With many of you having their applications currently being processed, there are many concerns about the procedures to follow, from travel to responding to additional document requests. IRCC has issued Bulletin 669 on February 7, 2020, which was modified on February 26, 2020. The Bulletin provides answers to some potential scenarios, and answers some of the questions, and the same have been summarised here. This summary is only to help understand in simple terms on what to do when facing a scenario, but if anything is ambitious, please refer to Bulletin 669.
APPLICATION PROCESSING
1. Will there be processing delays for applications currently being processed?
IRCC has not expressly answered this, but bulletin 669 states, “all applications currently in progress at IRCC offices abroad, at case processing centres and within the Domestic Network will continue to be processed but may experience delays.” While it is evident that with many offices shutting down, IRCC too may be forced to close its offices, which may cause some delays. As and when any further announcement is made, the same will be posted here.
2. I have received an additional document request, but I cannot procure the documents as the government office, or my employer’s office is closed?
As of writing this post, IRCC is continuing to process permanent residency and citizenship applications. When additional documentation is required to make a decision on the application, processing officers have been instructed to send a request letter and allow 90 days for the applicant to respond.
3. I was sent an additional document request, but I was unable to provide it within 30 days, will my application be refused?
No, your application will not be refused. If a request for additional documentation was previously sent but the applicant was unable to comply, within the stipulated timeframe, the processing officers are required to bring forward the application and allow an additional 90 days for the applicant to respond.
4. I have received Biometrics Instructions Letter (BIL), but all IRCC offices in Canada or in my country are closed, and I am unlikely to comply with the 30 days time frame to provide the biometrics.
IRCC has informed that the biometric instruction letter (BIL) cannot be amended and IRCC will continue to advise applicants that they have 30 days from the date of the letter to give their biometrics. However, officers have been asked to allow 90 days for the applicant to provide their biometrics, despite the 30-day timeline identified in the BIL.
5. I received the ITA, and I have to submit my application in the next few days, but I am unable to obtain a document due to service disruption resulting from coronavirus. What should I do?
If you have received the ITA, you have to submit your application before the stipulated time (i.e. within 60 days). IRCC offices have been instructed that if a new application is missing supporting documentation (associated fees are required and cannot be exempt or deferred), the applicant should include an explanation (Letter of explanation – LoE) with their application that they are affected by the service disruptions as a result of the novel coronavirus. The application may then be promoted and reviewed in 90 days. If the application is still incomplete in 60 days, officers should request the missing documents with an additional 90-day deadline. These missing documents will not result in the refusal of an application for R10 or being incomplete.
PPR and LANDING
6. My application has been approved, and I was asked to submit my passport. However, the office in my country is closed?
If you have received the passport submission request, but you are unable to submit your passport, you can inform IRCC through the web form. Bulletin 669, does not provide any specific answer to this, but the general mandate is that applications will not be refused due to non compliance. As long as you inform IRCC via webform. You will be contacted and advised on what the next steps should be.
7. I have received the COPR and PR visa, but I cannot travel, or want to delay my travel plans, or my COPR has expired and I was unable to land in Canada before the COPR / Visa expiry date due to travel restrictions or personal circumstances, what should I do?
Permanent residence applicants who are in possession of a confirmation of permanent residence (COPR) and permanent resident visa (PRV) and inform us, by submitting a web form to IRCC, that they are unable to travel within the validity of their documentation should be processed as follows:
Valid COPR and PRV:
In an effort to reduce the number of cancelled COPRs and PRVs, IRCC will place a note in your file explaining that the applicant is unable to travel, and the file should be brought forward to the expiration date of the COPR and PRV. If the applicant informs IRCC that they can travel prior to the COPR and PRV expiration, they are encouraged to use their existing COPR and PRV to land.
Expired COPR and PRV:
If the applicant informs IRCC via the web form that they were unable to travel after the expiration of their COPR and PRV, or if they were unable to travel prior to expiration, officers are instructed to re-open the application, and it should be brought forward for review in 90 days. once the applicant informs IRCC via the web form that they are able to travel, a re-opened application may be re-approved provided that the applicant and their family members, whether accompanying or not, have valid immigration medical examinations, criminal and security checks and passports.
8. If I did not inform IRCC that I cannot currently travel, will my application be refused?
No, If the 60-day waiting period elapses and the applicant has not informed IRCC that they are able to travel, a note should be placed in the application, and it should be brought forward for review for an additional 60 days. If still there is no information from an applicant, then the application may be closed, however, since the bulletin does not expressly address this, all applicants are advised to inform IRCC immediately of any changes in their ravel plans.
Not all questions may have been answered in Bulletin 669, but the Government of Canada is continuing to monitor the situation closely, and as soon as there is a new update, additional questions will be added to the list above. If you come across any more information, which is missing from this list, please contact us with the relevant link and we will update it. As a matter of precaution, please do not share anything that dies not quote or cite any official government of Canada publication or communication. This list has been complied to make it easy for everyone to understand in simple language, and when in doc, please refer to Bulletin 669.
Also, everyone of advised to follow the official federal and provincial government communication channels to get the most up to date information. The last post listed federal government and all provincial government websites.
As of March 13, 2020, the number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Canada as per the coronavirus dashboard
COVID-19 stats as on March 13, 2020.
