Operational Bulletin 171 – December 18, 2009

Electronic In Canada Applications
(e-Application)

Background

The e-Channel currently allows international students at over 200 participating educational institutions to apply online for an off-campus work permit, confirm their eligibility for the off-campus work permit and apply for or renew their study permit while in Canada. In addition, these applicants can apply for or extend the status of their dependent family members currently living in Canada.

New Service

As of December 19, 2009, in addition to off-campus work permits and study permits, applicants in Canada will be able to apply for work permits, visitor extensions, and post-graduate work permits electronically. This initiative eliminates the need for CIC staff to engage in data entry. It also ensures thatCICreceives complete applications as the applicant can only submit an e-Application when all the information is provided, supporting documents are scanned and attached and payment is made.

Paper applications will continue to be available; however, clients should be encouraged to complete an e-Application where possible.

The e-Channel includes four components:

e-Application: This system allows applicants to complete, sign, pay, attach scanned documents and submit their application online in a secure manner. It also includes the e-Application View for CIC employees who are processing applications at CPC-Vegreville, local CIC offices, and Call Centre staff.

Electronic Notification System (ENS):  This system allows CIC, educational institutions participating in the Off-Campus Work Permit Program (OCWPP), and provinces/territories to exchange information regarding a student’s eligibility for the OCWPP within a secure online environment. Requests for OCWPP eligibility verification, transfers of student OCWPP eligibility, and the annual compliance report process can now be completed within ENS.

MyCIC: This is an online user account on CIC’s Web site that contains the personal profile of temporary residents who are eligible to apply. Applicants can also receive information from CIC relating to their e-Applications through their MyCIC account.

Partner Portal: The Partner Portal is a secure access point that links Designated Institutional Representatives at participating OCWPP schools and provincial/territorial representatives of the OCWPP to CIC.

Applicants must first create a MyCIC profile. From this, applicants are able to start an e-Application, an Eligibility Verification Request and/or a Transfer of Verification Request. Once the application is sent electronically, applicants will then receive an immediate confirmation of receipt in their MyCIC account.

e-Applications are processed at CPC-Vegreville and at inland offices for those e-Applications that are referred. Once a decision is made, it is communicated to the applicant via mail along with the appropriate documents.

Once an applicant submits an e-Application, they will receive an immediate confirmation of receipt. This confirmation of receipt may be used to indicate that an application is in progress.