CIC is committed to facilitating tourism to Canada through modernizing visa processing, simplifying applications, focusing on high-risk travelers, and working with the tourism industry. Key steps include making applications less onerous, increasing visa validity, expanding VAC locations, developing online tools, and facilitating low-risk travelers through programs like eTA while maintaining border security. Challenges include rising application volumes and balancing security and mobility, but CIC aims to meet demand through resources, technology, and partnerships.

1. Rendez-Vous Canada 2012
(May 13, 2012)
Visa Processing Modernization and
Tourism

2. CIC’s Engagement in the Federal Tourism Strategy
• CIC’s engagement in the strategy:
“ facilitate ease of access and movement for
travelers, while ensuring the safety and
integrity of Canada’s borders”.
2

3. CIC’s Modernization Vision for Service Delivery
• CIC is committed to providing:
– simpler, more accessible services
– continuous, innovative and adaptable operations
– robust quality assurance and anti-fraud activities
– the delivery of quality service
3

4. CIC’s Steps to Facilitate Tourism
1. Make the process simpler
2. Modernize technologies
3. Facilitate low-risk travellers and focus resources
on high-risk travellers
4

5. Step #1: Make the process simpler (part 1)
Initiative Service Outcome
Streamline the TRV - Mission-specific forms reduced - Make application
application and - Business Express Program process less onerous
express programs - Improves client
satisfaction
Streamline security - New security screening form - Questions that were
screening requests minimal information from perceived as being overly
the client intrusive have now been
- Increased validity of security removed or reworded.
screening to 4 years from 18 months
Longer Visa Validity - As of July 2011, the validity of -Reduces repeat
multiple-entry visas was extended to applications of low-risk
10 years up from 5 years, subject to travellers.
passport validity. - Makes travel to Canada
easier.
5

6. Step #1: Make the process simpler (part 2)
Initiative Service Outcome
Increase number - CIC currently has 60 VACs in - Expands the global
of Visa 41 countries. Under the new network beyond the
Application global VAC model, CIC envisions footprint of Canadian
Centres (VACs) expanding this network to 150 missions abroad.
VACs by 2014. - Provides an additional
venue for tourism
promotion.
Special Events - Provides information and - Enhances client
Unit guidance on visa and entry satisfaction.
requirements to event organizers - Supports tourism
http://www.cic.gc.ca/engli of international events taking promotion.
sh/resources/publications/
meeting.asp place in Canada
Special.Events@cic.gc.ca
6

7. Step #2: Modernize technologies
Initiative Service Outcome
Come to Canada - Interactive portal that helps -Helps applicants self-
Wizard people determine if they are serve more efficiently
eligible to live, work or study in - Over 1 million visits
Canada since Aug 2011 launch
Global Case - A single, integrated and - Network can be
Management worldwide system used internally leveraged, moving work
System (GCMS) to process applications for to resources
citizenship and immigration
services
eSuite of Services Coming in 2012-2013: - Improves processing
efficiency
- On-line submission of TRV - Improves client service
application package with on-line through client
payment empowerment,
accountability and
understanding.
7

8. Step #3: Facilitate low-risk travellers, focus resources on high-risk
travellers
Initiative Service Outcome
Joint Border Action Plan Facilitates entry: - Facilitates low-risk
- Electronic Travel Authorization travellers.
(eTA) - Assists in preventing those
- Automated decision making who are inadmissible from
travelling to Canada.
Biometrics - Planned roll-out spring 2013. - Provides greater certainty
- Fingerprint and photograph in facilitating those who have
collection of certain foreign proven travel records.
nationals.
Criminal Inadmissibility Effective March 1, 2012. - Allows for flexibility in the
- Stakeholders in the tourism - New public policy will provides a application of the
industry raised the issue of one-time TRP fee exemption if no inadmissibility provisions.
inadmissibility of foreign term of imprisonment was - Raises public awareness of
nationals due to DUI offences imposed as part of the sentence Canada’s admissibility
and there have been no requirements.
subsequent convictions or acts - Informs those issued the
committed that would render TRP of their inadmissibility
them inadmissible. without disrupting their
travels.
8

9. Challenges Ahead
• CIC is positioning itself to be able to meet the
challenges ahead:
– Growth in the number of TRV (visitor) applications received abroad
• 14.6% increase in number of TRV applications submitted
annually since 2008
• Projections as high as 30% year over year increase from key
tourist source countries (China, Brazil, India, Mexico).
– Security versus mobility
– Resources and funding
9

10. How CIC and the tourism industry can work together
• Perception is part of the reality: positive
messaging
• Continue to work together in targeting key
markets
• Continue to keep CIC informed of major
tourism concerns and issues
10

11. Canadian TRV Facts
• 82% - Canada’s approval rate of visitor visa applications in 2011.
• 80% - Committed percentage of applications to be processed
within 14-day service standard.
• 55 – Number of countries that are visa exempt.
• $75 – Cheapest fee for a single-entry TRV compared to FCC
partners.
• Canada interviews less than 5% of TRV applicants.
11

12. CIC’s Steps Forward
• Continue participation in the Federal Tourism
Strategy.
• Expand tourism promotion into the VACs.
• Further streamline and modernize the TRV process.
• Greater outreach to tourism partners.