IRCC Expedites Permanent Residence Process Through New Online Portal
Immigration, Refugee, and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) can now confirm permanent resident status without in-person interviews through a new online portal, for most cases.
The new system was implemented as part of the COVID-19 measure. Canada’s minister of immigration, Marco Mendicino, said the new process will greatly reduce the time it takes to land new permanent residents.
The new portal allows new permanent residents to share their personal information with IRCC. New permanent residents can also confirm that they are in Canada, declare their address, submit a recent passport photograph to be used to make their PR card, and obtain access to their proof of permanent resident status.
This new online portal is not for checking an application’s status, as it is separate from the IRCC secure account where candidates submit and update their details.
Each individual must have their own profile. Family members should each have their own username and password. Representatives cannot check the portal on behalf of a user.
IRCC sent out invitations for applicants to test the system in October 2020. The new portal was designed by Deloitte, a multinational professional services organization with headquarters in Canada.
How the new online portal works
Once your immigration application is approved, IRCC will issue you an invitation to confirm whether or not you want to use the new online portal, your email address, and all email addresses for each individual on the application.
IRCC will then open an account for you, as you can’t create one for yourself.
After they get your response to their invitation, they will issue another email with a link to the portal and guides on how to sign in with your username and temporary password.
Afterward, you can sign in and change your password, confirm you are in Canada, update your current postal address and upload your photo.
IRCC will then assess and accept the photo, you can then check the portal to see if they have accepted it.
Once they receive the photo, you should get your PR card within five working days. They will send it to the mailing address you provided in the portal.
Photos must meet IRCC standards. They may be returned if they are too dark if facial features are not clear or there is glare on the photo.
IRCC will contact you if there are any problems with the permanent residence card process.
