Who has the authority to approve or deny visas and immigration applications in Canada?

The authority to approve or deny visas and immigration applications in Canada lies with immigration officials and the Department of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC). This agency is responsible for overseeing immigration policy, managing the application process, and making decisions on individual cases based on Canadian immigration laws and regulations.

Immigration officials are trained to assess applications, ensuring that they comply with legal requirements and that applicants meet the necessary criteria for the various immigration programs available in Canada. The IRCC's structured processes and defined responsibilities ensure that decisions are made in a fair and consistent manner.

Other entities such as local governments, immigration consultants, lawyers, or even political leaders like the Prime Minister and the Cabinet do not possess the authority to directly approve or deny individual immigration applications. Their roles are more about policy development, legal guidance, or local governance, but they do not engage in the specific adjudication of visa applications, which is strictly the domain of the IRCC and its officials.