Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) is gradually resuming in-person services for immigration-related appointments.
On September 17th, 2020, IRCC announced that very limited citizenship, permanent residence, asylum and biometrics services would resume on Monday, September 21, 2020.
For services that were not available virtually, IRCC is slowly reopening in-person services in select offices, by appointment only.
According to IRCC, this resumption of services is a testing phase, which will allow for the development of safety procedures and protocols to protect staff and clients.
As of this week, the services being provided include:
Citizenship
Vancouver Expo will be reopening for limited citizenship-related services, including citizenship knowledge re-testing and citizenship hearings, for a select cohort of applicants, to test the flow and viability of client-facing services. IRCC will be scheduling appointments by email.
Permanent Residence
IRCC offices in Etobicoke and Montréal are reopening for permanent residence-related services. Clients who require a permanent resident card (PR card) pick up or permanent residence determination (interview to determine the client’s status) will be contacted by email to schedule an appointment.
Biometrics
If you’re a permanent residence applicant in Canada waiting to give your biometrics, you’ll receive a call from Service Canada over the next few months to book a biometrics appointment.
IRCC has stated that those living in highly populated areas, such as in the Greater Toronto Area, can expect a longer wait to receive a phone call from Service Canada.
It’s important to note that this is a limited service. You should not go to a Service Canada Centre unless a Service Canada officer has called you and booked a biometrics appointment for you.
Asylum
IRCC offices in Calgary, Edmonton, Hamilton, and Niagara Falls are reopening for limited asylum-related services.
IRCC will contact clients to book appointments based on their file status, location in Canada and other factors. Client selection is largely based on the date of the client’s application.
Safety Measures for In-Person Services IRCC
IRCC is implementing several health and safety measure to ensure the safety of staff and clients:
Clients will be asked to complete a Health Canada self-assessment questionnaire before coming in for an appointment.
Upon arrival, clients will be asked the same questions to determine if they can enter IRCC premises.
All employees and clients will be required to wear masks, maintain social distance and follow signs directing the flow of foot traffic.
Clients will be asked to reschedule their appointment if they appear ill.
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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