Canada: Immigration services to reopen gradually after pandemic shut down many programs

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Immigration officials are beginning gradually to resume in person services after the pandemic forced many programs to shut down, frustrating immigrants whose lives were put on hold. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) shut down immigration tests and citizenship ceremonies in March to protect the health and safety of staff and clients. The department started offering some virtual services over the last few months. Starting this week, it is opening in-person services by appointment only.

The IRCC's website said, this testing phase will allow us to assess our protocols and procedures and ensure the safety of our staff and our clients. The lessons learned will help us plan for reopening services more widely in the future.

Limited services being offered at specific locations include citizenship, services related to permanent residence, asylum claims and biometrics. Clients must wait for government officials to schedule appointments before visiting an IRCC site and should not call IRCC to try to arrange a date themselves, the department says.