Section 87.3 — Immigration and Refugee Protection Act: Application

This section applies to applications for visas or other documents made under subsections 11(1) and (1.01), other than those made by persons referred to in subsection 99(2), to sponsorship applications made under subsection 13(1), to applications for permanent resident status under subsection 21(1) or temporary resident status under subsection 22(1) made by foreign nationals in Canada, to applications for work or study permits and to requests under subsection 25(1) made by foreign nationals outside Canada. For greater certainty, this section applies to a sponsorship application made under subsection 13(1) to sponsor a person referred to in subsection 99(2). The processing of applications and requests is to be conducted in a manner that, in the opinion of the Minister, will best support the attainment of the immigration goals established by the Government of Canada. For the purposes of subsection (2), the Minister may give instructions with respect to the processing of applications and requests, including instructions establishing categories of applications or requests to which the instructions apply; establishing conditions, by category or otherwise, that must be met before or during the processing of an application or request; establishing an order, by category or otherwise, for the processing of applications or requests; setting the number of applications or requests, by category or otherwise, to be processed in any year; and providing for the disposition of applications and requests, including those made subsequent to the first application or request. An instruction may, if it so provides, apply in respect of pending applications or requests that are made before the day on which the instruction takes effect. For greater certainty, an instruction given under paragraph (3)(c) may provide that the number of applications or requests, by category or otherwise, to be processed in any year be set at zero. Officers and persons authorized to exercise the powers of the Minister under section 25 shall comply with any instructions before processing an application or request or when processing one. If an application or request is not processed, it may be retained, returned or otherwise disposed of in accordance with the instructions of the Minister. The fact that an application or request is retained, returned or otherwise disposed of does not constitute a decision not to issue the visa or other document, or grant the status or exemption, in relation to which the application or request is made. Instructions shall be published in the Canada Gazette . Nothing in this section in any way limits the power of the Minister to otherwise determine the most efficient manner in which to administer this Act.