witnessed an unprecedented surge in passport applications, leading to long wait times and processing uncertainties. To mitigate these issues, the task force has introduced several measures that are already in effect or forthcoming.
One of these measures involves the establishment of four new passport pickup offices. The recent government announcement revealed that these new passport pickup locations will open in Trois-Rivières, Quebec; Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario; Charlottetown, PEI; and Red Deer, Alberta. The task force intends to recommend the opening of approximately 20 new application and pickup locations in total. Minister Karina Gould has confirmed that these locations will process passports within nine to ten business days. Furthermore, each new passport pickup location will be positioned within 50 kilometers of the majority of Canadians, with extended service hours, aiming to alleviate congestion at existing locations.
To address these challenges, the government allocated $85 million in the 2021 Fiscal and Economic Update. A significant portion of this budget has been channeled into recruiting an additional 500 new passport officers and 319 Citizen Services Officers. Additionally, the government is actively retraining existing staff from other federal agencies to efficiently process passport applications, ultimately enhancing operational efficiency.
For Canadians renewing their passports, a simplified renewal process is now available. Those with passports expired for less than 15 years, or those that have been lost, stolen, or damaged, may only need to submit two photos, two references, the application form, and fees. This eliminates the requirement to mail in proof of citizenship or seek a guarantor, making the process more accessible and efficient.
In the long term, the task force is actively exploring initiatives to facilitate online application submissions and enable over 300 Service Canada centers to process passport applications. While specific timelines for these implementations have not been provided, the government’s dedication to enhancing immigration and passport services for the benefit of all Canadians is evident.
At Unitia, we are committed to assisting individuals in navigating the evolving landscape of Canadian immigration. Feel free to reach out to us at info@unitiaimmigation.com or visit https://unitiaimmigration.com/ to explore your immigration opportunities and embark on your journey to Canada with confidence.
Stay tuned for further updates on the progress and developments in Canadian immigration and passport services.
