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User Fees

User Fee	Fee Type	Fee-Setting Authority	Date Last Modified	2007–2008					Planning Years
				Forecast Revenue ($000) [Note 1]	Actual Revenue ($000) [Note 2]	Full Cost ($000) [Note 3]	Performance Standard [Notes 4 and 5]	Performance Results [Notes 5 and 6]	Fiscal Year	Forecast Revenue ($000) [Note 7]	Estimated Full Cost ($000)
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF)	Regulatory	Financial Administration Act (FAA); IRPA and IRP Regulations.	May 3, 2006	$87,000	$79,511	Costs associated with this fee are related to the overall cost of the immigration regulatory scheme and the fee charged is in recognition of the tangible and intangible benefits of acquiring permanent resident status in Canada. This fee was established in association with the 1995 Federal Budget and subsequently reduced by half as a result of Budget 2006.	This fee is payable by persons who acquire permanent resident status in Canada. (See table entitled “New Permanent Residents in 2007” in Section II – Strategic Outcome 1.) Protected persons and dependent children do not pay the RPRF.	This fee is closely linked to the processing of permanent resident applications.	2008-09 2009-10 2010-11	$87,000 $87,000 $87,000	There is no cost associated with this fee as it is charged in recognition of the tangible and intangible benefits of acquiring permanent resident status in Canada. This fee was established in association with the 1995 federal budget.
Permanent Residence Application Fee, Permanent Resident Card Fee, Permanent Resident Travel Document Fee, and Sponsorship Application Fee for Family Classes	Regulatory	IRPA and IRP Regulations.	June 28, 2002	$158,000	$181,389	$295,100	Permanent Residence Applications: Overseas: Contributes to the achievement of Government immigration levels by issuing visas in line with established annual targets. Priority processing is given to the reunification of immediate family members (spouses, partners and dependant children) and to skilled workers nominated by provincial governments. [Note: Detailed past processing times by overseas mission and by immigration category appear on CIC’s website. The website of every overseas mission links to pages on the CIC website concerning processing times in order to ensure data consistency.] Domestic: Recent average processing times for Case Processing Centres are published on CIC’s website. The processing times are estimates only and are updated weekly. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp Permanent Resident Card: Domestic: Same as previous Permanent Resident Travel Document: Overseas: Processed expeditiously	Permanent Residence Applications: Overseas: Immigrant Visas – In calendar year 2007, overseas missions delivered 100% of the overall visa target. A total of 217,604 immigrant visas were issued abroad. In calendar year 2007, missions finalized 50% of immediate Family Class applications within five (5) months, 70% within seven (7) months and 80% within eight (8) months. Missions finalized 50% of Provincial Nominees within seven (7) months, 70% within 10 months and 80% within 11 months. Domestic: Sponsorship – 99% of undertakings (spouse, child) are currently processed within 42 days. Other classes – First-stage approval for in-Canada PR applications is currently between two –six (2-6) months depending on the immigrant category. Permanent Resident Card: Domestic: Cards for new PRs are processed within three –four (3-4) weeks. Initial, replacement or renewal of PR card for existing PRs is currently 72 days. Permanent Resident Travel Document: Overseas: Recent processing times indicate that 62% of applications are decided on the same day.	2008-09 2009-10 2010-11	$161,000 $161,500 $161,500	$295,100 $295,100 $295,100
Work Permit Fee (individual and performing artist groups)	Regulatory	IRPA and IRP Regulations.	January 2, 1997	$32,400	$43,685	$62,200	Overseas: Processed expeditiously. Past processing times by overseas mission and by category appear on CIC’s website. Domestic: Recent average processing times for Case Processing Centres are published on CIC’s website. The processing times are estimates only and are updated weekly. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp	Overseas: In calendar year 2007, 36% of applications were finalized within seven (7) days, 49% within 14 days and 63% within 28 days.   Domestic: Recent average processing times are 44 calendar days at CPC-Vegreville.	2008-09 2009-10 2010-11	$32,400 $32,400 $32,400	$62,200 $62,200 $62,200
Study Permit Fee	Regulatory	IRPA and IRP Regulations.	June 1, 1994	$23,000	$20,230	$29,000	Same as previous	Overseas: In calendar year 2007, 54% of applications were finalized within 14 days and 71% within 28 days. Domestic: Recent average processing times are 26 calendar days at CPC-Vegreville.	2008-09 2009-10 2010-11	$23,000 $23,000 $23,000	$29,000 $29,000 $29,000
Temporary Resident (TR) Visa Application Fee and Extension of Authorization to Remain in Canada as a Temporary Resident Fee	Regulatory	IRPA and IRP Regulations.	January 2, 1997	$113,000	$92,924	$121,200	Overseas: Temporary Resident Visas – Processed expeditiously. Past processing times by overseas mission and by category appear on CIC’s website. Domestic: Extensions—Recent average processing times for Case Processing Centres are published on CIC’s website. The processing times are estimates only and are updated weekly. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp	Overseas: In calendar year 2007, 59% of TR visa applications were finalized within two (2) days and 78% within seven (7) days.     Domestic: Extension of status—Recent average processing times are 44 calendar days at CPC-Vegreville.	2008-09 2009-10 2010-11	$113,000 $113,000 $113,000	$121,200 $121,200 $121,200
Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) Fee	Regulatory	IRPA and IRP Regulations.	January 2, 1997	$2,500	$2,690	$4,900	Overseas: Processed expeditiously Domestic: Recent average processing times for Case Processing Centres are published on CIC’s website. The processing times are estimates only and are updated weekly. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp	Temporary Resident Permit: Recent processing times are 44 calendar days at CPC-Vegreville. Overseas: TRPs are processed to overcome an inadmissibility identified during the processing of any type of visa application. There are no data on processing times for TRPs. They are processed expeditiously but the variability in the complexity of the cases and the inadmissibilities being addressed means that there can be no meaningful service standard.	2008-09 2009-10 2010-11	$2,500 $2,500 $2,500	$4,900 $4,900 $4,900
Restoration of Temporary Resident Status Fee	Regulatory	IRPA and IRP Regulations.	June 28, 2002	$1,500	$2,062	Costs of Restoration of Temporary Resident Status are not reported separately in CIC’s Cost Management Model. These costs are included in Temporary Resident Visa, Study Permit, and Work Permit Costs.	Recent average processing times are published on CIC’s website and are updated regularly. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp	Recent processing times are 44 calendar days at CPC-Vegreville.	2008-09 2009-10 2010-11	$1,500 $1,500 $1,500	Costs of Restoration of Temporary Resident Status are not reported separately in CIC’s Cost Management Model. These costs are included in Temporary Resident Visa, Study Permit, and Work Permit Costs.
Other immigration services (Rehabilitation; Authorization to return to Canada; Immigration Statistical Data; Certification and replacement of immigration documents)	Regulatory	IRPA and IRP Regulations.	Various	$2,200	$1,878	$2,700 [Note 8]	Certification and replacement of immigration document within six-eight (6–8) weeks. Overseas: Authorizations to Return to Canada (ARCs) are processed expeditiously but the extremely variable nature and complexity of ARC cases means that there can be no meaningful performance standard.	Replacement of immigration documents currently within six-eight (6–8) weeks. Overseas: See comments for performance standards.	2008‑09 2009-10 2010-11	$2,200 $2,200 $2,200	$2,700 $2,700 $2,700 [Note 8]
Right of Citizenship Fee (ROCF)	Regulatory	FAA; Citizenship Act and Citizenship Regulations.	January 2, 1997	$16,000	$16,656	This fee was established in association with the 1995 Federal Budget. It is charged in recognition of the tangible and intangible benefits of acquiring citizenship status in Canada. Costs associated with this fee are related to the overall cost of the citizenship regulatory scheme.	This fee is payable by persons obtaining citizenship status. (See Section II – Citizenship Program for details.) Persons under 18 years of age do not pay the ROCF.	This fee is linked to acquisition of citizenship status. (See Change of Citizenship Fees.)	2008-09 2009-10 2010-11	$16,000 $16,000 $16,000	This fee was established in association with the 1995 federal budget. It is charged in recognition of the tangible and intangible benefits of acquiring citizenship status in Canada. There is no cost associated with this fee.
Change of Citizenship Fees: Grant, Retention, Resumption, Renunciation of Citizenship	Regulatory	Citizenship Act and Citizenship Regulations.	January 2, 1997	$19,200	$19,964	$94,400 [Note 9]	Recent average processing times are published on CIC’s website and are updated regularly. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp	In 2006–2007, processing times for individuals applying to become a citizen (grant of citizenship) were reduced to 12–15 months from 15–18 months.	2008-09 2009-10 2010-11	$19,200 $19,200 $19,200	$94,400 $94,400 $94,400 [Note 9]
Citizenship Status Document Fees: Proof of Citizenship and Search for Record of Citizenship	Regulatory	Citizenship Act and Citizenship Regulations.	January 2, 1997	$4,800	$4,013	$26,100 [Note 9]	Recent average processing times for proof of citizenship are published on CIC’s website and are updated regularly. http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp	In 2006–2007, processing times for the issuance of a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) were reduced to five (5) months from five-seven (5–7) months.	2008-09 2009-10 2010-11	$4,800 $4,800 $4,800	$26,100 $26,100 $26,100 [Note 9]
Fees charged for the processing of access requests filed under the Access to Information Act (ATIA)	Other products and services	Access to Information Act	1992	$100	$81	$2,000 [Note 10]	Response provided within 30 days following receipt of request; the response time may be extended pursuant to section 9 of the ATIA. Notice of extension to be sent within 30 days after receipt of request. The ATIA provides fuller details: http://laws.justice.gc.ca/en/A-1/218072.html.	CIC received 11,434 requests under the ATIA in 2007–2008 and completed 11,600 requests during the same period (requests carried over from previous year). CIC provided a response within 30 days following receipt of the request in 64.4% of cases. Response time was extended in 35.6% of cases. Overall, CIC met deadlines for 93.9% of the requests over the course of the year.	2008-09 2009-10 2010-11	$100 $100 $100	$2,000 $2,000 $2,000 [Note 10]
User Fees				Total $459,700	Total $465,083	Total $637,600			Subtotal: Subtotal: Subtotal:	$462,700 $463,200 $463,200	$637,600 $637,600 $637,600

