Closure and Transfer of Visa and Immigration Services from the Canadian Embassies in Berlin and Tokyo and Canadian High Commissions in Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur

Operational Bulletin 415 – April 30, 2012

Closure and Transfer of Visa and Immigration Services from the Canadian Embassies in Berlin and Tokyo and Canadian High Commissions in Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur

Summary

This Operational Bulletin (OB) provides information regarding the closure of the visa offices at:

• Berlin
• Dhaka
• Kuala Lumpur and,
• Tokyo

It also provides details on the transfer of visa and immigration services.

Background

The authorities have decided to close to the public the following offices:

• The Visa and Immigration Sections of the Canadian Embassies in:
• Berlin and,
• Tokyo AND,
• The Visa and Immigration Sections of the Canadian High Commissions in:
• Dhaka and,
• Kuala Lumpur

This closure becomes operational with immediate effect.

The Instructions

The instructions for the changes in procedure follow.

For Temporary Resident Processing

For New Applications 

Note:

• International Experience Canada applicants would need to continue to apply to the Canadian Embassy in their country of origin

For Temporary Resident Applications in-Process

• The visa offices in Berlin, Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo would continue to process and finalise the temporary resident applications currently in process in their offices
• The Visa Application Centres (VACs) in Bangladesh, at Dhaka, Chittagong and Sylhet, would continue to operate as before
• Applicants would need to continue using the services they required from these Visa Application Centres (VACs) in Bangladesh

For Permanent Resident Processing

For New Applications 

• Applicants would need to continue sending the following applications to the Centralised Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada (CIO-S) first:
• New Federal Skilled Worker applications
• New Quebec Skilled Worker applications
• New Provincial Nominee Program applications
• New Investor Program applications and,
• New Canadian Experience Class applications
• Similarly, applicants would need to continue submitting new Family Class applications to the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (CPC-M) first
• The Centralised Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada (CIO-S), the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (CPC-M), the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville (CPC-V) and the Case Processing Centre in Ottawa would need to forward certain files to the appropriate visa office with effect from 01 May 2012
• The Centralised Intake Office in Sydney, Nova Scotia, Canada (CIO-S), the Case Processing Centre in Mississauga, Ontario, Canada (CPC-M), the Case Processing Centre in Vegreville (CPC-V) and the Case Processing Centre in Ottawa would need to forward files to the appropriate visa office as shown in the table below:

For Applications Currently in-Process

• The officers have transferred the applications currently in process in Berlin, Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo to the appropriate visa office, which would henceforth have the responsibility of processing the applications
• Similarly, the officers have also transferred all original supporting documents accompanying applications in Berlin, Dhaka, Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo to the appropriate visa office
• Applicants, who have already sent the documents to the Canadian Embassies in Berlin and Tokyo and the Canadian High Commissions in Dhaka and Kuala Lumpur do not need to re-send these documents

External Client Enquiries

Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) would take all efforts to minimise processing delays. This is especially so during the transition period. During this time however, applicants and their representatives would need to avoid contacting the regional visa offices. The new processing missions would contact the applicants directly in due course of time.

Applicants could refer to the Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) website for further details.

Returning Permanent Residents

The authorities encourage returning permanent residents to submit applications for a Permanent Resident Travel Document (PRTD). They would need to submit these applications to the visa office responsible for the country, in which the applicants are currently staying.

Applicants would need to refer to the list of visa offices abroad. This is available on the CIC website.

The Expiry of Directives

These directives would remain in force, until the authorities provide any other notice to the contrary. The authorities would also communicate any further instructions as and when needed.

Source: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)