Due to the COVID 19 pandemic, IRCC (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada) relayed to clients that processing times are expected to increase and that paper-based Permanent Residence applications would only be processed to the extent possible. While many AIPP (Atlantic Immigration Pilot Program) applicants understand the situation at hand, the general complaint is that IRCC has not reached out to many clients since March on the state of their application. For many, there hasn't been an acknowledgement of receipt (AOR) nor any progress on their application. This is not the story with other immigration programs that are being processed online. The problem here, from our understanding, is that the paper-based applications are significantly slowed down due to a lack of personnel on-site to work on them.

Many AIPP applicants have job contracts that are time-bound and are now running out of time. Not receiving an AOR in months or any progress information at this point is frustrating and draining for many applicants. Typically, an AOR is received within a month or two but now it is taking 6-8 months. We are thereby asking that the AIPP application be moved online. This, we believe, will enable these applications to be processed on time or at the very least, within an acceptable and considerate timeframe

We are asking and imploring the IRCC to consider our request and give us some hope at this time. We are counting on you.