Notes:

1: Source: 2007–2008 Report on Plans and Priorities.

2: All amounts are net of current year remissions.

3: 2006–2007 full costs and estimated full costs include an estimate for other government departments (OGDs) and represent the best available cost data. Participating OGDs in CIC’s Cost Management Model for 2006–2007 are Foreign Affairs and International Trade Canada; Public Works and Government Services Canada; Social Sciences Humanities and Research Council of Canada; Immigration and Refugee Board; Royal Canadian Mounted Police; Court Administration Services; Federal Court; Federal Court of Appeal; Human Resources and Social Development Canada; Canadian Security Intelligence Service; and Canada Border Services Agency – Mission Integrity Officers only.
The following OGDs did not participate in the 2006–2007 Cost Management Process: Canada Border Services Agency and Department of Justice.

4: Processing times change regularly depending on a number of factors including application intake. Domestic processing times are expressed as average while overseas processing times are expressed as “x% in y days”.

5: All fees or modifications to fees that existed prior to the User Fees Act (UFA) coming into effect on March 31, 2004, are not subject to that legislation. Therefore:

• performance standard, if provided, may not have received parliamentary review;
• performance standard, if provided, may not respect all establishment requirements under the UFA (e.g., international comparison; independent complaint address); and
• performance result, if provided, is not legally subject to the UFA.

6: Statistics for domestic regions were current as of March 31, 2008.

7: Source: 2007–2008 Report on Plans and Priorities.

8: Full costs include only rehabilitation cases and authorization to return to Canada costs.

9: In 2006–2007, CIC expended additional funding in this business line. Estimated full costs in 2007–2008 will be lower in future years due to termination of this funding. The 2006–2007 estimated full cost is the best available information at this time.

10: Source: Annual Report 2006–2007 — Privacy Act, Access to Information Act.

