CIC, Operational Bulletin, Permanent Residence

Mailing Permanent Resident Cards to Representatives

Mailing Permanent Resident Cards to Representatives

Modified: June 30, 2014

Summary

This Operational Bulletin (OB) summarizes and clarifies the procedures for Permanent Resident Card (PR Card) distribution by the Case Processing Centre in Sydney (CPC-S), Nova Scotia, when an applicant has indicated the address of a third party representative as their residential and/or mailing address.

Background

Since May 2012, as part of a pilot project, the majority of Phase II (replacement or renewal) PR Cards are mailed directly to permanent residents (PRs). Previously, all Phase II PRs were required to appear in person at Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) offices in Canada to collect their PR Cards. By mailing PR Cards to immigration representatives, it opened the possibility that these cards may then be forwarded to the PR overseas, circumventing the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act and its Regulations.

For PR Cards issued to new immigrants upon entry to Canada (Phase I cards), it may be appropriate for clients to provide the address of a third party (friend, relative, service provider or a paid representative) in Canada in order to facilitate processing and issuance of the card following their arrival in Canada, as new immigrants may not have a permanent address.

Instructions

Phase I cards

CPC-S will continue to mail the PR Cards to the Canadian address provided by the new PR upon arrival, according to the process currently in place. However, where there are clear indications that the initial entry into Canada was only of short duration and the client provided a third party address for the purpose of forwarding their initial PR Card outside of Canada, these cases should be flagged with a note indicating that the client is outside Canada, and if relevant, the fact that the photo retake was done outside Canada and submitted to produce the first PR Card along with the date this information is recorded.

Phase II cards

When applications indicate the mailing address of a third party, with a Use of Representative (IMM 5476) form on file, CPC-S will update the Global Case Management System (GCMS) with only the residential address of the applicant. The mailing address of the third party will be recorded in GCMS as the third party address “Authorized to disclose”. The PR Card will be mailed to the client at the residential address provided.

If the application received indicates both the residential and mailing address of a third party with an IMM 5476 form on file, a letter (Appendix A) will be addressed to the applicant and sent to the mailing address of the third party provided on the application. The letter will inform the applicant that CIC does not mail PR Cards to third party addresses, and that the PR Card will be mailed to the residential address once it has been provided by the client. As PR Cards are not mailed to P.O. boxes, clients who indicate a P.O. box instead of a mailing address will have to provide justification as to the reason they do not have an acceptable mailing address.

When applications indicate the address of a known or suspected third party and there is no IMM 5476 form on file, the file will be handled in accordance with CIC’s standard procedures on unauthorized and concealed representatives, as set out in IP 9, section 7.2.

The same would apply in situations where applications appear to have the applicant’s home and mailing address but the return address on the envelope is that of an immigration consulting company or lawyer’s office.

The website, application form and guide have been updated to inform clients that PR Cards will only be mailed in Canada and will not be mailed to a third party’s address.

Appendix A

CASE PROCESSING CENTRE
P.O. BOX 9000
SYDNEY, NS B1P 6K7

[Date]

“[Client Name]”
“[Client ID]”
[Street Address]
[City, Prov. Postal Code]

Your application indicates your representative’s address as your home and mailing address. As per subparagraph 56(2)(a)(iv) of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations, we require that applicants provide their personal mailing address, as Permanent Resident Cards are not mailed to third parties.

Please provide your mailing address and the information requested by “dd, mm, yyyy” to enable us to issue your Permanent Resident Card. If the information requested is not provided by the date indicated, we will consider your application as abandoned and you will have to submit a new application, including processing fees.

Once you have provided this information we will continue with the processing of your application.

Should you require further assistance, please visit our website.

Officer
Case Processing Centre
Sydney, Nova Scotia

News

New Caps Affecting FSWP, FSTP, and CEC Skill Workers Applicants

New caps for Federal Skilled Worker and Federal Skilled Trades Programs, and Canadian Experience Class

On April 26, 2014, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) will issue a new set of Ministerial Instructions to immigration officers regarding the processing of applications to the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP), Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP), and the Canadian Experience Class (CEC).

Effective May 1, 2014, the following measures will be in place:

Federal Skilled Worker Program:

Federal Skilled Workers are chosen as permanent residents based on their ability to prosper in Canada. They are assessed according to a selection grid made up of six factors, including language, education, work experience, etc.

