CIC Closes Seattle, Detroit, Seoul, and Caracas Visa Offices

Meurrens LawImmigration Trends

On January 28 and 29, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) announced the closure of two overseas offices, and further restructured its North American Processing Network.  The restructuring includes the closure of immigration sections of the Canadian consulates in Detroit and Seattle. Closure of Detroit and Seattle Visa Offices Effectively immediately, the visa offices in Seattle and Detroit are closed.  As well, the visa office at Washington D.C. will be very limited in the services which it provides. New U.S. and Canada based Temporary Resident Visa, Study Permit, and Work Permit applications can now be submitted on-line, or to the appropriate visa office as described in the table below.  In brief, study permits will be processed in Los Angeles, and work permits will be processed in New York. Individuals with applications in processing do not need to take any steps to ensure that the processing of their applications will continue, as their files are being transferred to their respective new offices. Online New York Los Angeles Washington D.C. Visitor Visas Visitor Visas Visitor Visas Services for diplomats, government officials, and their family members Work Permits Work Permits Study Permits Study Permits Temporary Resident Permits Temporary Resident Permits Rehabilitation Rehabilitation Authorizations to … Read More

Restructuring of the North American Processing Network (Continued)

Meurrens LawInadmissibility, Work Permits

Restructuring of North American Processing Network (Continued) In a previous post, I wrote about how on May 29, 2012, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) restructured its North American Processing Network.  The restructuring included the closure of immigration section of the Canadian consualte in Buffalo, as well as the realigninment of Work Permit and Study Permit functions of the Canadian consulates in New York, Los Angeles, Washington D.C., Detroit, and Seattle.  For information on those changes, I encourage you to read that post. On June 11, 2012, CIC released a further Operational Bulletin detailing additional changes to which consulates which process Temporary Resident Permit applications, Rehab applications, and Authorization to Return to Canada applications. . Re-Configuring the U.S. Network (TRPs, Rehab, and ARC) Effectively June 18, the Seattle, Detroit, and New York consulates will no longer be processing new TRP, Rehab, and ARC applications.  Only the Los Angeles and Washington DC consulates will process new applications in these categories.  Furthermore, applicants residing in the United States will not be able to choose which consulate to submit their application to.  Applicants living in the United States east of the Mississippi River (including in Puerto Rico, Bermuda, and St. Pierre et Miqueldon) must apply to … Read More