New Virtual System Has Proven Effective At Accelerating PR Process
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (‘IRCC’) has launched a new online portal that gives the department the ability to confirm permanent resident status without conducting in-person interviews. This is expected to accelerate the landing process for many new Canadian permanent residents.
This new system was created in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and has already proven effective at expediting the landing process, according to Immigration Minister, Marco Mendicino. Mendicino spoke about the new system during a recent meeting with the Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.
The portal allows new permanent residents to share their personal information with IRCC, declare that they are in Canada, confirm their address, submit an up-to-date photo for their Permanent Resident card, and get access to their proof of permanent resident status.
The new portal will not allow applicants to check their application status, however, as it is being kept separate from the secure IRCC account where applications are submitted.
IRCC began testing the system among applicants back in October after sending out invitations.
How It Works
Once a permanent resident applicant has their application approved, they will receive an invitation from IRCC asking them to confirm if they would like to use the portal. For those who choose to use it, IRCC will create an account, as applicants will be unable to create one for themselves.
Applicants will then receive an email with a link to the portal along with instructions indicating how to sign into the portal with their username and temporary password.
Once an applicant is able to log in to the portal, they will be able to confirm that they are in Canada, update their address, and upload their photo.
IRCC will then review and accept the photo, and the applicant will be able to check to see whether or not they have accepted it. After the photo is approved, their PR card will be mailed to their address within just one week.
Keep in mind that all uploaded photos must meet IRCC requirements and may be rejected if:
- They are too dark,
- Facial features are not visible
- There is a glare on the photo
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Arghavan Gerami
Arghavan Gerami is the Founder and Senior Counsel at Gerami Law Professional Corporation ('PC'), a full-service immigration law firm in Ottawa, Ontario. Since 2011, Ms. Gerami has focused her practice on immigration and refugee litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Gerami worked at the Ministry of Attorney General and the Department of Justice and had the privilege of serving the Honourable Mr. Justice M. Evans at the Federal Court of Appeal on immigration and administrative law appeals. Ms. Gerami contributes to the Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ms. Gerami has also published numerous journal articles and presented at various immigration and refugee law conferences and events across Canada.