As of 12:01 AM on April 19, 2023, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC)’s 155,000 federal government workers are on strike, while PSAC and the Government of Canada continue wage negotiations. The strike will impact 28 Canadian government departments and agencies, including Immigration, Refugees, and Citizenship (IRCC).
Services maintained
In the event of a labour disruption, these IRCC services will remain available:
- apply online
- mail applications to IRCC
- use online accounts
- access some emergency services
These services are offered by non-governmental organizations and would still be available:
- settlement services from IRCC’s partner organizations
- health care through the Interim Federal Health Program
- visa application centres outside of Canada
Services partially or fully disrupted
During the labour strike, expect delays with:
- processing applications
- in-person appointments or events, including citizenship ceremonies
- contacting IRCC via email, phone, or social media
- consular citizenship and passport services
- passport services in Canada
Erickson Insights
Erickson Immigration Group will continue to assess the situation and its impact to share updates as more news is available. If you have questions about anything we’re reporting or case-specific questions, please contact your employer or EIG attorney.