Some Visa Application Centers Relocating; Refiling of Applications May be Required

The situation

Canadian Visa Application Centers (VACs) in various countries will be relocating and changing service providers, which may affect some Canadian visa applicants.

A closer look

• VACs with new locations. VACs in the following cities will be relocating:
  • Los Angeles, United States;
  • New York City, United States;
  • Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic;
  • Port-au-Prince, Haiti;
  • Georgetown, Guayana;
  • Montego Bay, Jamaica; and
  • Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago.
     
• Operations at old VAC locations. The following are important details for operations at the relocating VACs:
  • The last date that the VACs above will collect biometrics and accept applications at their current address is November 1.
  • From November 2 to 29, applicants can pick up their documents at the old VAC (when notified by the VAC). Applicants will need to refile those documents at the new location by a deadline that will be set by each VAC.
  • After November 29, the old VAC will return documents directly to applicants who had  previously submitted applications there.
  • The relocating VACs will operate with shorter business hours from November 2 to 29.

Further details on operations at old VACs are available on the Canadian VAC website.
 

• Operations at new VAC locations. The new locations will begin to collect biometrics and accept certain visa applications on November 2.

 

Impact for employers

Due to the change in VACs, employers may see delays in their foreign employees obtaining visas and having their passports returned, which could impede their ability to travel to Canada to start work.

Impact for foreign nationals

Affected foreign nationals should wait until November 2 to file any new visa applications or schedule biometrics appointments at the new locations. Foreign nationals should also be certain to collect their documents from the old VACs before their closing dates.

Background

VACs collect biometrics and accept applications for Study Permits, Temporary Resident Visas and travel documents for Permanent Residents, depending on the location.

Looking ahead

Employers and foreign nationals should be certain to check their VAC locations when submitting or collecting documents as there may be further changes in the future.

This alert is for informational purposes only. If you have any questions, please contact the global immigration professional with whom you work at Fragomen or send an email to [email protected].