rvc 2012. citizenship and immigration canada. visa processing and modernizing
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Rendez-Vous Canada 2012 (May 13, 2012)
Visa Processing Modernization and Tourism
• CIC’s engagement in the strategy:
“ facilitate ease of access and movement for
travelers, while ensuring the safety and
integrity of Canada’s borders”.
CIC’s Engagement in the Federal Tourism Strategy
2
• CIC is committed to providing:
– simpler, more accessible services
– continuous, innovative and adaptable operations
– robust quality assurance and anti-fraud activities
– the delivery of quality service
CIC’s Modernization Vision for Service Delivery
3
1. Make the process simpler
2. Modernize technologies
3. Facilitate low-risk travellers and focus resources
on high-risk travellers
CIC’s Steps to Facilitate Tourism
4
Step #1: Make the process simpler (part 1)
Initiative Service Outcome
Streamline the TRV
application and
express programs
- Mission-specific forms reduced
- Business Express Program
- Make application
process less onerous
- Improves client
satisfaction
Streamline security
screening
- New security screening form
requests minimal information from
the client
- Increased validity of security
screening to 4 years from 18 months
- Questions that were
perceived as being overly
intrusive have now been
removed or reworded.
Longer Visa Validity - As of July 2011, the validity of
multiple-entry visas was extended to
10 years up from 5 years, subject to
passport validity.
-Reduces repeat
applications of low-risk
travellers.
- Makes travel to Canada
easier.
5
Step #1: Make the process simpler (part 2)
Initiative Service Outcome
Increase number
of Visa
Application
Centres (VACs)
- CIC currently has 60 VACs in
41 countries. Under the new
global VAC model, CIC envisions
expanding this network to 150
VACs by 2014.
- Expands the global
network beyond the
footprint of Canadian
missions abroad.
- Provides an additional
venue for tourism
promotion.
Special Events
Unit
http://www.cic.gc.ca/engli
sh/resources/publications/
meeting.asp
- Provides information and
guidance on visa and entry
requirements to event organizers
of international events taking
place in Canada
- Enhances client
satisfaction.
- Supports tourism
promotion.
6
Step #2: Modernize technologies
Initiative Service Outcome
Come to Canada
Wizard
- Interactive portal that helps
people determine if they are
eligible to live, work or study in
Canada
-Helps applicants self-
serve more efficiently
- Over 1 million visits
since Aug 2011 launch
Global Case
Management
System (GCMS)
- A single, integrated and
worldwide system used internally
to process applications for
citizenship and immigration
services
- Network can be
leveraged, moving work
to resources
eSuite of Services Coming in 2012-2013:
- On-line submission of TRV
application package with on-line
payment
- Improves processing
efficiency
- Improves client service
through client
empowerment,
accountability and
understanding.
7
Step #3: Facilitate low-risk travellers, focus resources on high-risk travellers
Initiative Service Outcome
Joint Border Action Plan Facilitates entry:
- Electronic Travel Authorization
(eTA)
- Automated decision making
- Facilitates low-risk
travellers.
- Assists in preventing those
who are inadmissible from
travelling to Canada.
Biometrics - Planned roll-out spring 2013.
- Fingerprint and photograph
collection of certain foreign
nationals.
- Provides greater certainty
in facilitating those who have
proven travel records.
Criminal Inadmissibility
- Stakeholders in the tourism
industry raised the issue of
inadmissibility of foreign
nationals due to DUI offences
Effective March 1, 2012.
- New public policy will provides a
one-time TRP fee exemption if no
term of imprisonment was
imposed as part of the sentence
and there have been no
subsequent convictions or acts
committed that would render
them inadmissible.
- Allows for flexibility in the
application of the
inadmissibility provisions.
- Raises public awareness of
Canada’s admissibility
requirements.
- Informs those issued the
TRP of their inadmissibility
without disrupting their
travels.
8
• CIC is positioning itself to be able to meet the
challenges ahead:
– Growth in the number of TRV (visitor) applications received abroad
• 14.6% increase in number of TRV applications submitted
annually since 2008
• Projections as high as 30% year over year increase from key
tourist source countries (China, Brazil, India, Mexico).
– Security versus mobility
– Resources and funding
Challenges Ahead
9
• Perception is part of the reality: positive
messaging
• Continue to work together in targeting key
markets
• Continue to keep CIC informed of major
tourism concerns and issues
How CIC and the tourism industry can work together
10
• 82% - Canada’s approval rate of visitor visa applications in 2011.
• 80% - Committed percentage of applications to be processed
within 14-day service standard.
• 55 – Number of countries that are visa exempt.
• $75 – Cheapest fee for a single-entry TRV compared to FCC
partners.
• Canada interviews less than 5% of TRV applicants.
11
Canadian TRV Facts
• Continue participation in the Federal Tourism
Strategy.
• Expand tourism promotion into the VACs.
• Further streamline and modernize the TRV process.
• Greater outreach to tourism partners.
CIC’s Steps Forward