OTTAWA, Feb. 3 /CNW Telbec/ - Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of

Citizenship and Immigration, today officially announced the launch of a

service that has been effectively used by over 20,000 clients since May 2004.

    The service allows clients to use the Internet to pay their fees for

applications for citizenship or immigration services made through a case

processing centre in Canada.

    "This is improving service to our clients, who find that, in addition to

the traditional method of paying fees, there is now a safe, quick and

convenient alternative," said Minister Volpe. "Now that we have thoroughly

tested this application through a pilot project, we are assured that clients

will find it simple and user-friendly."

    Rather than conducting transactions during banking hours, clients who

choose this form of fee payment can access the Internet 24 hours a day, seven

days a week, using their credit card as a means of payment.

    This is the fourth on-line service developed for the Department's clients

in support of the Government of Canada's Government On-Line initiative: since

December 2000, CIC clients have been using the change-of-address feature to

advise the Department when they move; since April 2002, they have been able to

view the status of their citizenship or immigration applications on-line; and

application kits have also been available on-line for some time.

    More clients will be able to use the service when it is expanded to

include clients in foreign countries. Eventually, it will also be expanded to

include other services.