Collected and archived by: CND-US (Bo Xiong) ---------- Date: Wed, 15 Nov 1995 18:12:33 -0800 Subject: IMMIGRATION NEWSLETTER From: NAFSA Network 15 November 1995 IMMIGRATION NEWSLETTER Information for the Service Partners of the Visa Office in Seattle This newsletter is sent to our service partners including immigrant serving organizations, offices of Members of Parliament, Canada Immigration Centres, Canada Employment Centres, provincial government immigration officials and International Student Advisors at Canadian universities. It is also sent to associations of immigration consultants and lawyers and it is available on the Internet on Usenet newsgroup misc.immigration.canada. Service partners who wish to receive the newsletter by e-mail should send us a request with their e-mail address. The next edition of this newsletter will be distributed in January 1996. Workload The number of immigrant applications received in the first ten months of 1995 is 12% higher than in the same period last year and 62% more than in the same period in 1993. The number of immigrant cases concluded in the first ten months of the year is 15% higher than in the same period last year and 71% more than in the same period in 1993. The number of visa officers in Seattle has not changed since 1990. One of the consequences of receiving more applications than we can process on a current basis has been the creation of a backlog of cases which require an interview but for which no interview slots are available. Appointments are now being made in February 1996 for the cases which have been longest in the interview backlog - those received in December 1994. The number of cases in the interview backlog at various times since 15 March 1995 has been as follows: 15 March 1995 - 519 cases 10 May 1995 - 713 cases 12 July 1995 - 883 cases 12 September 1995 - 821 cases 15 November 1995 - 852 cases Processing Times There are a variety of ways of expressing processing times. The table below shows three of them. "80%" is the time it took to process 80% of the cases that were visaed that month while "6 months" is the percentage of cases visaed that month that were processed in less than 6 months. In other words, in 80% of the cases in which visas were issued in October the processing time was 12 months or less and 42% of those October cases were processed in less than 6 months. The "average" processing time in October (the total number of days it took to process all of the cases visaed in October divided by the number of cases) was 233 days which is 7.7 months. 80% 6 MONTHS AVERAGE October 1991 18 months 24% +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ August 1992 15 months 14% +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ October 1993 8 months 70% November 1993 8 months 70% December 1993 7 months 69% 141 days +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ January 1994 7 months 72% February 1994 8 months 63% March 1994 9 months 56% April 1994 9 months 60% May 1994 8 months 59% June 1994 8 months 64% July 1994 9 months 48% August 1994 9 months 48% 207 days September 1994 10 months 43% 214 days October 1994 8 months 58% 173 days November 1994 8 months 51% 209 days December 1994 8 months 64% 170 days +++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ January 1995 9 months 50% 190 days February 1995 10 months 55% 190 days March 1995 10 months 61% 187 days April 1995 8 months 53% 175 days May 1995 10 months 47% 204 days June 1995 9 months 47% 195 days July 1995 11 months 25% 254 days August 1995 11 months 42% 218 days September 1995 11 months 41% 248 days October 1995 12 months 42% 233 days Since the time we began to have a backlog of applications awaiting interview there has been a widening gap between the processing times for applications in which the interview may be waived and those which require interview. The "80%" and "average" times above are no longer meaningful indicators of the future processing time for either type of application - they are too long for cases in which the interview has been waived and too short for cases in which an interview is required. Processing Times - Spousal Cases The objective of Citizenship & Immigration Canada is to process 80% of spousal applications made outside of Canada within 6 months of receipt of the "Application for Permanent Residence" and the Undertaking. At the moment, 80.3% of the spousal cases in process at this office were received less than 6 months ago. Medical Processing Time Medical examination processing times for applicants examined at the request of visa offices in the U.S. continue to be long although there are indications that they are not increasing. The most recent medical assessments received at this office from the Medical Officers in Ottawa were for persons who had been examined by Designated Medical Practitioners between 2 and 6 months ago. ABC The last 2 or 3 letters of our immigrant file numbers are the initials of the officer responsible for the case. Recently the initials "ABC" have begun to appear and as there is no officer with those initials at this office questions have been raised with us. I can confirm that ABC is the as yet unselected person who will replace the officer who will retire on 31 March 1995. Citizenship & Immigration Canada Headquarters Renewal The Deputy Minister of Citizenship & Immigration, Peter Harder, today announced the names of the persons who will report directly to him in the new organizational structure of the Department. The names and a snapshot of their responsibilities are attached. Service Standards Citizenship and Immigration Canada has published service standards for communications regarding immigrant processing abroad. Two virtually identical documents have been produced following consultations with members of the Organization of Professional Immigration Consultants and with the Immigration Bar. One of these documents is attached to this newsletter. These service standards apply to applications for permanent residence received on or