Starting from April 19, 2023, the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), which represents 155,000 federal government employees, has planned to go on a strike, which will have an impact on various government departments, including Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).

The PSAC strike is expected to partially or fully disrupt some services offered by IRCC, including application processing, in-person appointments/events, contacting IRCC through phone/email/social media, consular citizenship and passport services, and passport services from inside Canada.

In addition, Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) anticipates disruptions related to the Temporary Foreign Worker Program (TFWP) and the processes involved in biometrics collection. However, Canadian immigration applicants will still be able to apply online, submit applications by mail, use online accounts, and access some emergency services. Settlement services delivered by IRCC partners, healthcare under the Interim Federal Health Program, and services delivered by visa application centers outside of Canada are also unaffected by the strike.

PSAC is striking for “fair wages, a better work-life balance, more inclusivity and reduced layoffs through the creation of more jobs.” Additionally, PSAC desires a reduction in the contracting of government positions to private organizations.