On March 27, 2009, Citizenship and Immigration Canada (“CIC”) began testing its Application Form for a Temporary Resident Visa [IMM 5257B Pilot Project] and its accompanying Schedule 1 at select overseas missions. However, this application form could not be saved electronically and the information on the form could not be scanned into existing CIC systems.

As CIC’s Global Case Management System (“GCMS”) is deploying this year to extend case processing capabilities overseas, a new Temporary Resident Visa (“TRV”) application form is being implemented. Bar codes have been created on the TRV application form to facilitate data entry into GCMS.

This new TRV application form is the first electronic application form for overseas applicants which can now be saved electronically by the applicant. Once the new TRV application form has been successfully implemented, the student and worker application forms will be next, followed by other lines of business.

The implementation of this new TRV application form mirrors similar efforts by the U.S. Department of State, which initially implemented a bar-coded Form DS-156 for visa applications. It later implemented a web-based online Form DS-160 to replace Form DS-156, although Form DS-160 continues to suffer from bugs and is frustrating to complete.

Effective October 14, 2010, a new Application for Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside of Canada [IMM 5257] form, the corresponding Instruction Guide [IMM 5256], Family Information [IMM 5645] form, Schedule 1 [IMM 5257-Schedule 1] and Document Checklist [IMM 5484] will be made available to all clients. Each individual applicant must complete and sign the new Application for Temporary Resident Visa Made Outside of Canada [IMM 5257] form. This means that Principal Applicants can no longer complete an application form on behalf of all accompanying family members. Consequently, each applicant aged 18 and over must complete and sign their respective application form (i.e., a family of three will submit three individual forms). Those applicants under the age of 18 must have a parent or a guardian sign on their behalf. All family members must be indicated on the new Family Information [IMM 5645] application form. This form must be completed by all applicants aged 18 and over who are travelling to Canada and who require a TRV.

The new TRV application form must be accessed electronically and applicants can save a partially completed application form. To assist applicants to accurately complete the new IMM 5257, they will be prompted electronically as they complete the new TRV application form.

The new TRV application form facilitates data entry into GCMS by incorporating barcodes which will be generated when applicants complete their form electronically. The barcodes will only appear on the IMM 5257 application form once all required information has been correctly completed and the validate button (located at the top and bottom of the application form) has been pressed. The barcodes, which will print on the last page of the form, will contain all of the data entered by the applicant, and may be scanned for direct upload into GCMS.

On September 30, 2010, regulatory amendments came into force that require applicants to successfully demonstrate a broad knowledge of Canada and of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship. These updated regulations allow Citizenship and Immigration Canada the flexibility to test applicants on a greater variety of topics included in Discover Canada and provides flexibility in the development of future questions.

With the coming into force of these new regulations, applicants are considered to have an adequate knowledge of Canada if they demonstrate that they know the national symbols of Canada and have a general understanding of the following subjects:

1. The chief characteristics of Canadian political and military history;
2. The chief characteristics of Canadian social and cultural history;
3. The chief characteristics of Canadian physical and political geography;
4. The chief characteristics of the Canadian system of government as a constitutional monarchy; and
5. Characteristics of Canada, other than those referred to above.

Also, applicants are considered to have an adequate knowledge of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship if they demonstrate they have a general understanding of the following subjects:

1. Participation in the Canadian democratic process;
2. Participation in Canadian society, including volunteerism, respect for the environment and the protection of Canada’s natural, cultural and architectural heritage;
3. Respect for the rights, freedoms and obligations set out in the laws governing Canada; and
4. Any of the responsibilities and privileges of citizenship other than those referred to above.

These regulatory changes promote an enhanced understanding of Canadian identity and values and of the responsibilities of citizenship.

Previously, the citizenship test contained certain mandatory questions which needed to be answered correctly by applicants in order to pass the test. The three mandatory questions tested applicants on the following:

1. The right to vote;
2. The right to run for elected office; and
3. Voting procedures related to elections.

However, because Section 15 of the Citizenship Regulations now specifies that applicants are required to have sufficient knowledge of a broad range of topics, the inclusion of mandatory questions in the citizenship test will no longer be in effect as of October 14, 2010.

On September 1, 2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada announced revisions to its list of designated countries/territories for the purposes of Section 30 of the Immigration and Refugee Protection Regulations.

According to R30, individuals who are seeking entry into Canada for a period of greater than six months and who have resided or sojourned, at any time during the one year period immediately preceding the date of seeking entry, for six consecutive months in a designated country/territory, are required to undergo an immigration medical examination. In addition, regardless of the intended period of stay in Canada, a foreign national who is seeking to work in Canada in an occupation in which the protection of public health is essential will require a medical examination if they are on the list of designated countries.

A designated country/territory is defined as a country/territory with a three year average estimated sputum smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) incidence rate equal to or greater than 15/100,000. To be considered for removal from the designated country/territory list, a country or territory must remain below the average threshold for three consecutive years.

The following countries/territories were added to the designated country/territory list: (1) Greenland, (2) Nauru, (3) Tuvalu, and (4) and Wallis Futuna. In addition, the following countries/territories were removed from the designated country/territory list: (1) Ascencion, (2) Austral Islands, (3) Azores, (4) Bahamas, (5) Balearic Islands, (6) Bora Bora, (7) Bulgaria, (8) Canary Islands, (9) Chagos Archipelago, (10) Christmas Island, (11) Croatia, (12) Easter Island, (13) Estonia, (14) French Guiana, (15) Gambier Islands, (16) Huahine, (17) Iran, (18) Johnston Atoll, (19) Kerguelen Islands, (20) Loyalty Islands, (21) Macedonia, (22) Madeira, (23) Makatea, (24) Marquesas Islands, (25) Maupiti, (26) Mauritius, (27) Mexico, (28) Midway Island, (29) Montenegro, (30) New Caledonia, (31) Northern Sinai, (32) Oman, (33) Raiatea, (34) Reunion, (35) Saudi Arabia, (36) Serbia, (37) Singapore, (38) Society Archipelago, (39) St. Helena, (40) Syrian Arab Republic, (41) Tahaa, (42) Tahiti, (43) Tristan Da Cunha, (44) Tuamotu Archipelago, (45) Wake Island, and (46) West Bank and Gaza Strip.