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

Special.Events@cic.gc.ca

- 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.

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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