The Government of Canada advises against discretionary travel at this time – a message they have communicated for the past few months in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. As such, we’ve received questions from many nationals and foreign nationals asking “Can I travel to Canada right now?” The answer is: yes, if you are a Canadian Citizen or Permanent Resident.
Can landed permanent residents travel to Canada during the COVID-19 pandemic?
Canadian Citizens and Permanent Residents are eligible to return to Canada so long as they adhere to the travel requirements (i.e. providing a negative covid test, committing to a 14-day quarantine period, providing a quarantine plan, etc.).
Can I travel to Canada while waiting for my PR card?
If you’re outside Canada, you likely can’t enter Canada to validate your Confirmation of Permanent Residency and land as a permanent resident right now. IRCC offers one exception to Permanent Resident applicants: if your COPR was issued on or before March 18, 2020, you are exempt from the travel restrictions. You must also be coming to Canada to settle permanently (you cannot come to Canada and leave to go live in another country, even if it’s temporary) and show you’re able to quarantine for 14 days.
I applied for Permanent Residency months ago and my application is still pending. What should I do?
Unfortunately, IRCC has stated that due to the impacts of COVID-19, applications can’t be processed at their normal rate and processing time estimates are not accurate. They are, however, prioritizing certain applications for Canadians trying to return to Canada, vulnerable people, and people who perform or support essential services. We’ve seen a significant increase in the number of Express Entry draws targeting Canadian Experience Class applicants. As such, if you fall into one of these categories, you can expect that your application will be processed faster than other applicants.
If you have already applied for Permanent Residency, you can continue to monitor the progress of your application online IRCC released an online status tool for applicants to check the status of their application. If you’re concerned about the length of time your application has been processing, you can contact IRCC via the WebForm for an update on the status of your application.
In addition to prioritizing the Canadian Experience Class, IRCC has initiated new programs and services to help reach its immigration goals to welcome over 1,200,000 newcomers over the next 3 years. Due to COVID restrictions, IRCC has made the following updates in recent months:
Expanded Express Entry Draw for Immigrants Living in Canada
Alberta Immigrant Nominee Program (AINP) New Pathways To Permanent Residency
Immigrants Working in Healthcare Have More Opportunity For Permanent Residency
Ontario Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) New Expression of Interest (EOI) System
Our Services
Calver and Associates is a leading provider of Canadian Immigration services in Durham Region. We serve clients in Oshawa, Whitby, Ajax, and beyond. Our Registered Canadian Immigration Consultant has over 10 years of experience in Canadian Immigration law and over four years of experience serving those in the Oshawa area.
We can provide assistance with applications for both temporary and permanent residency in Canada. We handle applications for study permits, permanent residency, family class sponsorship, visitor visas, work permits, and Canadian citizenship. We also handle criminal inadmissibility cases by developing remedies for refusal.
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