Why Not Making It Simple

Canada’s immigration system is complex by nature—but it doesn’t have to be this inefficient.

Applicants and representatives alike are growing increasingly frustrated with the delays, lack of transparency, and unnecessary complexity in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s (IRCC) current processes. While immigration is inherently administrative and involves due diligence, many bottlenecks could be resolved with one simple idea:

Let Service Canada help.

A Missed Opportunity for Collaboration

Currently, applicants must rely on their MyCIC account to monitor the status of their immigration application. Requests for additional documents or notices of refusal are issued using templates that are often unclear or confusing to applicants. Status inquiries can only be submitted through a web form, which frequently results in no reply or a delayed response—often taking up to a month.

This lack of communication leads to mounting frustration, prompting many applicants to seek assistance from their local Member of Parliament (MP). As a result, MPs’ offices are overwhelmed with immigration-related inquiries, which, according to our sources, consume more than half of their time.

Yet, across Canada, Service Canada centres already exist to provide citizens with access to federal services, including Employment Insurance, Social Insurance Numbers, and even some IRCC-related programs (such as collecting biometrics in certain cases). So why not go further?

One Counter, Many Solutions

If IRCC were to establish a dedicated counter within select Service Canada centres, it could transform the applicant experience by offering:

In-person validation of Letters of Introduction
Applicants could walk in, present their LOI, and be delivered their visa or permit.

Passport collection and return
Instead of shipping sensitive documents abroad or relying on intermediaries, Service Canada could securely manage this process locally.

Biometrics collection
While already available at some Service Canada locations, expanding this service to all centres would reduce travel times for applicants and clear the backlog faster.

Submission of additional or missing documents
Applicants often face delays because they are asked to submit extra documentation via IRCC’s glitch-prone web form. A simple in-person submission system could expedite the process.

Providing explanations and status update
While the role of Service Canada would not be to make or defend immigration decisions, it could serve as a point of contact to provide applicants with additional information or clarification—particularly by granting direct access to the officer’s notes. This would significantly reduce the number of calls and web form inquiries submitted to IRCC.

The Benefits Are Obvious

Reduced processing delays
Centralizing tasks within Service Canada centres would free up IRCC’s internal resources and avoid third-party lags.

Improved access for rural and regional applicants
With Service Canada offices scattered across the country, services would no longer be concentrated in major cities or require travel to foreign VACs.

Increased trust and transparency
When people can speak to someone in person, confusion drops and confidence in the system improves.

Cost-effective in the long run
While setup may involve training and coordination, integrating services under one roof reduces the cost of outsourcing and manual follow-ups.

It's Time to Make It Simple

Immigration is not just about policy—it’s also about logistics. Canada is known for being welcoming, but the system should reflect that hospitality in how it treats its applicants. Efficiency is not just a luxury; it's a necessity.

By embedding IRCC services within Service Canada, we’re not reinventing the wheel—we’re simply using the infrastructure we already have. It's time for IRCC to embrace a smarter, more applicant-friendly approach.

Making it simple doesn’t mean cutting corners. It means making the system work better—for everyone.