Policy on Service Standards for External Fees

A. External Fee	Service Standard [Notes 1, 2 and 3]	Performance Results [Note 3]	Stakeholder Consultation
Right of Permanent Residence Fee (RPRF, formerly Right of Landing Fee)	This fee is not a processing fee, but rather a fee that is paid in order to receive the right of permanent residence. Legally, this fee is only required to be paid prior to the time of the issuance of PR visas abroad or prior to the granting of PR status in Canada. The timing of its payment is, to a certain degree, voluntary on the part of the applicant, i.e., either at any time during the processing of the PR application prior to the issuance of the PR visa at a visa office, prior to finalization of the PR visa abroad, or prior to being granted PR status in Canada. Because the client determines when the fee is paid, no specific service standards are attached to it. Instead, the service standard and processing times are attached to processing the application itself, which carries a separate fee. (See next item in table.)	This fee is closely linked to the processing of Permanent Resident applications. RPRF fees are, to a certain degree, subject to the wishes of the individual client as to when they are paid. Legally, the only requirement is that they be paid prior to the issuance of a PR visa abroad and prior to the granting of PR status in Canada.	The Government has indicated its desire to eliminate the RPRF during its mandate. The fee was reduced by half at the beginning of fiscal year 2006–2007.
Permanent Residence Application Fee, Permanent Resident Card Fee, and Permanent Resident Travel Document Fee	Immigration levels are set by Cabinet once a year. In order to comply with levels, and since demand (intake) far outweighs set levels, once levels’ targets are met, excess applications may wait in a queue for lengthy periods until “levels room” opens up the following year. Without intake controls, and without being in contempt of Parliament, it is not possible to set service standards for applications outside of the priority processing queue. Highest-priority processing is given to immediate Family Class (spouses, partners and dependant children). At overseas missions and in Canada, the service standard is to finalize the majority of cases within six (6) months. Second-priority processing is given to Provincial Nominees and Quebec Economic (skilled worker and business) Classes at overseas missions. Permanent Resident Cards: Majority within 30 days.Permanent Resident Travel Document: two (2) days for routine cases.	Permanent Residence Applications Overseas: Immigrant Visas – In calendar year 2007, overseas missions delivered 100% of the overall visa target. A total of 217,604 immigrant visas were issued abroad. In calendar year 2007, missions finalized 50% of immediate Family Class applications within five (5) months, 70% within seven (7) months and 80% within eight (8) months. Missions finalized 50% of Provincial Nominees within eight (8) months, 70% within nine (9) months and 70% of Quebec Economic Class applications within 13 months. Domestic: Sponsorship – 99% of undertakings (spouse, child) are currently processed within 42 days. Other classes – First-stage approval for in-Canada PR applications is currently between two-six (2-6) months depending on the immigrant category. Permanent Resident Card: Domestic: Cards for new PRs are processed within three-four (3-4) weeks. Initial, replacement or renewal of PR card for existing PRs is currently 72 days at the CPC. Permanent Resident Travel Document: Overseas: 67% of applications are processed within two (2) days.	All the current fees are to the Government of Canada regulatory process for cost recovery fees, which includes consultation requirements. Consultations took place at the time each fee was imposed as part of the regulatory process. The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration holds regular consultations on various issues related to its mandate including fees and service standards. CIC consults regularly with stakeholders including the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Council for Refugees, immigration practitioners, etc. Future processing fees will be subject to the User Fee Act. Section 4 of the Act specifies the consultative requirements that will apply when new user fees are considered.
Work Permit Fee (individual and performing artist groups)	Overseas: Four (4) weeks for the majority of cases. Domestic: 40 calendar days (includes 10 days’ mailing time) for majority of cases.	Overseas: In calendar year 2007, 63% of applications were finalized within 28 days. Domestic: Recent average processing times are 44 calendar days at CPC-Vegreville.	See previous
Study Permit Fee	Same as previous.	Overseas: In calendar year 2007, 54% of applications were finalized within 14 days, 71% within 28 days. Domestic: Recent average processing times are 26 calendar days at CPC-Vegreville.	See previous
Temporary Resident Visa (TRV) Application Fee and Extension of Authorization to Remain in Canada as a Temporary Resident Fee	Overseas: Two (2) days for the majority of cases. Domestic: 40 calendar days (includes 10 days for mailing time) for majority of cases.	Overseas: In calendar year 2007, 59% of TRV applications were finalized within two (2) days. Domestic: Extension of status—Recent average processing times are 44 calendar days at CPC-Vegreville.	See previous
Temporary Resident Permit (TRP) Fee	Overseas: TRPs are processed to overcome an inadmissibility identified during the processing of any type of visa application. They are processed expeditiously, but variability in the complexity of the cases and the inadmissibility that is being addressed means that there can be no meaningful performance standard. Domestic: 40 calendar days (includes 10 days for mailing time) for majority of cases.	Temporary Resident Permit: Domestic: Recent processing times are 44 calendar days at CPC-Vegreville.	See previous
Restoration of Temporary Resident Status Fee	Domestic: 40 calendar days (includes 10 days for mailing time).	Recent processing times are 44 calendar days at CPC-Vegreville.	See previous
Other immigration services (various)	Certification and replacement of immigration document: six-eight (6-8) weeks for majority of cases. Overseas: Authorizations to Return to Canada (ARCs) are processed expeditiously, but the extremely variable nature and complexity of ARC cases means that there can be no meaningful performance standard.	Replacement of immigration documents: currently within six-eight (6-8) weeks.	See previous
Right of Citizenship Fee	Service standard is linked to the processing of the application for a grant of citizenship, similar to the Right of Permanent Residence Fee.	This fee is linked to acquisition of citizenship status (see Change of Citizenship Fees).	See previous
Change of Citizenship Fees: Grant, Retention, Resumption, Renunciation of Citizenship	12-15 months for majority of cases.	In 2007–2008, processing times for individuals applying to become a citizen (grant of citizenship) were reduced to 12-15 months from 15-18 months.	See previous
Citizenship Status Document Fees: Proof of Citizenship and Search for Record of Citizenship	Five (5) months for majority of cases.	In 2007–2008, processing times for the issuance of a citizenship certificate (proof of citizenship) were reduced to five (5) months from five-seven (5-7) months.	See previous
Fees charged for the processing of access requests filed under the Access to Information Act (ATIA)	30 days following receipt of request unless an extension is requested.	CIC received 11,434 requests under ATIA in 2007–2008 and completed 11,600 requests during the same period (requests carried over from previous year). CIC provided a response within 30 days following receipt of the request in 64.4% of cases. Response time was extended in 35.6% of cases. Overall, CIC met deadlines for 93.9% of the requests over the course of the year.	The service standard is established by the ATIA and the Access to Information Regulations. Consultations with stakeholders were undertaken by the Department of Justice and the Treasury Board Secretariat for amendments made in 1986 and 1992.
B. Other information:

