With news of today’s start (Wednesday, April 19, 2023) of a federal public service strike, many international students planning to study English or French in Canada this summer may be wondering if and how their study permit or Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) applications will be impacted.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is among the departments impacted by labour disruptions. While some IRCC services will remain available (for example, you can still apply online, mail applications, use your online account and access some emergency services), and Visa Application Centres (VACs) located abroad will remain open, application processing capacity will be limited and delays are expected.
Although Languages Canada is hopeful that the strike will end swiftly, we are urging IRCC to reduce the impact of the strike on our members and their international students by:
- Advising IRCC on the detrimental impact of delays in TRV and study permit processing.
- Requesting that IRCC prioritize processing of student visa applications, with an emphasis that prioritization include ALL students using TRVs or study permits.
- Requesting that IRCC issue a statement advising student visa applicants of their intent to fast track their applications.
Languages Canada will continue to monitor the situation and provide updates on developments as they occur. Follow us on social media to stay informed: Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram.