after 01 November 1995 and they apply to all applicants whether they are represented by immigration consultants and lawyers or not. You will note that should applicants or their representatives make status requests within the normal processing time for the case in question we will not be responding to them. Redesign of the Immigrant Investor Program On 07 September the Minister of Citizenship & Immigration and the Minister of Industry received from an expert panel a report entitled "Refocusing the Immigrant Investor Program". This report made recommendations on how to improve the program but it should be noted that it serves only to advise on proposed government policy rather than to set it. The Ministers remain committed to introduce changes to the program that address the needs of investors, maximize the economic opportunities and jobs for Canadians and improve access to risk capital by small and medium-sized enterprises. It is anticipated that a redesigned Immigrant Investor Program will be in place on 01 July 1996. Informal Assessment of Engineering Qualifications The procedure described in the Independent Applicant Self- Assessment Guide (available at the Citizenship & Immigration Canada WWW site) for the informal assessment of engineering qualifications is no longer in use and form IMM1338 has been retired. Instead, applicants for such assessment contact the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers (CCPE) directly to obtain and submit application forms. The new assessment fee is CDN$175. The CCPE may be contacted at Suite 401, 116 Albert Street, Ottawa K1P 5G3, telephone (613)232-2474, fax (613)230- 5759 and e-mail lmacdon@fox.nstn.ns.ca. Meetings With Service Partners Since the publication of the last newsletter in September we have had the opportunity of meeting with our colleagues at the BC/Yukon regional headquarters of our department, at the Canada Immigration Centre in Vancouver and at the Canada Immigration Centre at Vancouver International Airport. We have also met with International Student Advisors at universities in the Pacific Northwest, with the Executive Director and staff of the United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society (S.U.C.C.E.S.S.) in Vancouver, with the President of the Committee for Racial Justice in Vancouver, with members of the Organization of Professional Immigration Consultants and with members of the Immigration sub-section of the Canadian Bar Association. In addition we attended the hearings in Vancouver and Seattle of the U.S. Commission on Immigration Reform chaired by Professor Barbara Jordan of the University of Texas at Austin. The Internet Information is still being added to the Citizenship & Immigration Canada WWW site. For example, the news release concerning the 1996 Immigration Plan was available at the site on the day on which it was released. -- >From the "Seattle Times" - "If someone refers to the Status: R information superhighway, he or she is completely clueless or represents the views of a large, doomed institution". The One-Step Application The visa office in Manila (among others) has begun a one- step application (also known as a perfected application) pilot project. Independent and business immigrant applications will be accepted for processing only when ALL documentation necessary to establish eligibility and admissibility has been accumulated by the applicant and is submitted with the completed application form and fees. Donald S. Cameron Consul & Immigration Program Manager Canadian Consulate General Seattle The Citizenship & Immigration Canada WWW site is at http://www.ingenia.com/cicnet/ ATTACHMENT 'A' SERVICE STANDARDS FOR COMMUNICATIONS WITH CONSULTANTS OBJECTIVES 1. The relationship between the International Services Group ("the ISG") of Citizenship and Immigration Canada and professional immigration consultants should be viewed as being that of a "processing partnership" wherein each of the parties have their respective responsibilities and obligations. 2. An overriding principle of all visa office processing is the implementation of an immigration processing system that is efficient, transparent and responsive, while preserving fairness and equity to all. 3. Members of the Organization of Professional Immigration Consultants ("the OPIC") and the ISG have consulted on a framework for certain processing standards and guidelines in order to encourage a course of conduct. 4. The partners shall participate in continuing education programs designed to educate and inform one another as to the practices, procedures and issues pertaining to immigration processing abroad. Such programs will be conducted with the OPIC across Canada, at National Headquarters and at missions abroad. SERVICE STANDARDS FOR COMMUNICATIONS REGARDING IMMIGRANT PROCESSING ABROAD A. ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF RECEIPT OF APPLICATION ("THE AOR") 5. Visa offices will respond to applications for permanent residence within four (4) weeks from the date of receipt of the application. The response will include: (a) the applicant's file number; (b) the approximate time within which the application should be completed based on the category of application; and (c) any other information that may be provided concerning the need for an interview, medical examination instructions and any other required documentation. 6. The AOR will be provided to the applicant, or may be conveyed to the applicant care of his professional immigration consultant if the applicant has so indicated this in writing in boxes 7 and 30 of the IMM8 or in separate correspondence. B. ROUTINE REPRESENTATIONS 7. In order to avoid the unproductive expenditure of visa office resources, professional immigration consultants will refrain from making representations requiring a response concerning the status of their clients' files except in the following circumstances: (a) the applicant or the professional immigration consultant, as the case may be, has not received an AOR from the relevant visa office within eight (8) weeks from the date that the completed application is forwarded to the visa office; (b) processing is not completed within the time frame indicated by the visa office on the AOR; or (c) where there is a material change of circumstances or a particular fact situation which would warrant premature communication with a visa officer. A material change is one whereby the method or timing of processing is affected. 