Thousands of immigrants and permanent residents in Canada are bracing themselves for the impact of a nationwide strike by the country’s largest federal public-service union. The strike, involving 155,000 members, is expected to cause significant disruptions, including delays and slowdowns in the processing of immigration and passport applications, in-person appointments or events, and consular citizenship and passport services inside and outside Canada.
The strike, which began today, is one of the largest in Canadian history, with the union demanding annual raises of 4.5% over the next three years to keep pace with inflation and the cost of living. However, the government has called the demands “unaffordable” and has offered a 9% raise over three years.
The strike is expected to impact almost one-third of all federal public servants, and both the government and the union have warned of potential disruptions, including slowdowns at airports and border crossings. However, the good news is that some Immigration Refugee and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) services will remain available, including online applications, mail-in applications to IRCC, emergency services, and settlement services from partner organizations.
The strike is also expected to affect those in the United States who wish to travel to Canada on passports from countries without visa-free travel, as both the New York and Los Angeles Canadian Consulate services will be impacted by the strike, causing delays for student visa applicants, investor visa applicants, temporary resident permit and rehabilitation from criminal offense applicants, and those seeking passport services at the Consulates.
It is unclear how long the strike will last, leaving applicants in limbo and forcing them to await a resolution to the strike. In the meantime, both immigrants and permanent residents are advised to keep checking the news for updates on how the strike is being managed.