When Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) announced on April 14th, 2021 that it was opening 6 new streams under the temporary resident to permanent resident pathway, anyone who has worked with the current Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) application portal was expecting a disaster, with 90,000 hopeful applicants trying to access a portal known to crash under excessive demand.
So most were pleasantly surprised on May 6th, 2021 when IRCC unveiled a new portal dedicated only to new applications submitted under the temporary resident to permanent resident streams. In consultation with Amazon to develop a robust platform to promote a seamless user experience, the platform over delivered, allowing most to submit an application with little to no issues.
The New Application Portal a Worthy Investment
It is evident that IRCC invested both time and money in this new platform, and confirms the plans outlined in Budget 2021 in which over $430 millions has been dedicated over the next five years to develop and maintain a secure, stable, flexible, and user-friendly digital platform that promotes application processing.
The platform unveiled on May 6th, 2021 certainly ticks these boxes.
Areas of Improvement
The only frustrating part of the application process for those who submitted their application the day the program opened was the now outdated payment portal, with many experiencing frustrating server time outs whilst eagerly waiting to submit their application. Perhaps this is the next project on the list to tackle.
It is also unclear exactly how the remaining money will be spent and divided amongst the various application portals but we hope to see the IRCC secure account follow in the footsteps of this new portal.
Lauren Boorman