  • Overall cap of 25,000 applications in eligible occupations stream
  • Cap of 500 applications for PhD eligibility stream
  • No limit on applicants who have a valid job offer from a Canadian employer
  • Sub-caps of 1,000 applications for each of the 50 eligible occupations below (their 2011 Canadian National Occupational Classification (NOC) code is included in brackets):
  1. Senior managers – financial, communications and other business services (0013)
  2. Senior managers – trade, broadcasting and other services, n.e.c. (0015)
  3. Financial managers (0111)
  4. Human resources managers (0112)
  5. Purchasing managers (0113)
  6. Insurance, real estate and financial brokerage managers (0121)
  7. Managers in health care (0311)
  8. Construction managers (0711)
  9. Home building and renovation managers (0712)
  10. Managers in natural resources production and fishing (0811)
  11. Manufacturing managers (0911)
  12. Financial auditors and accountants (1111)
  13. Financial and investment analysts (1112)
  14. Securities agents, investment dealers and brokers (1113)
  15. Other financial officers (1114)
  16. Professional occupations in advertising, marketing and public relations (1123)
  17. Supervisors, finance and insurance office workers (1212)
  18. Property administrators (1224)
  19. Geoscientists and oceanographers (2113)
  20. Civil engineers (2131)
  21. Mechanical engineers (2132)
  22. Electrical and electronics engineers (2133)
  23. Petroleum engineers (2145)
  24. Information systems analysts and consultants (2171)
  25. Database analysts and data administrators (2172)
  26. Software engineers and designers (2173)
  27. Computer programmers and interactive media developers (2174)
  28. Mechanical engineering technologists and technicians (2232)
  29. Construction estimators (2234)
  30. Electrical and electronics engineering technologists and technicians (2241)
  31. Industrial instrument technicians and mechanics (2243)
  32. Inspectors in public and environmental health and occupational health and safety (2263)
  33. Computer network technicians (2281)
  34. Nursing co-ordinators and supervisors (3011)
  35. Registered nurses and registered psychiatric nurses (3012)
  36. Specialist physicians (3111)
  37. General practitioners and family physicians (3112)
  38. Dietitians and nutritionists (3132)
  39. Audiologists and speech-language pathologists (3141)
  40. Physiotherapists (3142)
  41. Occupational therapists (3143)
  42. Respiratory therapists, clinical perfusionists and cardiopulmonary technologists (3214)
  43. Medical radiation technologists (3215)
  44. Medical sonographers (3216)
  45. Licensed practical nurses (3233)
  46. Paramedical occupations (3234)
  47. University professors and lecturers (4011)
  48. Psychologists (4151)
  49. Early childhood educators and assistants (4214)
  50. Translators, terminologists and interpreters (5125)

Federal Skilled Trades Program:

This program is for people who want to become permanent residents based on being qualified in a skilled trade.

  • Overall cap of 5,000 applications
  • All 90 skilled trades from the following NOC Skill Level B groups are eligible (with sub-caps of 100 applications each):
    • Major Group 72: Industrial, electrical and construction trades;
    • Major Group 73: Maintenance and equipment operation trades;
    • Major Group 82: Supervisors and technical occupations in national resources, agriculture and related production;
    • Major Group 92: Processing, manufacturing and utilities supervisors and central control operators;
    • Minor Group 632: chefs and cooks;
    • Minor Group 633: butchers and bakers.

Canadian Experience Class:

This program is for people who already have skilled work experience in Canada and want to immigrate permanently.

  • Overall cap of 8,000 applications
  • Sub-caps of 200 applications each for any NOC B occupation
  • Six ineligible occupations: administrative officers (NOC code 1221), administrative assistants (1241), accounting technicians/bookkeepers (1311), cooks (6322), food service supervisors (6311), and retail sales supervisors (6211).

The new Ministerial Instructions will also re-confirm the existing pause of applications to the federal Immigrant Investor and Entrepreneur Programs.

News, Study in Canada

Changes to the Canadian International Student Program

In-Canada Study Permit

As of June 1, 2014, certain foreign nationals who are in Canada on a Visitor Visa may apply for a study permit from within Canada to attend a designated institution. These include:

  • Minor children studying at the primary or secondary level;
  • Exchange or visiting students; or
  • Short-term students who have completed a course or program of study that is a condition for acceptance at a designated institution.