8. Visa officers will respond to non-routine representations described in subparagraph (c) above within thirty (30) days from the date of receipt by such mode of communication as may be appropriate. 9. Visa offices will respond to routine representations made outside published processing times within thirty (30) days from the date of receipt by such mode of communication as may be appropriate. 10. Representations made by FAX should not be duplicated by use of alternative mode of communication. 11. Professional immigration consultants will refrain from initiating submissions to the Head of Mission, other government officials, Members of Parliament etc until such time as the procedures provided in this set of guidelines have been exhausted. 12. Provided that the applicant has given his consent in writing, the visa office may address correspondence to the applicant care of the professional immigration consultant involved, or communicate directly with the professional immigration consultant, as the case may be. ADHERENCE MECHANISMS 13. In circumstances where processing times are not being adhered to by the visa officer(s), the professional immigration consultant may communicate directly with the relevant Program Manager. 14. The Program Manager will respond to any such complaint within ten (10) working days of receipt of the complaint, by FAX or other appropriate means, to the professional immigration consultant, addressing the inquiry. The response will, as appropriate, include the reasons for the lack of adherence to the processing times. 15. In the event that there has been a series of cases where the processing times have not been adhered to and the Program Manager has not replied as set out in paragraph 15, the professional immigration consultant may communicate directly with the Director of the relevant geographic desk at ISG Headquarters. The Director or her delegate will respond to such communication within ten (10) working days of its receipt. 16. In the event that the Director of the relevant geographic desk does not respond to the inquiry within the timeframe set out in paragraph 16, the professional immigration consultant may communicate directly with the Director General, International Operations at ISG Headquarters. 17. Routine representations made within published processing times will not be answered by the visa office. If a professional immigration consultant continually makes such routine representations within published processing times, the Program Manager will first communicate this fact to the professional immigration consultant concerned, advising the professional immigration consultant of these guidelines. 18. In the event that the professional immigration consultant concerned, despite the communication referred to in paragraph 17, continues to make routine representations within published processing times on a specific case, the Program Manager will cease all direct communications with that professional immigration consultant and will instead communicate directly with that applicant. In so doing, the Program Manager will ensure that the rights of that applicant are not adversely affected by this direct communication. 19. In the event that the professional immigration consultant concerned, despite this actions, continues to make representations in an inappropriate manner, the Program Manager may refer the issue to the Director of the appropriate geographic division at ISG Headquarters for further investigation and response. MONITORING MECHANISM 20. The Organization of Professional Immigration Consultants shall commit to advising its membership of the existence and terms of these guidelines. 21. These guidelines shall be examined from time to time for the purpose of improving client service procedures as may be necessary. ATTACHMENT 'B' NEW ORGANIZATIONAL STRUCTURE Effective today, CIC's new HQ organizational structure will consist of three main groups which will deliver CIC's core business. The three groups are: Service Line Management, Program Delivery, and Departmental Support. ASSISTANT DEPUTY MINISTERS There will be two ADMs. Their role will be to articulate and sustain a sense of common values and purpose in the organization. ADM: Operations - Raphakl Girard This role involves ensuring that corporate linkages and processes are well designed and maintained, and that various branches work harmoniously toward a common purpose. ADM: Partnerships - Georges Tsao The role includes taking advantage of partnerships with other Departments, central agencies, provincial governments, other national governments, international agencies and the private sector. An important part of the role is to ensure CIC remains client-oriented in all of its activities. SERVICE LINE MANAGEMENT This group is made up of four branches responsible for policy development, program design and direction for CIC's core Service Lines. Issues will be dealt with in a flexible manner using a multi-disciplinary team approach. - SELECTION Director General: Doreen Steidle The Selection branch will develop policy and design programs which ensure the selection and admission to Canada of immigrants, temporary workers, foreign students and visitors, in the interests of Canada's economic and social well being. - INTEGRATION Director General: Agnhs Jaouich The Integration branch will develop policy and programs that define and promote membership in Canadian society, by maintaining a decentralized but essential role in settlement delivery and integration, articulating the rights and responsibilities of people