Operational Bulletin 353 - November 7, 2011

Change in Procedures for Processing Family Class Parent and Grandparent Applications

Summary

This Operational Bulletin (OB) will provide information about the change in procedures for parent and grandparent (FC4) family class applications beginning November 5, 2011. These changes are applicable when a sponsor applies to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga (CPC-M) to sponsor a parent or grandparent.

Issue

The purpose of this OB is to provide operational instructions related to the change in procedures being implemented for FC4 applications. Effective November 5, 2011, CPC-M will be requesting from the sponsor a submission of their parents or grandparents’ application for permanent residence (IMM 0008) and all supporting documents.

Background

Prior to July 18, 2011, when sponsors applied to sponsor their parent or grandparent, they submitted only the sponsorship application (IMM 1344) to CPC-M. Once CPC officers determined that the sponsor met the eligibility requirements, or when the sponsor had indicated they would like to proceed if found ineligible, the sponsor was instructed to have the sponsored parent(s) or grandparent(s) submit an application for permanent residence (IMM 0008) to the relevant visa office within six months.

Instructions

Letters to sponsors

Starting mid-November 2011, CPC-M will begin sending letters to sponsors with the oldest sponsorship applications in the inventory, requesting the submission of the IMM 0008 for their parent(s) or grandparent(s) with all supporting documentation, as detailed in the generic document checklist (Annex A). This generic checklist will accompany the letter. The “complete” application will be submitted to CPC-M and if found complete, a file will be created in the Global Case Management System (GCMS).

In the letter to sponsors, they will be given 90 days to comply with the request. They will also be informed that should the requested documents not be received at CPC-M within the 90-day time frame, we will determine that the sponsor is no longer interested in bringing their parent(s) or grandparent(s) to Canada and their application will be closed. Should the application be closed, CPC-M will send a letter to the sponsor informing them of the decision that was rendered and outlining their options.

If the application is received within the 90-day time frame but there is missing information or documentation, the entire application will be returned to the sponsor with a letter. They will be advised that they have 30 days to return the application with the missing elements; otherwise, the application will be closed.

Following file creation, the file will be assigned to an officer to review sponsorship eligibility. If found eligible, or if the sponsor has opted to proceed if found ineligible, the file will be forwarded to the relevant visa office for processing.

In keeping with CIC’s modernization agenda to move toward increased processing of applications from within Canada and with the implementation of GCMS, a portion of these FC4 applications will be processed from within Canada at the Case Processing Centre in Ottawa (CPC-O). If at any time during processing it is determined that local knowledge is required, the file will be forwarded to the relevant visa office for processing and final decision.

Medical instructions will continue to be requested by the visa office or CPC-O.

For eligible sponsorships already referred to visa offices for which an application has been received:

For parent(s) or grandparent(s) who have already submitted their application for permanent residence to the visa office, they will be sent a letter from the mission requesting any updated or missing documents. They will be given 60 days to comply with the request or the application will be refused.

If after 60 days the visa office has not received the requested documents, the applicant will be sent a refusal letter.

If within the 60 days the visa office has received some, but not all documents, the applicant will be sent a letter giving them an additional 30 days to comply or the application will be refused. Following the additional 30 days, the applicant will be sent a refusal letter.

Other considerations:

Applications received between July 18, 2011 and November 4, 2011:

Sponsors who submitted applications between July 18, 2011 and November 4, 2011, will have already submitted the IMM 0008 for their parent(s) or grandparent(s) with their IMM 1344. Once eligibility has been reviewed, the sponsor will be instructed to submit an updated IMM 0008 and all supporting documentation to the CPC-M.

For further information on this OB, please contact your supervisors, who may in turn contact Operational Management and Coordination Branch.