This change would further facilitate the transition from visitor to study permit holder for minor students once they reach the age of majority, as well as for those students who wish to transition from a short-term preparatory program to a longer-term college or university program.

 Access to Work During Studies

Study permit holders have the privilege of working either on or off-campus during their studies, including as part of co-op or internship programs, without having to obtain a Labour Market Opinion. Eligibility for these various work programs previously varied on a program by program basis. New regulations streamline eligibility by allowing work access for full-time students undertaking an academic, vocational or professional training program at a designated institution. The effects of these amendments will be to:

  1.  extend, for the first time, off-campus work to students attending private career colleges;
  2. exclude, for the first time, those students undertaking English or French as a second language (ESL/ FSL) programs or general interest or preparatory courses from the authorization to work under the co-op work permit program. Students undertaking ESL/ FSL programs or general interest or preparatory courses are therefore not eligible to work during their studies without a positive Labour Market Opinion (LMO).

Study permit holders that are full time, and enrolled in an academic, vocational or professional training program leading to a degree, diploma or certificate at a designated institution may work 20 hours per week during their studies and full time during scheduled academic breaks and are no longer required to apply for an Off-Campus Work Permit.

Transitional or “Grandfathering” Provisions

Current Students

As of June 1, 2014, students who already hold a study permit and are studying at a non-designated institution will be permitted to complete the program of study in which they were enrolled for the duration of that permit. These students may also renew their study permit for the remainder of the duration of their program or until the date that is three years after June 1, 2014.
Students who already hold a co-op work permit and are studying at a non-designated institution or enrolled in a program that does not qualify as an academic, vocational or professional training program will be permitted to continue to work in order to complete their program. These students may also renew their co-op work permit for the purpose of completing their program or until the date that is three years after June 1, 2014.

Students whose institution loses its designation status after the issuance of their study permits will be permitted to continue their studies there, if they wish to do so, until the end of the validity period of their study permit.

Prospective Students

Foreign nationals whose application for a study permit is received prior to June 1, 2014, are not subject to the new condition to be enrolled at a designated institution. These foreign nationals may renew their study permit to complete their program, for a duration that does not exceed three years after June 1, 2014. The application for such a study permit and its renewal would be assessed under the criteria that were in effect prior to June 1, 2014.
Additionally, those foreign nationals whose application for a co-op work permit was received prior to June 1, 2014, will not be subject to the requirement to be enrolled in an academic, vocational or professional training program offered by a designated learning institution in order to receive such a work permit.
Students are expected to be actively pursuing their studies regardless of whether or not their study permit was issued before or after June 1, 2014, and enforcement action for failure to do so is available to officers.

News

Canada funds plan to employ skilled immigrants

Ottawa will partner with the country’s manufacturing sector to reach out to skilled newcomers who have been trained elsewhere, Employment Minister Jason Kenney said Saturday.

Connecting with “underemployed” immigrants who have been internationally trained and having foreign credentials as engineers, technologists and technicians is one of four joint initiatives Canada and the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters have launched in a bid to address the country’s skilled-labour shortage, said Kenney, who formerly served as the minister of immigration.

“The single biggest frustration I had … was seeing brilliant people who left behind a high standard of living in their countries of origin, coming to Canada with their education and experience, only to find themselves unemployed or underemployed and too often stuck at the bottom of the labour market … because their degrees, their education, or their experience (was) not being recognized,” said Kenney at the Seimens plant north of Toronto.

The other initiatives include just over $4 million in funding to the CME to develop “occupational standards” to guide colleges and other educators in curriculum development reflective of the sector’s needs, as well as $1 million for the creation of regional committees that will give employers and educators a place to discuss labour shortage issues.

A “skills lab” forum will also be developed to provide employers, policy makers and academics with a place “to discuss solutions to the skills (shortage) challenge in the manufacturing sector,” Kenney said.

Around half of Canada’s manufacturers face labour shortages, CME president and CEO Jason Myers said.

“The skills challenge for manufacturers is acute,” Myers said. “Over 50% of companies across this country say they can’t find the people with the skills that they require to grow their businesses … This challenge is too big for the governments to handle on their own. It’s too big for businesses to handle on their own. It requires partnership.”

Saturday’s announcement comes around a month after Kenney visited Germany to take notes on its stringent apprenticeship programs for that country’s young people. However, critics said the German approach is too strict, pushing kids and youth into certain technical professions rather than allowing them to pave their own professional paths.

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