The Multiverse of Canadian Immigration: Navigating the Labyrinth of Immigration Portals for Individuals and Companies
Imagine a scene straight out of a Marvel movie: a brave superhero embarks on a quest to navigate the convoluted multiverse. He is about to jump into a portal, not knowing where he will arrive and what the people will look like on the other end.
Well, this is the life of every IRCC and MIFI applicant in 2024. Instead of battling cosmic villains, they’re facing something far more bewildering — Canada’s immigration system via Service Canada, IRCC, and Arrima portals. This isn’t just any adventure; it’s a comedic odyssey filled with more twists and turns than a Doctor Strange spell.
While professing the ease of application processes and suggesting that legal representation is unnecessary, IRCC and MIFI continue “paradoxically” deploying complicated and glitch-ridden online systems that often require specialized knowledge to navigate effectively. So yes, the official stance promotes a facade of simplicity but the reality for many applicants is a labyrinth of online portals, each with its distinct set of challenges and technical quirks.
As an immigration lawyer, I find myself in a curious position. On one hand, government agencies imply they wish to render my profession obsolete, while on the other, their convoluted systems make my assistance indispensable.
Let’s jump into the multiverse portal and peak into some of the issues:
The Quebec verse:
The array of terms like CSQ, PRTQ, PSTQ, CAQ studies, CAQ worker, Provincial LMIA employer, DST, can overwhelm anyone. Despite sharing similar terms, these often require navigating different portals despite the Quebec government attempting to make of ARRIMA a one stop solution, we are far from that scenario.
For instance, to file a CAQ for studies, one must use two different portals — starting with the legacy CAQ portal and then switching to Arrima for document uploads, before returning to the original for the final decision. Another interesting example is the process to obtain a CSQ via the dying PRTQ, which involves using both Arrima and the “Mon Projet” portals, followed by a paper form submission. This is absurd if you ask me, ARRIMA is much more than capable to handle the whole process, as it is currently the case with the CSQ (PEQ) Program. We are still to see how the new PSTQ system will work in practice.
Moreover, the new MIFI questionnaires in 2024, notably for the CAQ for workers and the CSQs for the PEQ program, demand extensive and sometimes seemingly superfluous information, challenging even the most diligent applicants. Self-representing applicants are prone to errors, potentially leading to delays or rejections.
And let us not forget, if you manage to survive the Quebec verse, get ready, as you often have to start a whole new adventure and jump into:
The Federal verse:
This segment of the journey is not any better than Quebec’s. Applicants face multiple IRCC portals, each seemingly designed as a test of patience and resilience.
The main IRCC (GCKey) application portal, intended as the gateway to Canadian dreams, is notoriously buggy, often not available if you login on the wrong lunar cycle. The challenge is real and daunting. In fact, I would say that login into this portail, without encountering technical issues, is akin to mastering a session of Russian roulette, astrology, and rain dancing… at the same time.
There are also several Permanent Resident portals — one for Express Entry, and another for all the “other” programs (ex: Quebec CSQ holders, family sponsors, etc.).
Then there is the latest Job Bank LMIA Portal to prepare and file LMIA applications. Although it is much more user friendly than the above, it is not rare to get system errors and be obliged to re-login and pray that your information was saved.
Furthermore, these portals rarely work as standalone solutions and many of my clients get confused as to when to leave one portal to jump into the next phase of their process.
The Conclu verse:
The complexity of using Canada’s immigration portals highlights the disconnect between government policies and the difficult reality of bureaucrats, at different levels of government (rarely talking to each other) attempting to bring to beneficiaries technological advancements. Notably, there is an acute disparity between the goals behind these projects and their practical use and user-friendly implementation.
Do not get me wrong, I think portal based technology is the right direction to take, but there should much more coordination, consolidation and testing, before these products are released to the public.
As Canada continues to open its arms to global immigrants, the imperative is clear: these digital gateways must be streamlined and made more intuitive. The path to Canadian residency, studies or employment should be a feasible, clear journey for all aspiring newcomers, not just a heroic adventure.
