Operational Bulletin 566-A – March 4, 2014

This section contains policy, procedures and guidance used by IRCC staff. It is posted on the department’s website as a courtesy to stakeholders.

Federal Immigrant Investor Program and Entrepreneur Program Applications: Budget 2014 – Communication with Stakeholders

Summary

A number of immigration-related announcements were made in the 2014 budget tabled on February 11, 2014. This Operational Bulletin (OB) provides approved standard texts that should be used when communicating with applicants, immigration representatives and investment facilitators regarding applications in the federal Immigrant Investor Program (IIP) and the federal Entrepreneur Program (EN).

Background

OB 566 of February 12, 2014, which informed processing offices about the Budget announcement proposing the termination of the IIP and the EN, stated that standard communications lines to respond to clients and stakeholders would be made available, as would approved standard texts to advise clients of the proposed changes and the impact these changes could have on their applications.

Processing instructions

As instructed in OB 566, processing of federal IIP and EN applications should proceed according to routine office procedures in accordance with current work plans based on previously assigned targets. Visa offices should continue to make selection decisions and to process applications based on the work plan of each office and as needed to meet the 2014 targets within the previously established timeframes.

In light of the Budget announcement, approved standard texts have been developed to facilitate communication with applicants, immigration representative and investment facilitators.

The first text should be incorporated immediately into all correspondence with applicants in the federal IIP and EN. The other texts can be used when responding to enquiries from applicants, immigration representatives and investment facilitators.

We understand that the standard texts do not answer all of the questions applicants are likely to have. Until the 2014 budget proposal becomes law, it will not be possible to confirm which applications are affected. Applicants, immigration representatives and investment facilitators should be referred to Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC) website, where updated information will be posted as it becomes available. Applicants should also be encouraged to continue to follow any instructions provided by visa officers with respect to their applications.

Further information on next steps and instructions with respect to federal IIP and EN applications affected by the Budget announcement will be published as soon as they become available.

Enquiries from the media should continue to be referred to CIC Media Relations.

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