ARCHIVED – Operational Bulletin 534 – June 28, 2013

Guidelines for Individuals Affected by the June 2013 Flooding in Alberta

Summary

This Operational Bulletin provides operational instructions to Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) on the public policy and procedures for temporary and permanent residents affected by the massive flooding in June 2013 in Alberta.

Background

As a result of the massive flooding in Alberta, passports and other documents belonging to Temporary Residents, Permanent Residents and Citizens may have been lost and/or destroyed.

The Minister approved a public policy waiving fees and other specific requirements for the affected groups of people.

New Public Policy

The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) provides authority to respond in a flexible and humane manner to emergency situations. Pursuant to subsection 25.2 of IRPA, the Minister has approved a public policy of waiving fees for the following groups of persons as well as automatically extending or restoring the status of affected temporary residents until September 19, 2013.

It is the client’s responsibility to demonstrate that they have been affected by the flooding, a residential address in an affected community or registration with the Red Cross will be sufficient for this purpose. All requests will be considered on a case-by-case basis, as required.

Affected Temporary Residents

Applicants who are eligible under this public policy will either have their status automatically extended or restored until September 19, 2013. This public policy applies to individuals who meet the following criteria:

• Any temporary resident residing in the area affected by the flooding who had legal status on June 20, 2013; or
• A foreign national was out of status on June 20, 2013, but within the restoration period specified in section 182 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations (IRPR).

Affected Permanent Residents

A fee-exempt replacement of permanent resident cards will be issued on an expedited basis for those whose PR card was destroyed by the flooding.

Procedures

How to self-identify as affected by the flooding

Affected temporary, permanent residents and Canadian citizens have a dedicated line in the Call Centre IVR system that allows affected clients to contact an agent (with priority in the queue).

Clients call the 1-888-242-2100 number and Press “7” – the agent will then ask the standard security questions and will advise client on how to proceed with an application.

A dedicated email address of Prairies-Situation@cic.gc.ca has also been activated. Affected temporary and permanent residents and Canadian citizens may email their Unique Client Identifier (UCI) number, full name, date of birth, and place and country of birth with ‘URGENT: FLOOD’ in subject line.  An agent will then follow up with the client.

How to apply for expedited issuance or replacement of immigration documents

New Work Permit for new employer (only)

BY PAPER

• Clients who submit paper applications must indicate “URGENT: FLOODS” on the outside of the final envelope. (e.g. if sending by courier write the statement on the courier envelope) 

ONLINE

• Clients who submit electronic applications must immediately send a follow-up email to the Prairies-Situation@cic.gc.ca inbox with their Unique Client Identifier (UCI) , Application ID number and biographical information to allow CIC to flag the application for urgent processing. These messages must indicate ‘URGENT: FLOOD’ in the subject heading. 
• These new work permits will be issued on a priority basis and no fee is required.

Lost/Destroyed Documents:

• Affected temporary residents can complete the Verification of Status or Replacement of an Immigration Document and send it to the Query Response Centre with ‘URGENT: FLOOD’ written on the cover of the final envelope.
• Affected permanent residents can complete an Application for a Permanent Resident Card and send it to the Case Processing Centre, Sydney, Nova Scotia with ‘URGENT: FLOOD’ written on the cover of the final envelope.
• Replacement/ reprinted immigration documents will be issued on a priority basis and no fee is required.
• Affected Canadian citizens can complete the Application for a Citizenship Certificate and send it to the Case Processing Centre, Sydney, Nova Scotia with ‘URGENT: FLOOD’ written on the cover of the final envelope.  Applications will be processed on a priority basis and fees will be required for replacement certificates. 

Processing of flood-affected applications

Financial and Special Program Coding

Fee-exemption: The cost recovery fee exemption code 999 should be applied to all fee-exempt applications processed.

Special tracking: The Special Program Code UE2 must be used to track to all flood-affected applications processed. Use of this code is mandatory.

Lost/ Destroyed Documents:  applications for replacement documents are to be processed on a priority basis.  Replacement documents should match previously issued documents in regards to validity, conditions, etc.

Note: If a client requires an extension beyond September 19, 2013, they are required to submit a regular extension application with fees.

New Employer work permits

Work Permit applications from affected temporary foreign workers (TFWs) in the areas of Exshaw, Canmore, High River, Siksika Nation, Stoney Nation and Tsuu T’ina Nation whose new employer has received a short duration Labour Market Opinion (LMO) will be processed on a priority basis.

Work Permit will have the Special Program Code and cost recovery fee is waived.  In addition, the requirement for proof of payment and proof of valid passport are waived.