A day into the launch of Canada’s temporary residence to permanent residence (TR to PR) program, the applications sky-rocketed, completing the intake capacity of 40,000 foreign student graduates.
The immigration department received more applications than they intended to receive.
IRCC got 7,307 more applications to the International Graduate Stream of the TR to PR pathways, revealed by an internal memo.
Understand the TR to PR pathways
TR to PR pathways is six specialized immigration programs that are specifically constructed for essential workers, French speakers, and international student graduates residing in Canada to apply for Canadian immigration.
These programs were launched on May 6 and will terminate on November 5 or until they reach the maximum intake capacity.
The applications for the international graduate program received more than desired applications due to a technical glitch in the electronic system. A live counter was used during the submission of the applications on the government website. The applications that were submitted simultaneously, were only counted as a single submission.
IRCC has also reserved seats for people with disabilities.
Subsequently, after the glitch, the immigration department requested the Immigration minister, Minister Marco Mendicino to approve a general public policy that would process the applications that have been submitted. In other cases, the policy suggests that the extra applicants will be refunded with the application fees. This way would be counted as unfair since IRCC has sent confirmation that the applications have been received within the intake capacity limit.
Immigration Minister Mendicino approved the policy on June 28 that allows 7,307 applications to be processed. No stream will be reopened, and the department will not penalize applicants for an error that happened with their system.
IRCC has not yet planned anything about how to process the bonus volume, they may need help from other lines of business.
TR to PR will not have extra applications. The live counter is now under vigilance, the applications that are being submitted simultaneously are being manually synced according to the database.
The public gives a mixed opinion to the government. For one, some may be positive that they will get a chance at a permanent residency, while for some this is unethical or anything past the scope of the policy’s original intention.
The new pathways conquered a lot of media attention. The rollout was smooth for the given scope of the project while at the same time, some people were concerned about the electronic payment system and the speed at which the intake cap was reached.
Moreover, a few international graduates were having trouble editing their application after applying, they were concerned that they made an error or they may be disqualified. An IRCC spokesperson assured that the immigration officers will get in touch with the applicants soon to request missing or incomplete documents from TR to PR applicants.
Meanwhile, IRCC stated in an email that submitted applications will be assessed based on the information provided. “If documents or information are missing or incomplete, the processing officer, at the time of review, will contact clients directly to request them. We will not, however, accept unsolicited documentation. Applicants are requested to not send documentation to the department unless specifically requested by a processing officer.”