in Canada, and granting and enhancing the role of Canadian citizenship. - REFUGEES Director General: Jeff LeBane The Refugee branch will design programs for the resettlement of refugees from abroad, and for the refugee determination system. This group will also represent the interests of the Department and Government in refugee related matters on multilateral and international fronts. This work will be carried out through a network of national and international partnerships. - ENFORCEMENT Director General: Pierre Bourget The Enforcement branch will develop policy and design programs that through interdiction, voluntary compliance and deterrence, protect the security and health of Canadians. CIC will implement these programs through a network of national and international partnerships. PROGRAM DELIVERY - REGIONS IN CANADA Director General, Quebec and Atlantic: Richard Anderson Director General, Ontario: Mike Molloy Director General, British Columbia, Prairies and Territories: Chris Taylor The regional Directors General will be responsible for delivering the program through points of service in Canada. They will be responsible for regional input in policy development and program design processes, and in developing corporate planning and management frameworks, systems, and processes. A Director for the Atlantic (Darrell Mesheau) and a Director for the Prairies and NWT (Nick Oosterveen) will report to their respective regional Directors General. The regions will provide integrated program management and delivery on a geographic basis, and ensure that points of service have access to management and program support. - INTERNATIONAL REGION Director General: Gerry Campbell The International region will provide integrated program management and delivery through Canadian missions abroad. In addition, the International region will ensure missions have access to policy and management support and relay feedback on operational policy and procedural delivery issues to the Department. Divisions will be based on teams made up of Foreign Service and non-rotational staff from other areas of the Department. - DEPARTMENTAL DELIVERY NETWORK (DDN). Director General: Jerry Robbins This new branch is responsible for centralized points of service delivery including Case Processing Centres, Call Centres, Warrant Response Centre, Query Response Centre and Medical Services in North America. It will also handle program management services such as kit design and maintenance, service standards, procedures monitoring and controls. DEPARTMENTAL SUPPORT This group is responsible for providing direct support to the Minister, the Deputy Minister and the Department's senior executives. It will ensure that CIC's purpose, policy and program direction are not only forward-looking, but also linked to, and reflective of, the Government's agenda. - MINISTERIAL AND EXECUTIVE SERVICES (MES) Director General: Theresa McKeown The role of MES is to support the Minister and Deputy Minister in Parliamentary and Cabinet Affairs, to manage the Minister's correspondence and telephone enquiries, provide support to executive and exempt staff, and manage Access to Information, as well as Privacy and Human Rights issues. Enquiries and representations, currently handled by Public Affairs and Case Management, will be transferred to MES. - PUBLIC AFFAIRS Director General: Colin Robertson In partnership with other branches, Public Affairs will provide professional services to meet the communications needs of the Minister, Deputy Minister, the Department and its clients, particularly the Prime Minister's Office and Privy Council Office. The telephone enquiries function has been transferred to MES. - STRATEGIC POLICY, PLANNING AND RESEARCH (SPPR) Director General: Laura Chapman SPPR will work across Service Lines to bring knowledge and information to bear on decision-making by providing leadership in developing strategic policies and plans, frameworks, processes etc. Field managers and outside experts will work in this unit as teams are created around issues and projects. Research funds will be split between the branch and Service Lines, and review functions will be linked to Finance. - CASE MANAGEMENT Director General: Bill Sheppit Case Management Branch will review and manage contentious, sensitive and high profile cases, as well as provide expertise on security, terrorism, organized crime, war crimes, criminality/rehabilitation, and danger to the public reviews. Managing case litigation also falls under this branch's responsibilities. A strong linkage with Enforcement will be created. - LEGAL SERVICES Assistant Deputy Attorney General, Department of Justice: John Sims The Legal Services Unit is the principal point of contact with Justice. It has line responsibility for the Department Of Justice War Crimes Unit, and provides advice and functional direction to both departments. - INFORMATION MANAGEMENT AND TECHNOLOGIES Director General: Phil Emond This group will develop, implement and support technological solutions for the Department, and provide information management and telecommunications services. The key functions include: project and systems integration; application, architecture and data development; operations support; and implementation and roll out. - HUMAN RESOURCES Director General: Cathy Downes Human Resources will provide strategic frameworks, policy and advice, functional direction, compliance monitoring and corporate management of human resources. The branch also manages assignments and rotations, succession planning, and delivery of staffing/classification/ pay operations for NHQ. - FINANCE AND ADMINISTRATION Director General: Brent DiBartolo This branch will provide strategic frameworks, policy and advice, resource allocation, and compliance monitoring services. They will also plan, coordinate and deliver financial and administrative services and systems to NHQ. Other key functions include facilities and materiel management as well as personal and physical security.