Travel restrictions aimed at curbing the spread of the virus that causes COVID-19 have led to the closure of borders in Canada and around the world. This has caused disruptions and delays throughout the Canadian immigration system.

Between October 2020 and May 2021, the House of Commons Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration undertook a study to examine the impact of the government’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic, and its impact on the immigration system. The study focused on application backlogs and processing delays for family reunification streams and temporary resident visas. It also examined the use of a random selection system for the reunification of parents and grandparents.

Chapter 1 of this report develops the overarching challenges to family reunification and international student streams within the context of other immigration streams and of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada’s overall response to the pandemic. It highlights inequalities of technology access and processing times – inequalities that, according to witnesses, often predate the pandemic. It also addresses challenges in transparency and communication.

Chapter 2 describes the impact that COVID-19 restrictions have had on family reunification, including for spousal reunification, dependent children, international adoption and the parent and grandparent program.

Chapter 3 outlines the impact of these pandemic measures on international students, the institutions that they attend and the Canadian communities in which they live. It examines online learning, in-person learning, post-graduate work permits, limits on work by students and discrepancies in acceptance rates for francophone and African students.

Chapter 4 details the impact of the pandemic on economic migrants. It delves into the implications of expired documents. It also looks at the Quebec Skilled Workers Program, the situation of caregivers and pathways to permanent residency for lower-skilled workers.

Chapter 5 looks at the situation facing refugees and asylum seekers attempting to come to Canada while the borders are essentially closed. It also examines the newly established Guardian Angel program and developments with respect to the Safe Third Country Agreement.

Finally, Chapter 6 explores the economic immigration incentives put in place by the Government of Canada to respond to the current situation in Hong Kong.