Impact of Labour Disruption in Canada: After a strike from April 19th to May 1st, an agreement was reached between the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) and the Federal Government of Canada. Over 155,000 government workers were affected by the strike, including IRCC employees.
Until delays are addressed, and services are back to full capacity, IRCC warns there may be some service effects soon.
Which services under Labour Disruption in Canada were temporarily or permanently unavailable?
As a result, most IRCC services are now experiencing disruptions.
- Biometrics
- Civic ceremonies
- The IRCC Call Centre
- Staying in Canada for a Longer Period
- Appointments Regarding Immigration
- Help with Passports
- Applications processing
The deadline for collecting biometric data in Canada has been pushed out. If the strike prevented you from submitting your biometrics within 30 days, you now have 60 days to do so. You can schedule a follow-up appointment with IRCC without calling from an extension or obtaining a replacement biometric instruction letter. You will be granted additional time if you present the original biometric instruction letter together with a receipt of payment for your rescheduled appointment.
Events celebrating citizens’ new citizenship postponed because of the strike are now being rescheduled, and new invitation letters will be sent out as soon as feasible.
As a result of the strike, the Client Support Centre is experiencing service difficulties. Thus, IRCC web form users should anticipate longer wait times for a response.
To request a visa extension in Canada, you can do it electronically. However, until a decision is reached on your application, you must fulfil the following requirements to keep your status and remain in Canada:
- If you need an extension, you must apply for it online.
- All necessary information, such as biometrics, application costs, and so on, must be included in the application.
- Your application must be received before your authorised period of temporary residence ends.
If you were planning to meet with an immigration official in Canada but had to cancel because of the strike, don’t worry; they’re working to reschedule as quickly as possible. If you are outside Canada, rest assured that your scheduled interview(s) will go as planned.
The IRCC is once again accepting applications for Canadian passports. You don’t need to reapply for a passport if you’ve previously submitted one; it will be processed as soon as it’s received. With the online passport status checker, you can monitor the progress of your applications in real-time.
Suppose you immediately need a passport and have applied for one before the strike. In that case, you can contact the Passport Call Centre or go in person to a passport office and request that your application be given higher priority.
There has been an increase in the number of applications submitted to IRCC, which could lead to longer wait times at passport agencies and Service Canada Centres.
Last but not least, due to a shortage of workers during the strike, processing timeframes for applications have been lengthened. Expect delays in currently prioritised applications as well.
