Announcements continue to be made by the Canadian government as to the impact of COVID-19 on immigration issues and traveling to Canada. IRCC has incorporated some flexibility into the application process, recognizing that many individuals may currently be unable to obtain police certificates, medical records, certified documents etc within the usual timeframes.
Completing applications in progress: Individuals applying for temporary residence (work permits, study permits, etc) will be given an additional 90 days to submit their documents. IRCC has assured that no application in process will be closed or refused due to incomplete documentation.
PR landing appointments: All in-person landing appointments have been cancelled until at least April 13, 2020.
New applicants: IRCC is continuing to accept intake of new PR applicants even if some documents are missing if applicants can justify why they are currently unable to obtain them.
Maintain valid status: IRCC will not lessen physical presence requirement for PRs absent unusual circumstances (that will likely require documentation as support). As always, permanent residents should ensure they meet their residency obligations before considering applying for citizenship.
Contact us to discuss your particular situation if you feel your Canadian immigration situation might be impacted by the outbreak.
