Operational Bulletin 622 – May 13, 2016

The Updated Functionality that Enables Applicants to Register an Application to an Online Account

Summary

Clients typically submitted their applications to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). These applications included applications submitted under most temporary residence programs. Any clients having applications in progress which they submitted to Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC), would need to register their applications in their online accounts i.e. MyCIC accounts. For this, they would need to use the new ‘Register my Application’ functionality on the website. This directive comes into force with immediate effect. In addition, it applies to all applications – regardless of the method used for submitting the application.

Once applicants register their applications to their online accounts i.e. MyCIC accounts, they would start receiving Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) correspondence in a secure online environment. This is not the case with the mails or external e-mails they currently receive from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). In addition, these applicants would also be able to view their case status updates online. Moreover, they would be able to provide any information electronically if an Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) officer specifically requests them to do so.

It is worth highlighting that authorised paid representatives would need to use the Authorised Paid Representatives Portal for registering their clients’ applications. This portal would provide the user with the ability to view case status updates and provide information electronically as well. These representatives would need to ensure that they do not use the MyCIC account.

Issue

This Operational Bulletin (OB) notifies Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) staff that some clients (or their authorised paid representatives), who submitted paper applications would now be requesting that Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) communicate with them via their online accounts rather than by mail. This Operational Bulletin (OB) thus, provides an explanation of the updated eServices functionality as well as its benefits.

Background

The long-term vision of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) involves moving towards electronic submissions for the vast majority of applications. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) plans to apply this across all major lines of business. Doing so would enable Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to streamline the intake process. This would offer clients an intuitive and responsive service experience.

However, it is worth highlighting that until the implementation of this transition takes place, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) would continue to receive both paper and electronic applications. Therefore, the authorities would need to provide clients with the ability to register their applications to their online accounts. This is regardless of the method used for submitting the application. Only then would these clients be able to derive the appropriate benefits from the functionalities available online/

The Current Functionality

Some clients might have online accounts i.e. MyCIC accounts, but might no longer be able to access them. The current functionality enables these clients to create new accounts. This is because these clients have lost their secure credentials. The ‘Link My Application’ functionality enables clients to link existing e-applications to new online accounts. It is worth highlighting that authorised paid representatives would need to use the Authorised Paid Representatives Portal. These individuals must not use the MyCIC portal for linking to the applications of their clients.

The Updated Functionality that Became Effective from April 09, 2016

The authorities have enabled clients and authorised paid representatives who have temporary residence applications in progress in select lines of business to use the enhanced functionality available for linking those applications to their online accounts. This is regardless of the method used for submitting the application. This functionality came into effect on April 09, 2016.

By linking their applications to their online accounts, the clients would be able to derive the benefits from the services available to clients who applied electronically. These benefits would typically comprise:

• The ability to receive correspondence from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) electronically

• The ability to submit the requested information electronically and,

• The ability to monitor the status of their applications online

The updated functionality would typically be available to the following temporary residence lines of business. This functionality would come into effect as of April 09. The temporary lines of business affected by this include:

• The temporary resident visa

• The visitor record

• The study permit and extension

• The work permit and extension and,

• International Experience Canada

The authorities also plan to phase in additional lines of business subsequently. These additional lines of business would include:

• The family class

• The economic permanent residence program and,

• The refugee program

Clients would need to find the types of applications that they would be able to link to their online accounts. For this, they would need to visit the ‘Check your application status’ page on the website of Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)