Operational Bulletin 481 – November 21, 2012

Pilot Project to Print Confirmation of Permanent Residence (COPR) Documents and Permanent Resident Visa Counterfoils by the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O)  

Issue

The Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) has begun working on a modernisation initiative. As a part of this initiative, the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) plans to begin printing the:

• Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) documents and,
• Permanent resident visa counterfoils (if required)

The Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) plans to commence this initiative for applications that it has processed to finalisation.

Background

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) had begun working on a modernisation agenda recently. As a part of this modernisation agenda, the authorities established the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) in May 2010. Currently, the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) has begun taking on additional responsibilities for visa processing, in a centralised environment.

In the meantime, the CIC has reorganised its North American network. As a result, it has the capability to transact business more efficiently. The CIC plans to increase processing efficiencies further, by centralising the processing of files that are:

• Low risk in Canada and,
• Straightforward in Canada

In the past, the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) finalised various files. Then, it would transfer these files to other offices. These offices would take care of printing the:

• Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) documents and,
• Permanent resident visa counterfoils (if required)

With this initiative, the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) aims at centralising the printing of the following documents in Canada:

• Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) documents and,
• Permanent resident visa counterfoils (if required)

Taking care of this activity, would enable the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) to support the overseas network. It would achieve this by:

• Enabling the overseas network to focus on inventories and,
• Processing the cases that are more complex, based on its local knowledge and expertise

The Procedure for Processing at the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O)

The Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) plans to begin printing the:

• Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) documents and,
• Permanent resident visa counterfoils (if required)

It will handle this activity for applications processed to finalisation at the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O). It will commence this activity with effect from November 27, 2012.

• The Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) will appear as the issuing office on the documents
• The Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) will mail the documents to those clients, who have addresses mainly within North America, from Ottawa
• The visa counterfoils would no longer be required for permanent residents from visa-exempt countries
• This is in accordance with the guidelines contained in OB 348
• The Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) will continue to work with visa offices outside North America, for issuing documents to specific clients
• The Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) will issue the following documents to clients:
• Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) documents and,
• Permanent resident visa counterfoils (if required)
• These documents, issued by the Case Processing Centre – Ottawa (CPC-O) will be identical to the documents issued by visa offices
• The Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) documents will:
• Include a photograph of the client and,
• Be printed on plain paper (in accordance with the guidelines specified in OB 379)
• Clients would receive two copies of the Confirmation of Permanent Residence (CoPR) documents, in accordance with the latest instructions

Related Information

Readers can obtain more information on the subject, which is more relevant, by going through the following OBs:

• OB 402 and,
• OB 358

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)