News Release — More than four million visitors helped by new CIC online Help Centre

Ottawa, June 5, 2013 — More than four million people have been helped by Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s (CIC) new online Help Centre since it was launched just six months ago, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

“The government is committed to improving service and the new online Help Centre is part of that plan,” said Minister Kenney. “People have questions about how to come to Canada and this new user-friendly and convenient Web tool provides the practical information that they need in a quick and effective manner.”

The Help Centre is a one-stop Web portal with an advanced search function where visitors can find quick and direct answers, including how to complete application forms, extend visas as well as other permits, and replace lost documents, such as permanent resident cards. The portal contains more than 600 commonly asked questions and answers as well as more than 200 glossary terms, which may be found easily by searching by keyword or simply by browsing. The Help Centre also enables people to easily access help tools, how-to-videos as well as application forms and guides.

The Help Centre registers more than 150,000 visits every week and the clear success of the tool is reflected in visitor feedback. One person comments that it is “a very useful site with lots of helpful answers” and another notes that the “easiest way to get quick answers to your questions is to use CIC’s Help Centre.”

The new online Help Centre is part of a growing suite of online Web tools available on the CIC website. This includes the Come to Canada site, which helps potential immigrants to Canada determine the immigration programs they may be eligible for. Also, the new interactive Living in Canada tool for newcomers helps them adjust to life in Canada and find services, including an interactive map that allows people to find settlement organizations in their area.

In addition, there are several CIC videos to guide applicants through the process, explain recent reforms and highlight immigrant success stories.

All these new tools are part of the government’s efforts to create a more responsive, user-friendly and efficient immigration process that benefits applicants, immigrants and Canadians alike.

For more information, visit the new Help Centre.

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For further information (media only), please contact:

Alexis Pavlich
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064

Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca

Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.