Notes:

1: Service standards for immigration and citizenship processes are not published, but are internal benchmarks. Processing times for most processes are published on CIC’s website at http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/information/times/index.asp and are updated regularly. Processing times change regularly depending on a number of factors including application intake. Domestic processing times are expressed as averages, while overseas processing times are expressed as “x% in y days/months”. Providing good service for fees paid is not only a question of processing time. Often, faster processing would be poor client service for example, by affording an unreasonably brief time frame to provide needed documentation; or by rejecting a reasonable excuse from applicants as to why they cannot attend a scheduled interview. Many elements of processing time are outside the control of CIC, and within the control of the applicant or other agencies such as CSIS, RCMP, CBSA. Due to case complexity and legal requirements, processing standards cannot represent finalization of all cases, but rather for a given percentage within a given time frame or as averages.

2: As part of the CIC service standards initiative, CIC is currently reviewing processing times for all business lines. Within a three-year framework, the intent is to implement, publish and measure performance against service standards of timeliness for 80% of cases for major lines of business (sub-services). Implementation of the first phase of service standards is planned for fall 2008, and currently includes study permits, sponsorship of spouses and minor children, proof of citizenship, asylum claim appointments, and accessibility of the CIC Call Centre.

3: All fees or modifications to fees that existed prior to the User Fees Act (UFA) coming into effect on March 31, 2004, are not subject to that legislation. Therefore:

• the performance standard, if provided, may not have received parliamentary review;
• the performance standard, if provided, may not respect all establishment requirements under the UFA (for example, international comparison, independent complaint address); and
• the performance result, if provided, is not legally subject to UFA section 5.1.

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