New Immigration and Refugee Protection Act

Canada's new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) is the most extensive legislative change affecting Canada's immigration and refugee protection program in 35 years. It will make it tougher for people who pose a threat to public security or who do not respect our laws to enter Canada. At the same time, it reaffirms the importance of immigration and refugee protection to our country.

Under the new Act, which takes effect June 28, 2002, the criteria for selection will change. Some factors like having useful job experience, or the ability to speak English or French, have been given greater weight.

Some people, who applied for a visa before the new rules were proposed, are worried that they will not be admitted. They want to know what will happen to the processing fees they paid.

On February 27, 2002, Citizenship and Immigration Minister, the Honourable Denis Coderre, announced that skilled workers or business immigrants:

• who applied before December 17, 2001, and have not received a selection decision by June 28, 2002, will be evaluated under the old criteria until January 1, 2003. They will need a minimum score of 70 points, reduced from 75.
  
  

• who applied before December 17, 2001 and who have not received a selection decision before January 1, 2003, will have to meet the new selection criteria, but they will still need only 70 points.
  
  

• who have applied after December 17, 2001, and who have not received a selection decision by June 28, 2002, will be subject to the new criteria. They will also have to reach a pass mark yet to be determined. The proposed pass mark is 80 points. Before a final decision is made, the Minister will consider the recommendations of the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration.

Applicants are normally told as soon as their preliminary evaluation (paper screening) is complete. All skilled worker and business immigrant visa applicants may withdraw their applications and request a refund if their applications have not passed the preliminary evaluation (paper screening).

To get a refund, they must contact the visa office where they made their application. People who are past the paper screening stage cannot get a refund, nor can people whose applications were refused.