As you may have already heard, the union representing Canadian federal government employees, including those who work at Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the Canada Border Service Agency (CBSA), went on strike Wednesday, April 19.
This means that many federal government services may be delayed or not delivered during the strike. However, it is expected that border services to travellers will be maintained.
For current international students already in Canada, you will still be able to use your online account and submit your applications if you need to apply for a study/work permit or temporary resident visa. However, you may experience added delays in the processing time.
Support during the strike
While we hope the strike ends soon, you should know that we are here to provide you with support, information and services wherever possible:
- For summer 2023 new international students, while your study permit application has likely been processed, you may experience added delays in the processing time if it is still pending. If you do not receive the study permit in time for the summer 2023 semester, please contact the International Admissions team to explore your options.
- For more comprehensive information on how the strike may impact services offered by IRCC, please refer to the IRCC website.
- Finding this news stressful? Registered students can speak to a professional counsellor through Centennial Accessible Learning and Counselling Services (CALCS) Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or via the international student support program Keep.meSAFE any time.